Search the Western Clippings Site

An Interview With…
        - Archives

Will "Sugarfoot" Hutchins
    - Archives

Do You Remember?
    - Archives

Comic Book Cowboys
    - Archives

Westerns of...
    - Archives

Heavies and Characters
      - Warren Oates
      - Ford Rainey
      - Ward Bond
      - William Mims
      - James Gregory
      - Guy Wilkerson
      - Frank Ferguson
      - Al Ferguson
      - Mort Mills
      - Slim Whitaker
      - Le Roy Mason
      - Kenneth MacDonald
      - Nestor Pavia
      - Steve Clark
      - Pierce Lyden
      - Bud Geary
      - Lyle Talbot
      - Rayford Barnes
      - I. Stanford Jolley
      - Don Harvey
      - Bruce Dern
      - Ian MacDonald
      - Bob Kortman
      - Bob Wilke
      - Denver Pyle
      - Jack Ingram
      - Jan Merlin
      - Neville Brand
      - John Anderson
      - John Milford
      - Lee Marvin
      - Trevor Bardette
      - Morgan Woodward
      - Michael Pate
      - Fred Kohler
      - Mari Blanchard
      - Dick Alexander
      - Hank Worden
      - Marie Windsor
      - Edmund Cobb
      - Gregg Barton
      - Douglas Fowley
      - Walter Burke
      - Budd Buster
      - R. G. Armstrong
      - Gregg Palmer
      - Rex Holman
      - Ernie Adams
      - Robert Ryan
      - Ted de Corsia
      - Scott Marlowe
      - Lee Roberts
      - James Coburn
      - Victor Jory
      - Kenne Duncan
      - Stephen McNally
      - Wallace Ford
      - Earle Hodgins
      - Douglas Kennedy
      - DeForest Kelley
      - George Macready
      - Terry Frost
      - John Doucette
      - Riley Hill
      - James Seay
      - Richard Devon
      - Harry Lauter
      - James Griffith
      - Myron Healey
      - J. Farrell MacDonald
      - Jean Willes
      - Hank Patterson
      - L. Q. Jones
      - Tom London
      - Leo Gordon
      - Holly Bane/Mike Ragan
      - Dan Duryea
      - John Cason
      - Dennis Moore
      - Lee Van Cleef
      - Jack Elam
      - Roy Barcroft
      - William Fawcett
      - Byron Foulger
      - Gerald Mohr
      - Tom Bay
      - Lafe McKee
      - Paul Sorenson, Ben Welden, William Watson, George Barrows
      - Strother Martin
      - Carl Stockdale
      - Edward J. Peil
      - George Wallace
      - Claude Akins
      - Al Taylor
      - Henry Silva
      - John Dehner
      - Donald Curtis
      - Steve Brodie
      - John Merton
      - Lyle Bettger
      - Ted Adams
      - John Cliff
      - Marshall Reed
      - Barton MacLane
      - Al Bridge
      - Warner Richmond
      - Charles Stevens
      - Ethan Laidlaw
      - Chris Alcaide
      - Tris Coffin
      - Noah Beery Sr.
      - Frank Ellis
      - Zon Murray
      - Lane Bradford
      - Morris Ankrum
      - Harry Woods
      - Charlie King
      - Glenn Strange
      - Forrest Taylor
      - Bud Osborne
      - Dick Curtis
      - George Chesebro

The Stuntmen - Neil Summers
    - Archives

Western Treasures
    - Archives

Circus Cowboys
    - Archives

Radio Range Riders
    - Archives

Rangeland Elegance
    - Archives

Western Artifacts
    - Archives

Film Festival Fotos
    - Archives

Silent Western Reviews
    - Archives

Serial Report
    - Archives

Subscribe to Western Clippings

COLLECTIBLES FOR SALE:

Western Clippings Back Issues

Daily Comic Strips
    - Page 1 (1910-1949)
    - Page 2 (1950-1979)

Sunday Comic Strips
    - 1907-1990

Books

Miscellaneous Collectibles

Autographs

Lobby Cards

Movie Posters

Home

John Dehner.JOHN DEHNER

When stern-faced John Dehner rode into town, his wide hat brim casting a dark shadow over his steely blue eyes with just his thin mustache and firm grimace showing, you knew Matt Dillon, Paladin, Lucas McCain or whomever was in for trouble.

A consummate actor, Dehner could also bring off comedy equally well, which found him, especially as he grew older, on “Andy Griffith”, “Hogan’s Heroes”, “Beverly Hillbillies”, “Love American Style” and as a regular on “The Doris Day Show” (‘71-‘73).

John Dehner (green shirt) played egotistical B-cowboy Rod Mason in Monte Hale's Republic starrer, "Out California Way" ('46) with (L-R) Tom London, Bobby Blake, Hale, Adrian Booth.

Also playing against his “heavy” type, he was crusading newspaper reporter Duke Williams on “The Roaring ‘20s” (‘60-‘62) and dramatized many sympathetic roles on various TV westerns—he was never better than on a “Gunsmoke” as lonely Caleb Marr, who, bored with toiling on his farm, decides to live a little and heads for Dodge City.

Born John Forkum November 23, 1915, in Staten Island, N.Y., the son of an artist, he was educated through grammar schools in Slemdal, Norway, and at the Lycee Carnot in Paris, France. He attended high school at Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., and at the University of California.

(L-R) Lois Hall, Jason Robards, Jock Mahoney, Charles Starrett as The Durango Kid, Tommy Ivo, John Dehner at the finale of Columbia's "Horsemen of the Sierras" ('49).

Dehner was a man of many talents, not the least of which was a thorough knowledge of four languages. As a radio news editor during WWII he received the Peabody Award for his coverage of the first United Nations Conference in San Francisco. Unlike many actors, Dehner’s career didn’t begin on the stage, he started out as an animator for Walt Disney, working on classics like “Bambi” (‘42) and “Fantasia” (‘40). Previously, as a musician, he was musical director of a touring stock company and a band leader.

Train robber John Dehner gives instructions to Ross Elliott, Joan Dixon, Bob Wilke and Paul Marion in Tim Holt's "Hot Lead" ('51 RKO).

In 1944, post WWII service, his rich, well-modulated baritone voice landed him dozens of roles on all the top radio shows—“Escape”, “Phillip Marlowe”, “Count of Monte Cristo”, “Gunsmoke” and dozens more. He starred as  CBS’ “Frontier Gentleman” in ‘58 as well as the radio version of “Have Gun Will Travel” from ‘58-‘60. Dehner also starred for a season on “Pursuit” (‘51-‘52), replacing Ted De Corsia, and “The Truitts” (‘50-‘51) sit-com.

John Dehner (L) is Tab Hunter's outlaw father and George Montgomery's brother in "Gun Belt" ('53 United Artists).

If this wasn’t enough to keep him busy, Dehner began his 150-movie screen career with bit parts in ‘44, gradually working up to better parts, such as his first western portraying egotistical, temperamental western star Rod Mason in Monte Hale’s “Out California Way” for Republic in ‘46. Then came other B-western heavies opposite Charles Starrett, Tim Holt and George Montgomery.

Apparently with still not enough to occupy all his time, the obviously workaholic Dehner began doing television in ‘52, eventually amassing hundreds of credits including all the major TV westerns. In 1960 he essayed the role of Burgundy Smith, constantly perplexing Brian Keith on the short-lived “The Westerner” (‘60). For half a season in ‘65, Dehner became Morgan Starr, in charge of Shiloh Ranch on “The Virginian”.

Rory Calhoun prepares to disarm John Dehner and his hencies, Zon Murray and Ethan Laidlaw in '53's "Powder River" (20th Century Fox).

Dehner continued to work into the ‘80s, with his last role that of an admiral on the mini-series “War and Remembrance” in ‘88.

Whether outlaw leader, crooked banker, dishonest gambler or sympathetic rancher, the tall 6' 3" distinguished John Dehner always gave his all to every role, creating some truly memorable characters. Director Earl Bellamy told us, “He was a true professional. Came in prepared—knew his part, your part and the next guy’s part. A fine actor, old reliable—he could do comedy or heavy villains.” Fellow actor Walter Reed said, “He was a hell of an actor with a dry, fey sense of humor. A delightful guy to know.”

Dehner died at 76 in Santa Barbara, CA, of emphysema and diabetes on February 4, 1992.

Rory Calhoun consults with trooper Reg Parton (who was Calhoun's regular stunt double for years), John Dehner and Barbara Bates in "Apache Territory" ('58 Columbia).