Harry Carey Jr., a character actor best known for Western roles in films directed by John Ford, died Thursday. He was 91.
The actor died of natural causes at a hospice facility in Santa Barbara, his daughter Melinda Carey told the Associated Press.
In a more than 50-year career, Carey made over 90 films and was a member of the John Ford Stock Company, making several films with the legendary director. Many of those starred John Wayne and included “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” “The Searchers,” “3 Godfathers “ and “Rio Grande.” His other films with Wayne included “Red River” and “Cahill, U.S. Marshall.”
Other Ford films he appeared in included “Cheyenne Autumn,” " Wagon Master," “Mister Roberts” and “Two Rode Together.”
On television, he was cast as the camp counselor Bill Burnett on “Spin & Marty,” a popular part of “The Mickey Mouse Club” on ABC.
Carey was born in Saugus, Calif., on May 16, 1926. His father was the silent-film Western star Harry Carey Sr. and his mother the actress Olivia Carey. He was called Dobe for his red hair that matched the color of abode. He served in the Navy as a corpsman during World War II before being transferred home from the Pacific to work on training films with Ford.
After the war, he tried to make a career as a singer but quit to go into movies. His first major movie was the Howard Hawks film “Red River” in 1948.
He is survived by his wife, son, two daughters, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, according to the AP.
