Actor, Singer and Musician. He will best be remembered as one of the original Mouseketeers, and for his starring role alongside Chuck Connors on the ABC series 'The Rifleman.' Born John Ernest Crawford, he did a tap-dancing routine during his audition for ABC's 'The Mickey Mouse Club,' which landed him a job as one of the 24 original Mouseketeers for the first season of the show in 1955, however, when the number of kids was reduced to twelve for the next season, his option was not picked up. In 1958, at the age of 12, he appeared for the first time as Mark McCain on the television series 'The Rifleman,' which ran for five seasons. After the show was canceled, he appeared on such TV programs as 'The Lone Ranger,' 'Climax!,' 'Matinee Theatre' and 'The Loretta Young Show.' He also appeared in 1956's 'The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit,' starring Gregory Peck before Crawford starred in 'Courage of Black Beauty' (1957). He and Connors worked together again on a 1965 episode of NBC's 'Branded,' and he appeared opposite John Wayne in 'El Dorado' (1967) and on TV shows including 'Hawaii Five-O,' 'Little House on the Prairie' and 'Murder, She Wrote.' During the late 1950s, Crawford signed a recording contract with Del-Fi Records and had several hits, including 'Cindy's Birthday,' 'Daydreams,' 'Rumors,' 'Cry on my Shoulder,' 'Your Nose Is Gonna Grow' and "Proud.' In the 1990s, he led the Johnny Crawford Orchestra.
Actor, Singer and Musician. He will best be remembered as one of the original Mouseketeers, and for his starring role alongside Chuck Connors on the ABC series 'The Rifleman.' Born John Ernest Crawford, he did a tap-dancing routine during his audition for ABC's 'The Mickey Mouse Club,' which landed him a job as one of the 24 original Mouseketeers for the first season of the show in 1955, however, when the number of kids was reduced to twelve for the next season, his option was not picked up. In 1958, at the age of 12, he appeared for the first time as Mark McCain on the television series 'The Rifleman,' which ran for five seasons. After the show was canceled, he appeared on such TV programs as 'The Lone Ranger,' 'Climax!,' 'Matinee Theatre' and 'The Loretta Young Show.' He also appeared in 1956's 'The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit,' starring Gregory Peck before Crawford starred in 'Courage of Black Beauty' (1957). He and Connors worked together again on a 1965 episode of NBC's 'Branded,' and he appeared opposite John Wayne in 'El Dorado' (1967) and on TV shows including 'Hawaii Five-O,' 'Little House on the Prairie' and 'Murder, She Wrote.' During the late 1950s, Crawford signed a recording contract with Del-Fi Records and had several hits, including 'Cindy's Birthday,' 'Daydreams,' 'Rumors,' 'Cry on my Shoulder,' 'Your Nose Is Gonna Grow' and "Proud.' In the 1990s, he led the Johnny Crawford Orchestra.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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Actor, Cowboy,
Bandleader, Beloved Friend
Gravesite Details
His ashes are interred at Sunset Hills Memorial Park, 24000 Waalew Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92307
Family Members
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