Actor. He was discovered while horseback riding in the Hollywood Hills in 1943. Alan Ladd convinced him to go for a screen test. With the encouragement of an agent he changed his name to match his rugged appearance. He appeared in many spagetti Westerns but is best known for his starring role in the television Western “The Texan” where he played Big Bill Longley. In his later years he starred in several B-Westerns and found success as a screenwriter, producer, director, and rancher.