Don Durant, who in the 1950s starred as gunslinger-turned-sheriff “Johnny Ringo” and also wrote and sang the television show’s theme song, has died. He was 72.
Durant, who had chronic lymphocytic leukemia since 1992, died March 15 at his Orange County home, family members said.
The half-hour series “Johnny Ringo” ran on CBS from 1959 to 1960 and its fast-drawing title character brandished a LeMat handgun that featured an extra barrel that fired a shotgun round. Though it only ran for a season, the show generated about 100 toys and other items, including board games, character puppets, gun sets and canteens.
A “Johnny Ringo Western Frontier Play Set,” featuring miniature figures, horses and wagons, sold on the Internet auction site eBay in 2001 for $8,998.
Durant who was born in Long Beach in 1932, spent most of his youth at his stepfather’s ranch in Elko, Nev., where he learned to ride, rope and shoot.
After stints in the Army and Navy, he pursued an acting and singing career and toured with a theater group.
He signed as a bit player with CBS in 1954 and appeared on “The Jack Benny Show,” “The Red Skelton Show” and “General Electric Theater.”
Durant also toured with the Tommy Dorsey, Frankie Carle and Ray Anthony orchestras.
He had a leading role in Roger Corman’s 1958 low-budget adventure film “She Gods of Shark Reef.”
After guest spots on television, Durant was cast as Johnny Ringo and married actress Trudy Wroe the same year that he began on the show.
He left acting in 1964 and worked in real estate and financial management.
He is survived by his wife and two children.