Eric Fleming
Encyclopedia
Eric Fleming was an American
actor
, known primarily for his role as Gil Favor in the long running CBS television series Rawhide
.
, California
, as Edward Heddy, Jr. He was an only child and had an unhappy childhood. After being severely beaten by his father he ran away from home, and lived rough. Although later reunited with his mother, during the years of the depression he dropped out of school and worked at various jobs until he joined the United States Navy
during World War II
. He served as a SeaBee
in a naval construction battalion. He received severe facial injuries in an accident at work and underwent extensive plastic surgery.
Following his discharge, Fleming became interested in acting and took acting lessons. He appeared on stage in Chicago
and in a number of successful Broadway
plays including the musical Plain and Fancy. He began acting in television shows about the same time. Fleming then moved to Hollywood and starred in several low-budget film
s, including Fright, Curse of the Undead and the cult classic Queen of Outer Space
, with costar Zsa Zsa Gabor
.
, Sheb Wooley
, and Paul Brinegar
, ran from 1959 to 1966.
vehicle
The Glass Bottom Boat
where he played a suave spy, and then was signed to star in High Jungle, an MGM adventure film shot in Peru
. During the final stages of shooting, Fleming's dugout canoe overturned in the Huallaga River
. Actor Nico Minardos
managed to swim to safety, but Fleming was swept away by the current and drowned on September 28, 1966. Fleming was 41 when he died. He had planned to marry Lynn Garber when the film was completed and become a teacher. His will left money to his mother, his cousin and a friend but specifically excluded his father from any bequest. He was buried on the grounds of the University of Peru in Lima, Peru
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, known primarily for his role as Gil Favor in the long running CBS television series Rawhide
Rawhide (TV series)
Rawhide is an American Western series that aired for eight seasons on the CBS network on Friday nights, from January 9, 1959 to September 3, 1965, before moving to Tuesday nights from September 14, 1965 until January 4, 1966, with a total of 217 black-and-white episodes...
.
Early life
Fleming was born in Santa PaulaSanta Paula, California
Santa Paula is a city within Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 29,321 at the 2010 census, up from 28,598 at the 2000 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, as Edward Heddy, Jr. He was an only child and had an unhappy childhood. After being severely beaten by his father he ran away from home, and lived rough. Although later reunited with his mother, during the years of the depression he dropped out of school and worked at various jobs until he joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He served as a SeaBee
Seabee
Seabees are members of the United States Navy construction battalions. The word Seabee is a proper noun that comes from the initials of Construction Battalion, of the United States Navy...
in a naval construction battalion. He received severe facial injuries in an accident at work and underwent extensive plastic surgery.
Following his discharge, Fleming became interested in acting and took acting lessons. He appeared on stage in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and in a number of successful Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
plays including the musical Plain and Fancy. He began acting in television shows about the same time. Fleming then moved to Hollywood and starred in several low-budget film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s, including Fright, Curse of the Undead and the cult classic Queen of Outer Space
Queen of Outer Space
Queen of Outer Space is a 1958 American CinemaScope science fiction feature film starring Zsa Zsa Gabor, Eric Fleming, and Laurie Mitchell in a tale about a revolt against a cruel Venusian queen. The screenplay by Charles Beaumont was based on an outline supplied by Ben Hecht...
, with costar Zsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor is a Hungarian-born American stage, film and television actress.She acted on stage in Vienna, Austria, in 1932, and was crowned Miss Hungary in 1936. She emigrated to the United States in 1941 and became a sought-after actress with "European flair and style", with a personality that...
.
Rawhide Television Series
In 1958, the 6 foot 3 Fleming landed the starring role as trail boss Gil Favor in Rawhide. Set in the 1860s, Rawhide portrayed the challenges faced by the men of the cattle drive from San Antonio, Texas, to Sedalia, Missouri. Producer Charles Marquis Warren called on the diary written in 1866 by trail boss George C. Duffield to shape the character of Favor: a savvy, strong and fair leader who persevered and got the job done. The top rated western, with costars Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
, Sheb Wooley
Sheb Wooley
Shelby F. "Sheb" Wooley was a character actor and singer, best known for his 1958 novelty song "Purple People Eater"...
, and Paul Brinegar
Paul Brinegar
Paul Brinegar was an American character actor.Brinegar made over 100 appearances between 1946 and 1994, appearing in many western films, and played the barman in Clint Eastwood's High Plains Drifter in 1973...
, ran from 1959 to 1966.
Death
When Rawhide ended, Fleming took part in a Doris DayDoris Day
Doris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
vehicle
Star vehicle
A star vehicle has historically been a movie, play, TV series, or other production whose primary purpose, besides turning a profit, is to enhance someone's career. Vehicles are most commonly produced when a young or inexperienced actor has signed a long-term contract with a major studio...
The Glass Bottom Boat
The Glass Bottom Boat
The Glass Bottom Boat is an 1966 American romantic comedy movie directed by Frank Tashlin; it is also considered by some people to be musical entertainment. This movie features Doris Day and Rod Taylor as the main entertainers, with assistance from actors Arthur Godfrey and Paul Lynde...
where he played a suave spy, and then was signed to star in High Jungle, an MGM adventure film shot in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. During the final stages of shooting, Fleming's dugout canoe overturned in the Huallaga River
Huallaga River
The Huallaga River is a tributary of the Marañón River, part of the Amazon Basin. Old names for this river include Guallaga and Rio de los Motilones. The Huallaga is born on the slopes of the Andes in central Peru and joins the Marañón before the latter reaches the Ucayali River to form the Amazon....
. Actor Nico Minardos
Nico Minardos
Nico Minardos , was a Greek-American actor.-Life and works:...
managed to swim to safety, but Fleming was swept away by the current and drowned on September 28, 1966. Fleming was 41 when he died. He had planned to marry Lynn Garber when the film was completed and become a teacher. His will left money to his mother, his cousin and a friend but specifically excluded his father from any bequest. He was buried on the grounds of the University of Peru in Lima, Peru