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American actor Gary Clarke, born Clarke Frederic L'Amoreaux, is of French and Mexican descent. Growing up in the predominantly Chicano neighborhood of East Los Angeles, he was determined to pursue acting by high school. His early performances included community theatre in San Gabriel, stage roles in Glendale, and drama studies at the Pasadena Playhouse. During this time, Clarke supported himself by working as a machine operator and newspaper delivery man.
Clarke made his television debut in 1957 and landed his first lead role in the 1958 film Dragstrip Riot, a low-budget AIP production capitalizing on the popularity of youth-focused car racing and biker gang movies. He balanced supporting parts with occasional leads in several genre films: a young horror actor transformed into a murderous lycanthrope in How to Make a Monster (1958); one of two escaped convicts stowing away in Missile to the Moon (1958), a poorly executed remake of Cat-Women of the Moon (1953); a love-struck teenager facing challenges from conservative parents, a violent ex-boyfriend, a drug-addicted sibling, and various criminals in Date Bait (1960); and a college student attempting to woo a reluctant sorority sister in the typical teen comedy Wild Wild Winter (1966).
On television, Clarke held a semi-regular role as Dick Hamilton, the younger brother of Lucy, secretary to private investigator Michael Shayne (played by Richard Denning) in 1960. This character was created specifically for the series and did not appear in Brett Halliday's original novels. Clarke's boyish charm and easy-going demeanor made him a fan favorite as Steve Hill, a close friend of Doug McClure’s Trampas during the first two seasons of the popular western The Virginian (1962). After his character was phased out in 1964, Clarke portrayed an Arizona Territory cavalry officer in Hondo (1967) and appeared in various guest roles across television shows and made-for-TV movies.
In 1966, Clarke secretly submitted scripts for the NBC spy sitcom Get Smart under the pseudonym 'C. F. Lamoreaux,' creating the character Hymie the Robot, portrayed deadpan by Dick Gautier, in six episodes. The show's creators, Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, were aware of this ruse but appreciated his contributions. Upon revealing his identity as an actor from The Virginian, their response was, "we watch TV too."
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Clarke continued making occasional television guest appearances. He appeared multiple times as a police officer on Dynasty (1981) and took on four different roles in The Young Riders (1989). He had a minor part in the high-profile western Tombstone (1993) as U.S. Marshal Crawley Dake (1836–1890), the lawman who first deputized Virgil Earp. In the 2013 film Parkland, he portrayed Vice Admiral George Burkley (1902–1991), physician to three U.S. presidents and present during JFK's Dallas motorcade.
Clarke also pursued a brief singing career, releasing the single "Tomorrow May Never Come," co-written by Jackie DeShannon, on RCA Victor in 1962, and a cover of The Virginian theme song "Lonesome Tree," backed with "One Summer in a Million," on Decca Records in 1963.
His second marriage was to actress Pat Woodell (1964–1970), known for her role as Bobbie Jo Bradley in the TV series Petticoat Junction (1963). Since 1991, Clarke has been married to Jerrene Beatty, and they have two daughters. He enjoys hobbies such as horseback riding, motorcycling, and playing golf.
