John Milford: Film & TV Character Actor

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John Milford. 1927-2000.

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Blog Created: 7-31-2025

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John Milford (September 7, 1927 – August 14, 2000) was an American actor in theater, television, and films, playing scores of roles, often as a Western villain. He was estimated to have had about 500 appearances in TV roles.

Early years ~

Born in Johnstown, New York, Milford studied civil engineering at Union College but chose to pursue his first love, acting. He "worked for some years with Los Angeles' Bureau of Engineering, Department of Public Works."

Career ~

Milford first appeared on television in the 1940s on What's My Name? on KGRB in Albany, New York.

After making his film debut in Marty in 1955, Milford went on to act in dozens of film and TV roles, especially in Westerns such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Fugitive, The Big Valley, The Rifleman(S3 E4, S5 E7), and The Virginian.

From 1959 to 1960, Milford was cast in ten episodes as the historical figure Ike Clanton on the ABC/Desilu series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, starring Hugh O'Brian as Wyatt Earp. Milford's last episode was S5 E41 "Wyatt's Bitterest Enemy" which aired 6/7/1960.

From 1959 to 1968, Milford appeared in three episodes of Bonanza: on "Vendetta" as Ned Morgan, "Half a Rogue" as Cal Stacy and "A World Full of Cannibals" as Rodgers.

Milford guest-starred in four episodes of Mannix from 1969 to 1974: on "Deathrun" as Sheriff George Hale, "Portrait of a Hero" as Col. Edgar Ewing, "Cry Danger" as Stan Forrester and "The Survivor Who Wasn't" as Harry.

In 1965, Milford had a recurring role as Cole Younger in the ABC series The Legend of Jesse James, starring Christopher Jones. In the same year, Milford appeared in the third-season episode "Billy the Kid" as Sergeant Stoner on the World War II drama Combat!, as well as in an episode of Gunsmoke titled “Winner Take All” (S10E22).

Throughout his career Milford continued to work in the theater. He founded the Chamber Theater at 3759 Cahuenga Blvd, pioneering Equity Waiver productions in Los Angeles, and helped launch the careers of actors such as Richard Chamberlain and Vic Morrow.

Milford's Los Angeles Times obituary credits him with using his engineering background to help create the original design for the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Milford played the part of Albert Einstein in the 1996 video game Command & Conquer: Red Alert.

Death ~

Milford died of skin cancer in 2000.

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From Find A Grave.com

Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the outspoken Sgt. Freebee in "Zebra in the Kitchen" (1965). After attaining his degree in civil engineering from Union College, he began his career as a leading man in stock companies. Upon being discovered by director Delbert Mann while attending a casting call for bit players, he was so impressed by his dark good looks, baritone voice, and stealth physique, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing in a supporting role per his supervision in "Marty" (1955). From there, he would go on to enjoy a fruitful career as a notable character actor appearing in over 170 features; often typecast as villains, cowboys, bartenders, sheriffs, deputies, henchmen, gigolos, conmen, aristocrats, playboys, husbands, fathers, blue-collared guys, chauffeurs, waiters, doormen, bellhops, retail clerks, salesmen, soldiers, sailors, detectives, reporters, authority figures, athletes, mechanics, eccentrics, landlords, neighbors, curmudgeons, educators, historical figures, doctors, and, in his later years, patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "The Ten Commandments" (1956), "The Persuader" (1957), "The Heart Is a Rebel" (1958), "Face of a Fugitive" (1959), "Gunfight at Comanche Creek" (1963), "For Pete's Sake" (1966), "The Last Challenge" (1967), "Support Your Local Sherriff!" (1969), "Joni" (1979), "Say Yes" (1986), "Student Confidential" (1987), and "Primary Colors" (1998). On television, he appeared in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "The Millionaire," "Buckskin," "Mackenzie's Raiders," "Mike Hammer," "State Trooper," "Wagon Train," "The Restless Gun," "The Texan," "Men Into Space," "Tombstone Territory," "Fury," "Wichita Town," "Bourbon Street Beat," "Wrangler," "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp," "Sugarfoot," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "Death Valley Days," "Riverboat," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "The Loretta Young Show," "Stagecoach West," "Shotgun Slade," "Cheyenne," "Kraft Mystery Theatre," "Laramie," "Stoney Burke," "77 Sunset Strip," "The Untouchables," "Combat!," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," "Destry," "Perry Mason," "Get Smart," "I Dream of Jeannie," "12 O'Clock High," "The Fugitive," "Lassie," "Family Affair," "Mod Squad," "Bonanza," "The Rifleman", "The Guns of Will Sonnett," "Daniel Boone," "The Name of the Game," "Dan August," "Circle of Fear," "Columbo," "Gunsmoke," "McCloud," "Planet of the Apes," "Cannon," "Mannix," "Police Woman," "The Streets of San Francisco," "Little House on the Prairie," "Wonder Woman," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Quincy, M.E.," "Enos," "The Magical World of Disney," "Hotel," "Bare Essence," "Fame," "The A-Team," "Call to Glory," "MacGyver," "Dallas," "Cagney & Lacey," "Highway to Heaven," "Simon & Simon," "Picket Fences," "The X-Files," "Freddy's Nightmares," "Melrose Place," and "The Client." During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been a regular parishioner of the Catholic church, was a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was the original designer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, had been the founder of the Chamber Theatre, presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity, had been a male model for the Forbes Agency, was the celebrity spokesman for Pentel Writing Instruments, and he was married to stockbroker Susan Graw from 1977 to 2000 (their union ended upon his death and produced one child). Bio by: Lowell Thurgood

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John's brother, Robert Milford Jr.

THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP - "The Noble Outlaws" - Airdate: November 24, 1959. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: STEVE ROWLAND;TREVOR BARDETTE;CAROL THURSTON;JOHN MILFORD.