Actor. He was best known for playing the character roles of henchmen, deputies, FBI Agents, corporals, and reverends, usually in crime films, and classic western films and television series. He will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Clint' in the film drama, "Some Of My Best Friends Are..." (1971). The film which was directed by and written by Mervyn Nelson, which was also written by Barbara Rhodes, and which also starred Tom Bade, Paul Blake, Carleton Carpenter, Candy Darling, and Alan Dellay, tells the story of the lives of a group of gays who meet in a New York City bar on Christmas Eve. He will also be best remembered for playing the role of 'Harkness "Mushy" Mushgrove III,' the understudy assistant cook to actor Paul Brinegar's character of 'George Washington "Wish" Wishbone,' in 209 episodes of the classic western television series, "Rawhide," from 1959 to 1965. The series which was created by Charles Marquis Warren, and also starred Clint Eastwood, Eric Fleming, Steve Raines, Paul Brinegar, Rocky Shahan, Robert Cabal, and Sheb Wooley, as drovers, cooks, and other assorted characters, who are led by Gil Favor a trail boss who is on a continuous cattle drive. He is assisted by Rowdy Yates. The crew runs into characters and adventures along the way. He was born one of three children as David Lee Baker in Normal, Illinois, to Faye Delores Baker (1910-1991), on June 22, 1931. He was educated locally and later pursued an acting career. He chose the last name of Murdock as his stage name because he thought there was a tough guy sound to it. He made his actual television debut playing the role of a 'Henchman' in the episode entitled, "Deliver The Body," of the western television series, "Have Gun - Will Travel," which originally aired on June 7, 1958, and which also starred Richard Boone, R.G. Armstrong, and James Franciscus, tells the story of Paladin who applies the U.S. Constitution to criminal law in the West when he fights for Habeas Corpus, the right to counsel in defense, and jury trial by peers for a man accused of killing twice with an outmoded cap-and-ball pistol. Besides, playing the role of 'Clint' in the film drama, "Some Of My Best Friends Are..." (1971), his many other film credits include, playing the role of 'Reverend Bob Herron' in the action thriller film drama, "Airport" (1975), which was directed by Jack Smight, which was written for the screen by Don Ingalls, which was based on the novel, "Airport," by Arthur Hailey, and which also starred Charlton Heston, Karen Black, and George Kennedy, tells the story of a 747 in-flight which collides with a small plane, and is rendered pilotless. Somehow the control tower must get a pilot aboard so the jet can land. Besides, playing the role of a 'Henchman' in the episode entitled, "Deliver The Body," of the classic western television series, "Have Gun - Will Travel," which originally aired on June 7, 1958, and which also starred Richard Boone, R.G. Armstrong, and James Franciscus, tells the story of Paladin who applies the U.S. Constitution to criminal law in the West when he fights for Habeas Corpus, the right to counsel in defense, and jury trial by peers for a man accused of killing twice with an outmoded cap-and-ball pistol, and playing the role of 'Harkness "Mushy" Mushgrove III,' the understudy cook to actor Paul Brinegar's character of lead cook 'George Washington "Wish" Wishbone,' in 209 episodes of the classic western television series, "Rawhide," from 1959 to 1965. The series which was created by Charles Marquis Warren, and also starred Clint Eastwood, Eric Fleming, Steve Raines, Paul Brinegar, Rocky Shahan, Robert Cabal, and Sheb Wooley, as drovers, cooks, and other assorted characters, who are led by Gil Favor a trail boss who is on a continuous cattle drive. He is assisted by Rowdy Yates. The crew runs into characters and adventures along the way, his many other television credits include, "Trackdown," "Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre," "The Monroes," and "Gunsmoke." He also acted in Herb Gardner's play, "A Thousand Clowns," in a Cherry County Playhouse production under the Dome at the Park Palace Hotel in Traverse City, Michigan, in 1965. His last film role was playing the role of 'FBI Man #2' in the crime film drama, "The Godfather: Part II" (1974). The film which was directed by and written by Francis Ford Coppola, which was also written for the screen by Mario Puzo, and which also starred Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, and John Cazale, tells the story of the early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York City is portrayed, while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on the family crime syndicate. The film was released again when "The Godfather" (1972) and "The Godfather Part II" (1974) were re-edited together in chronological order with additional footage added and released as, "The Godfather Saga" (1977). The film was also the recipient of several awards and honors. He retired from acting shortly thereafter. During his acting career, he also used the names of David Baker, James Murdoch, and Jim Murdock. He passed away from lung cancer and pneumonia at the Motion Picture And Television Medical Center in Calabasas, California, on December 24, 1981, at the age of 50. Following his death, his funeral and memorial service were held at Pierce Brothers Mortuary Hollywood Chapel two days later on December 26, 1981, and he was cremated and his ashes were buried in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, California. He was married to Julie Harris Murdock with whom he had two children.