The Forrest Tucker Story

Key Takeaways

• As a teen, Tucker was the emcee at a Burlesque house until the owner discovered he was underage
• He made four movies with Western star Randolph Scott
• Before his iconic role in F Troop, he starred in the national tour of The Music Man

A Born Entertainer

Forrest Meredith Tucker was born Feb. 12, 1919, in Plainfield, Indiana. As a boy he excelled in sports, especially golf and baseball. His father had played in the minor leagues, and young Tucker could have gone pro. But, his mother, a singer, led him from the diamond to the stage. At age 14, Tucker worked at the Chicago World’s Fair. At night, after his shift, he sang for tips from tourists.

The following year, the family moved to Washington, D.C., where Tucker won the Old Gayety Burlesque Theater Saturday night amateur talent contest two weeks in a row. Impressed, the owner hired him as the show’s emcee until he discovered he’d unknowingly hired a minor. Tucker got the boot, was asked to return when he was of age.

Tucker had no interest in high school. So, he joined the U.S. Army, and again, was discharged. In 1938, at age 18, he returned to the Burlesque show, working nights while he studied for his high school diploma. A year later, the theater closed, and Tucker headed west.

California Bound

In 1940, producer Samuel Goldwyn offered Tucker the break that would change his life, a part in the film, The Westerner with Gary Cooper. In 1941, Tucker signed with Columbia Pictures and worked steadily over the next couple of years until he joined the military during World War II—this time at the appropriate age. He served stateside making movies for the Army. He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of second lieutenant, having graduated from Signal Officer Candidate School.

Back in Hollywood, Columbia lent Tucker to MGM to star in The Yearling (1946), and to Warner Brothers to play Errol Flynn’s rival in the romantic comedy Never Say Goodbye (1946). Columbia cast Tucker in Coroner Creek (1948), the second of four Westerns he made with Randolph Scott, including Gunfighters (1947), The Nevadan (1950), and Rage at Dawn (1955).

In 1948, Tucker signed with Republic Pictures and soon became known for his Westerns and action films. Standing 6-foot, 5-inches tall, his presence was imposing. Self-described as one of Hollywood’s big “ugly guys,” he was often cast as the villain, but in the 50s, that changed. Though not a matinee idol, he began getting leading man hero roles. In addition to the films he made with Randolph Scott, some of Tucker’s most memorable Westerns include Pony Express (1953) with Charlton Heston, Fort Massacre (1958) with Joel McCrea, Gunsmoke in Tucson (1958) with Mark Stevens, and Chisum (1970) with John Wayne. He also appeared with John Wayne early in his career, in the war movie, Sands of Iwo Jima (1949).

From Showdowns to Showstoppers…

Tucker considered himself an entertainer more than an actor. In 1958, he got to show off his funny bone in the film, Auntie Mame. That same year, he joined the national touring company of The Music Man, playing Professor Harold Hill for five years. Afterward, he did a stint on Broadway in Fair Game for Lovers (1964).

Move to the Small Screen

Tucker left the footlights for the next milestone in his career—the hit TV series F Troop (1965-1967), playing the scheming, wheeling and dealing, but likeable Sgt. Morgan O’Rourke.

Awards

Though Hollywood’s coveted golden statuette evaded Tucker, he won the 1983 Golden Boot Award for his contributions to the Western genre, and in 1986, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Tucker was married four times and had three children. He died from lung cancer on Oct. 25, 1986, at age 67.