Claude Marion Akins was born on May 25, 1925 in Nelson, Georgia but grew up in Bedford, Indiana. He attended Northwestern University where he majored in Theater Arts, graduating in 1949. He made his first film appearance in 1953's "From Here to Eternity" followed in 1954 with an appearance in "The Caine Mutiny". Other major film roles followed such as "Rio Bravo" and "Don’t Give Up the Ship" (1959), "Inherit the Wind" and "Comanche Station (1960), "Merrills Marauders" (1962), "The Devil’s Brigade" (1968) and "Battle for the Planet of the Apes" (1973). Claude made an early TV appearance on "The Adventures of Superman" in the early 1950s and it was this medium that made him a household name. Akins made regular guest appearances on such series as "The Twilight Zone", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "I Love Lucy", "Perry Mason" and dozens of westerns. He starred in three TV series, as trucker Sonny Pruett in "Movin’ On" (1974-1976), "B.J. and the Bear" (1979-1981) and "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo" (1979-1981). Claude appeared in two Euro-westerns: "Return of the Seven" (1966) as Frank and "A Man Called Sledge" (1970) as Hooker". Akins died from cancer on July 27, 1994 in Altadena, California. He was only 67. Today we remember Claude Akins on what would have been his 85th birthday.Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Remembering Claude Akins
Claude Marion Akins was born on May 25, 1925 in Nelson, Georgia but grew up in Bedford, Indiana. He attended Northwestern University where he majored in Theater Arts, graduating in 1949. He made his first film appearance in 1953's "From Here to Eternity" followed in 1954 with an appearance in "The Caine Mutiny". Other major film roles followed such as "Rio Bravo" and "Don’t Give Up the Ship" (1959), "Inherit the Wind" and "Comanche Station (1960), "Merrills Marauders" (1962), "The Devil’s Brigade" (1968) and "Battle for the Planet of the Apes" (1973). Claude made an early TV appearance on "The Adventures of Superman" in the early 1950s and it was this medium that made him a household name. Akins made regular guest appearances on such series as "The Twilight Zone", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "I Love Lucy", "Perry Mason" and dozens of westerns. He starred in three TV series, as trucker Sonny Pruett in "Movin’ On" (1974-1976), "B.J. and the Bear" (1979-1981) and "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo" (1979-1981). Claude appeared in two Euro-westerns: "Return of the Seven" (1966) as Frank and "A Man Called Sledge" (1970) as Hooker". Akins died from cancer on July 27, 1994 in Altadena, California. He was only 67. Today we remember Claude Akins on what would have been his 85th birthday.
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A close friend of Robert J Wilkie I understand. Another great "heavy"
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David
"Big wheels rollin'. Big wheels rollin' movin' on. Big wheels rollin'. Ya gotta keep 'em goin'. Big wheels rollin' movin' on." Merle Haggard, "Movin' On" theme song, 1974. RIP Merle Haggard and Claude Akins. Here we are again drinking misery and gin. Well, everyone else that is. I don't drink. LOL.
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