Tyler Glenn Duff Jr. (September 12, 1925 – December 23, 2007) was an American film and television actor.

Life and career

MacDuff was born in

Hollywood, California Hollywood, sometimes informally called Tinseltown, is a List of districts and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, neighborhood and district in the Central Los Angeles, central region of Los Angeles County, California, within the city of Los Angeles. ...

. He attended Woodrow Wilson Junior High. MacDuff joined the

U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest displacement, at 4.5 million tons in 2021. It has the world's largest aircraft ...

in 1943 and drove an LCVP Landing Craft in the first wave of the invasion of Saipan and

Guam Guam ( ; ) is an island that is an Territories of the United States, organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. Guam's capital is Hagåtña, Guam, Hagåtña, and the most ...

in 1944. In late 1944 and 1945, he was part of General

Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American general who served as a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of General of the Army (United States), General of the Army. He served with dis ...

's invasion forces in the Philippine Islands. MacDuff then attended

Pasadena City College Pasadena City College (PCC) is a Public college, public community college in Pasadena, California. It was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College. History Pasadena City College was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College. It originally o ...

, and performed at the

Pasadena Playhouse Pasadena Playhouse is a Tony Award-winning historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engag ...

. He also served as a

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

for stage productions. MacDuff began his film and television career in 1952, first appearing in the film '' No Room for the Groom'', where he played the uncredited role of a

soldier A soldier is a person who is a member of an army. A soldier can be a Conscription, conscripted or volunteer Enlisted rank, enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, a warrant officer, or an Officer (armed forces), officer. Etymology The wo ...

. He then appeared in the films '' Francis Goes to West Point'' and '' Bonzo Goes to College''. MacDuff earned popularity from his role in the 1954 film '' The Boy from Oklahoma'', in which he played

Billy the Kid Henry McCarty (September 17 or November 23, 1859July 14, 1881), alias William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid, was an American outlaw and gunfighter of the Old West who was linked to nine murders: four for which he was solely res ...

. He also played Vance in the film '' The Bounty Hunter''. MacDuff guest-starred in television programs including ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'', ''

The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in a ...

'', '' Laramie'', '' Adventures of Superman'', '' Maverick'', '' The Texan'', ''

Tales of Wells Fargo ''Tales of Wells Fargo'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series starring Dale Robertson in 201 episodes that aired from 1957 to 1962 on NBC. Produced by Revue Productions, the series aired in a half-hour format until i ...

'', '' Lawman'', '' Perry Mason'' and ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American Western (genre), Western anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was ...

''. He played Wes Parker in the 1956 film '' The Burning Hills''. MacDuff also played Tom Williams in the 1957 film ''

Fury at Showdown ''Fury at Showdown'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by Gerd Oswald.A. H. Weiler.Screen: 'Boy on a Dolphin' at Roxy; Scenery and Signorina Loren Are Eye-Filling Mild Adventure Is Set Against Greek Isles 'Fury at Showdown' Makeshift Safa ...

''. He retired in 2003, last appearing in the 2003 film ''An American Reunion''.

Death

MacDuff died in December 2007 of

heart failure Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome caused by an impairment in the heart's ability to Cardiac cycle, fill with and pump blood. Although symptoms vary based on which side of the heart is affected, HF ...

Pasadena, California Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commerci ...

, at the age of 82. He was buried in Riverside National Cemetery.

References

External links

* *
Rotten Tomatoes profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:MacDuff, Tyler 1925 births 2007 deaths Actors from Hollywood, Los Angeles Male actors from Hollywood, Los Angeles Male actors from California American male film actors American male television actors 20th-century American male actors American theatre directors Pasadena City College alumni Western (genre) television actors Burials at Riverside National Cemetery