Fond Farewell: Clint Walker 1927-2018

From almost the moment this blog began, more than nine years ago, we've been waxing rhapsodic about the towering, gentle yet manly, blue-eyed beacon of beefcake, western star Clint Walker. Monday, at the age of ninety, we lost our hero just nine days before he turned ninety-one due to heart failure.

Because we have posted about him time and time (and time!) again, we won't belabor the point too much further, but we felt we did have to mark the sad occasion. If you can watch this fan-made tribute to shirtless Walker in his prime on his television western Cheyenne and come away still not understanding his appeal, you likely never will.

What really sealed the deal for us was a combination of two things: Seeing him in COLOR in movies such as Yellowstone Kelly (1959) and None But the Brave (1965), Night of the Grizzly (1966) and in particular The Great Bank Robbery (1969) and then hearing that voice of his. So soothing and comforting to hear.

The western world and, indeed, the western world, lost one of its last great gentlemen with the passing of Mr. Walker. He was a welcome sight in virtually any project, even when his role was abridged, as in The Dirty Dozen (1967), or when it wasn't a western, such as his comedic turn in Rock Hudson & Doris Day's Send Me No Flowers (1964.) Umm... do take note of his HANDS in the pics below.

He had a long, prosperous, memorable life - and we all must go sooner or later - but we did love having him here on Earth with us while we could. Farewell Mr. Tall, Dark & Handsome!

:::ADDITION:::   I just had to add this little bit. In going over Mr. Walker once more, I found this interview clip from his later years. I implore you to listen to the whole thing (it's about four minutes long.) It demonstrates the type of person he was and also what rewards can sometimes lie in store for those who extend kindness to others. Clint (who was up for the role of Joshua in The Ten Commandments, 1956, but had practically no acting experience to speak of) is seen in the film as The Sardinian Captain of the Guards (in the horned helmet.)