Legendary Actor Bruce Campbell Shares Heartbreaking News of Clint Walker's Death
Actor Clint Walker, who was most well known for his role in the TV Western “Cheyenne,” passed away Monday at the age of 90 due to congestive heart failure.
Before landing the show’s lead role as Cheyenne Bodie, Walker was working in a Las Vegas casino as a security guard when an agent approached him and suggested he give Hollywood a try.
By 1958, the unknown Illinois native had become a household name.
Walker continued a prosperous career in film, starring in movies and shows including “The Ten Commandments,” “The Dirty Dozen” and “None But the Brave.”
After briefly leaving “Cheyenne” over a contract dispute in 1958, Walker returned to finish out the show, which ran for seven total seasons until 1962.
Walker continued his career in the film industry throughout his lifetime, and even went on to publish a western novel he co-authored with Kirby Jonas titled “Yaqui Gold” in 2003.
Walker always had a taste for adventure, and in 1971, the actor nearly died in a skiing accident at California’s Mammoth Mountain. After falling off of a ski lift, Walker landed on a ski pole which pierced his heart. Doctors pronounced him dead on arrival at the hospital.
However, a third doctor soon noticed a faint sign of life and Walker was quickly rushed into surgery.
Miraculously, Walker’s heart was repaired and he went on to live another 47 years.
As the more recent news of Walker’s death began to circulate, legendary actor and author Bruce Campbell, whose own work has included playing the title character in the western television program “The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.,” took to Twitter Tuesday afternoon to share the tragic news.
Campbell, who enjoyed working alongside a number of classic western film stars in guest appearances in “Brisco County,” is probably best known for his role as Sam Axe in “Burn Notice” or Ash Williams in the “Evil Dead” franchise.
However, he said his role as Brisco County in the short-lived but critically acclaimed western had fulfilled “every actor’s dream to play a cowboy” for him.
While fans, friends, and family members mourn the loss of the beloved actor, Walker’s daughter Valerie shared a few words about the kind of man her father was.
“He was a warrior, he was fighting to the end,” she said.
Valerie went on to explain that her father died of congestive heart failure at a hospital near his California home. At the time of his death, he was with his wife of 30 years, Susan Cavallari.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Walker’s friends and family during this difficult time.
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