Actor. Born John Lawrence Russell, he is probably best remembered for his role as 'Marshal Dan Troop' on the ABC Western television series "Lawman" that aired from 1958 until 1962. A rugged, handsome, and tall (he was six feet three inches), his career spanned six decades. Following high school, he attended the University of California in Los Angeles, California where he participated in sports. In 1939 he first broke into films with "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (with James Stewart and Jean Arthur). After the US entered World War II in December 1941, he joined the US Marine Corps and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in November 1942. Assigned to the 6th Marine Regiment, he served as an intelligence officer at Guadalcanal in the Pacific Theater of Operations. After contracting malaria, he was discharged and he returned home to resume his film career. He primarily appeared in secondary roles, with "Forever Amber" (1947), "Yellow Sky" (1948), and "Saddle Tramp" (1950). In 1952 he won a top billing role in "Oklahoma Annie" with Judy Canova. In 1955 he starred as 'Tim Kelly' in the international adventure television series "Soldier of Fortune" that aired until 1957. The following year, he was cast as the lead character 'Marshal Dan Troop' in "Lawman", set in Laramie, Wyoming during the 1880s, with Peter Brown playing the role of 'Deputy Johnny McKay'. His other notable films include "Rio Bravo" (1959, with John Wayne and Dean Martin), "Yellowstone Kelly" (1959, with Clint Walker and Edd Byrnes), "Apache Uprising" (1965, with Rory Calhoun and Corinne Calvert), "Noon Sunday" (1970, with Mark Leonard), "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (1976, with Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke), and "Pale Rider" (1985, with Clint Eastwood and Michael Moriarty). His television credits include "Cheyenne," "Sugarfoot," "Northwest Passage," "It Takes a Thief," "Emergency!," "Gunsmoke," "McCloud," "Police Story," "Jason of Star Command," "Simon and Simon," and "The Fall Guy." His final film appearance was in "Under the Gun" (1988).