Matthew was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 15 and ended up dying of heart failure in 2007. So while he kept busy, his career never quite got the same sort of heat behind it as when he was playing Joe Mannix. So I can't take time out for injuries. With more than 130 roles, Chuck earned himself quite a decent fortune lets just see exactly how much. Hollywood Couples. What the hell, we had a good ride. And once youve done it, then they offer you nothing else but. Columbia Pictures considered him to play the character of Matt Helm in 1966s The Silencers, but, instead, the role went to Dean Martin who made that film, and its three sequels, campy/spoofy James Bond-lite adventures. Tall, handsome Armenian-American Mike Connors had a minor career in the movies before becoming a star on the small screen as the impeccably dressed macho sleuth Joe Mannix. Dennis Farina Never Revealed His Diagnosis In His Last Days, He Could Not Breathe, Meet Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidmans Kids Who Treated Mom as a SP, According to the Reports, Robin Williams Wanted His Children to Be Proud of Him Meet His 3 Kids Who He Cherished, James Gandolfini Was "Happy" & "Healthy" before His Sudden Death Inside His Last Moments, Wayne Rogers of M*A*S*H Agreed to a DNA Test to Prove Paternity of Alleged Love Child after Actress Sued Him, Drew Carey 'Never Got the Chance' to Talk to Ex-fiance Who Texted Him 3 Days before She Passed. Matthew predeceased his father, dying of heart failure in 2007. He was preceded in death by his son Gunner, who passed away nine. Id played villains, but never hero and thats one thing about this business: if you have never done a thing, people say you cant do it. I want them to say, Yeah, thats the way I would react. When I was doing the Tightrope! Mike was engaged in the acting business since 1950 as a supporting actor in John Wayne's film Island in the sky. No matter how it turns out, I wont pull my invisible act again. After thirteen years of marriage, the two divorced in 1961. He enjoyed success following the end of the series in 1963, continuing his career with the lead role in the adventure film Flipper (1963), then portraying Jason McCord in the TV series Branded (1965-1966), followed by the lead role in the adventure film Captain Nemo and the Underwater City in 1969. They were both of Irish descent. Actor Mike Connors attends the signing of Bob Newhart's book "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This" at Borders on September 26, 2006 in Westwood, California | Photo: Getty Images. Connors wasn't the only baseball star to appear on. At the time of his death he survived by his large extended friends and family. In 1963 he married Indian actress Kamala Devi; their marriage lasted until 1972. It looks good for me at the moment, but in this business it could change overnight. He stood out like a sore thumb, said Mike, but he was accepted only because he happened to be a darned good investigator. Actor Johnny Crawford, known for his role as Mark McCain as a child actor on "The Rifleman," has died. Mike was an ideal celebrity influencer. Relationship Facts of Chuck Norris. He was 91. He was 91. Mike Connors died on January 26 . Somebodys going to say, Why doesnt he quit? Which was the next step and in the second year, Mannix was on his own., Explains JoAnn, When Lucille Ball said she didnt understand the computers, the series was completely retooled to have a premise so basic it would have never sold as a series. Press Esc to cancel. He was seen as one of the most successful actor of all times. Check out this article on Phil Swift: Phil Swift's death. Mike never had an opportunityto enjoy his son's success but did enjoy his daughter's success. Mike Connors, the B-movie actor who found stardom on the long-running detective series "Mannix," died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, in Tarzana, California, according to multiple news sources. [In 1953] I owe baseball all that I have and much of what I hope to have. You cant call anybody in television a superstar, he related to The San Francisco Examiner matter of factly, because they can come back in another series and bomb. Appeared on the front cover of TV Guide five times. In his entire life, he was never linked with any other woman and is believed to be a loyal and supportive husband. But Geronimo would not be their last project together. Old Hollywood Wedding. (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); Born as Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors on the 10th April 1921 in Brooklyn, New York USA, he was an actor, basketball player and baseball player. The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw, Trish's Father - 'Boom-Boom Girls' Producer. After the war, he attended the University of California at Los Angeles on both a basketball scholarship and the G.I. Marylou Connors - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday Currently, Marylou Connors is 96 years, 0 months and 20 days old. In an era when film actors were given names like Tab and Rock, he appeared as Touch Connors Touch being his basketball nickname. Actor Chuck Connors, the fast-shooting Lucas McCain on the long-running television series "The Rifleman," died Tuesday of lung cancer. Two years later, in 1963, Connors married actress, Kamala Devi. The thing that shocked me was how she knew every facet of show business, from the lighting to the camera to the directing to what was funny about a line. Chuck Connors died on November 10, 1992, at 71. Krekor Ohanian Net Worth & Basic source of earning was being a successful French actor. And this is the cause for all the current peace, love and anti-war movements. series, I visited Spencer Tracy on the set of The Devil at Four 0Clock. Who Is Mike Connors's Wife? Another part of it was Mikes personal life. Five years later he married actress Faith Quabius but their marriage lasted only for three years. Marriages, Love Life and Death Chuck married and divorced three times; his first wife was Elizabeth Jane Riddell from 1948 until the early '60s; the couple had four children together. Connors was born Krekor Ohanian in Fresno, California. I sort of felt, Well, its the end of the life. But then I began to enjoy the time off and really started to unwind. His wife and daughter along with his son-in-law supported him to fight cancer. The truth about Gabriel Iglesias' son revealed; Is Gabriel Iglesias Married to his Long-term Girlfriend? It was well planned and it looks like it will pay off. As Mannix, Ive tried not to shock people or to be gimmicky, but to make them believe Im that character. Among the two dozen movies between 1953 and 1966 were Island in the Sky (starring John Wayne), The Day the World Ended, The Ten Commandments, Suicide Battalion, The Dalton That Got Away, Harlow, Stagecoach and his crack at riding the James Bond bandwagon, Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die. Show more Show more Mike Connors A. But not for another year., He elaborated to the Independent Press-Telegram, There were a couple of weeks after the show was over where Id get up and feel lost. Actor Mike Connors attends "Primetime TV Crimefighters" at Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre on November 1, 2010 in North Hollywood, California | Photo: Getty Images. Sadly, such a legendary actor died Thursday at the age of 91. Mike Connors, who starred as a hard-hitting private eye on the long-running television series Mannix , has died. But Mannix (currently airing on the MeTV network) did, enjoying an eight-season run from 1967 to 1975 after being given the green light by Lucille Ball and Desilu productions (at around the same time she approved both Star Trek and Mission: Impossible more reasons we love Lucy). Im sure whats going to happen is that well have The Waltons and Apples Way and seven more of that kind of low-key, life-happening show. In an effort to make his character more real than the traditional cynical Bogart-style gumshoe, he played Mannix as being more humane, often becoming emotionally involved in his cases and just as often ending up on the wrong end of a knuckle sandwich (in the course of the 194 episodes, poor old Joe was knocked unconscious on fifty-five occasions and shot seventeen times), or watching his beautiful client walk off with another man. To keep the wolf from the door, I appeared in South American night clubs, capitalizing on the popularity of Tightrope! Wiki, Real Name, Ag Danny DeVito's Daughter Grace Fan DeVito: Height, Wayne Carini faced Financial and Legal Trouble. Nov 11, 1992. Krekor, an Armenian, was born August 15, 1925 in Fresno, California and in high school became a basketball star, which is where the Touch nickname came from in the first place. [on his Lucas McCain character] Lucas was a righteous character, despite all the violence. Through a talent agent, Mike got an interview at Republic to do a film with Joan Crawford called Sudden Fear (1952). He was cast in the film Pat and Mike in 1952, as a Police Captain; although it was only a minor role, Chuck got enough encouragement to seek other roles; he continued with minor roles, securing appearances in such projects as Hold Back the Night, Death in Small Doses, and The Hired Gun, among others. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. His son Matthew was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 15. Mike Connors was born Krekor Ohanian on August 15, 1925 in Fresno, California. Because the series was built around him no gimmick, no real co-stars, other than Gail Fisher and was an hour-long, action-packed, story-driven series that ran for eight seasons, I can think of no other television series in the history of television that was so demanding of an actor as Mannix was of Mike Connors.. He was most widely known to be a social butterfly. Now Joe Mannix works for Intertect, a highly computerized detective agency. Personal touch and engage with his followers. Before Chuck passed away in 1992, he appeared in several more films such as The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw in 1991, starring Kenny Rogers, Rick Rossovich and Reba McEntire, and in the action film Three Days to a Kill in 1992, his final on-screen appearance. But then I stopped playing and began doing interviews with the players at the ball park. Expand. Connors and his wife championed efforts to erase the stigma of mental illness. There wasnt enough action going on.. He later changed it to Michael and finally, Mike. According to an article on television westerns in Time Magazine (March 30, 1959), Connors stood 6'5" tall, weighed 215 pounds, and had chest-waist-hips measurements of 45-34-41. Well, it isn't because I'm the fidgety guy, seriously, I have to sit there like a mummy you can't move. Bill of Rights, began in law school but eventually took up theatre studies as his major. They seem to be enjoying some tea, as well as each other's company. Was a member of the Sheriff's Advisory Board of Orange County, California. Kevin Joseph Aloysius "Chuck" Connors (April 10, 1921 - November 10, 1992) was an American actor, writer, and professional basketball and baseball player. Chuck Connors Grandchildren. [12] Connors died in Tarzana, California, a week after being diagnosed with leukemia on January 26, 2017, at the age of 91. The character may be the same type, generally speaking, that Cary Grant was in the movie To Catch a Thief. The show would never happen. ", Mike Connors during 1998 Sheeba Humanitarian Awards at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States | Photo: Getty Images. He was 91. Antonio Allen Martinez Lujan Is Brianna Keilar's Son Facts about Him, Marra Shubyann Lindstrom Steininger Has Faced Many Difficulties - Facts about Jeffree Star's Mother, Single Dad Phil Donahue Prayed 5 Kids Would Accept Childless Marlo Thomas in the Family At First It Was a 'Disaster', Martin Milners Passion Was His Family - His Wife of 58 Years & 4 Kids Traveled with Him on Route 66', Meet Jean Smarts 2 Kids with Husband of 34 Years Who Was Kissing Another Woman When They Met, Barbara Hale Was Close with Raymond Burr's Partner after Star's Death - He Kept Their Relationship a Secret for 35 Years, The former basketball player was famous for his role in "Mannix. Find out about tv actor Mike Connors: Age, net worth, height, What he did before fame, his family life. He was a staunch supporter of the Republican Party as well as a frequent guest at the White House during the administration of his close friend President. Connors feared the series would be canceled but it was produced by Lucille Balls Desilu studio, and CBS was reluctant to antagonize its biggest star. Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1991. Now were not sure what the plot will be. That pitch was right in there. During World War II, he served as an enlisted man in the United States Army Air Forces. That same guy also decided that his original surname Ohanian sounded too much like OHanlon George OHanlon was already a well-established film actor and writer and consequently changed his name to Connors. [About the character he was best-known for] I can never get rid of. His son Matthew was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 15. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. Complete biography: http://celebritynetworth.wiki/mike-connors-net-worth/Mike Connors was born as Krekor J. Ohanian on the 15th August 1925, in Fresno, Calif. Who is youtuber Soviet Womble? In the first season, Joe Mannix was a self-employed Los Angeles private investigator hired by a firm that used computers and high-tech equipment to uncover crime. Mike and Mary Lou Connors at 'ROAST THIS! The "Mannix" series birthed a new era of detective movies as it was a deviation from the usual crime movies at that time. Needless to say, Touch didnt do so. USA TODAY. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. For some reason I dont understand myself, he admitted to the Independent Press-Telegram of Long Beach, California in 1962, Tightrope! Chuck married and divorced three times; his first wife was Elizabeth Jane Riddell from 1948 until the early 60s; the couple had four children together. Vie prive Mike Connors se marie avec Mary Lou Willey le 10 septembre 1949. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Type above and press Enter to search. Following his return home, he. Tennis great Jimmy Connors credits his wife for 'keeping him grounded' and for reminding him to keep working hard whenever he felt proud after a. They had two children, a son, Matthew Gunnar Ohanian, and a daughter, Dana Lee Connors. Hollywood Style. A process that is dehumanizing our society. All Rights Reserved. November 1958) and a daughter, Dana Lee Connors (b. July 1960), with his wife, Marylou Connors (Mary Lou Riley). The couple, however, lost their son a few years after he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. . Baseball made my entrance to the film industry immeasurably easier than I could have made it alone. Almost one year before his death, his first wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Connors, died on February 27, 1992, after a long illness. Connors died in a Los Angeles medical center as a result of complications from lung cancer, an illness caused by his decades-long smoking habit. There, he shared stories about he and his brothers. Resumed his sports career after the war had ended. "Mannix," the last series from Desilu Productions to air, ran for eight seasons from September 1967 until April 1975. Their son, beset by hallucinations starting in his teens, was diagnosed with schizophrenia and before his death lived in a small residential care facility. Then people will get fed up with that and an action show will come along and be a smash hit., Mannix was a two-fisted private eye, he continued, a return to the old tradition. The former basketball player was famous for his role in "Mannix." In the series, Connors portrayed private investigator Joe Mannix. Connors' role as Joe Mannix earned him several nominations. Connors had no choice other than to play professional basketball, when he continued to play baseball. Took part in a parade in New York in support of the Vietnam War in 1967, and campaigned for his friend. She was sensational with how she worked with the director, making things better., After the first reading, he added, I thought the script was all right, but not a wow, until we began to actually work on our feet. After Mannix, he appeared in less than a dozen movies, including Avalanche Express (1979), Too Scared to Scream (1985, which he also produced), Downtown Heat (1994), and an uncredited role in The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave (2000). After getting the starring role in Tightrope!, Connors wanted to be credited as Ohanian, but Columbia Pictures told him that he had already done too much work as Connors, though he was allowed to change his first name to Mike. I let my hair grow and I shopped around for a horse. Best remembered for playing the tall, ruggedly- handsome 'Joe Mannix' in the TV detective series Mannix (1967 to 1975). . In the aftermath of Sudden Fear, he starred in a number of films in the 1950s and 1960s, though none of them elevated him to the star status he was hoping for. However, we don't know much about Mike Connors's health situation. By this time, she had dropped her college courses and was at home in Laguna Beach, where I was installing sprinkler systems and selling brushes and vacuum cleaners door to door so I could be near her. Her Wiki: Age, Husband, Net Worth, Son, Baby Father. Chuck Norris married on November 28, 1998. This would result in Mike hiring agent Henry Willson and things moved on from there. After graduation he studied law for two years but his good looks and imposing presence attracted him to acting. The nickname stuck, and he decided to adopt it as his real name. I told him I might make it for two years, but thats a long time without income. #srsly #lookitup #TheRifleman #GetGlue #Cowboys #beatsofhell #ChuckConnors #Pacers #AMC #workintheam #westerns #vintagelife #TerrorSquad #Rawhide #LA #Dodgers #metv #hulu #CA #USA #daily #picoftheday #vsco #beard #mansome, A post shared by Daniel Oliveira (@theriflemanofficial) on Sep 7, 2016 at 8:34am PDT. According to the actor's website, he died Thursday with his . Marylou Connorss zodiac sign is Sagittarius. Sounds like it will be a lot of fun, Mike related to The Times Record of Troy, New York. Their home in Encino was gorgeous and you never felt like you were walking into a fancy house; it was a home. That just so happened to be Chuck's 42nd birthday. SUBSCRIBE: $1 for 3 months. The death was announced by his son-in-law, Mike Condon, who told Variety that the actor had leukemia. Once discharged from the army, Chuck joined the Boston Celtics of the Basketball Association of America. They said, Hell come to his senses.. After she saw it, my wife thought it was one of the best comedy things I had done. I have only five days to win the job. Now the Lake Arrowhead, CA, retreat Connors built is on the market for the first time ever, for $2.2 million. Chuck Norris is married to Gena O' Kelly. Avery is Mike's car friend who previously had a company that rebuilt heavy equipment, and Conner used to work for him. Tightrope! He was sent to Fort Campbell where he served as a tank-warfare instructor, and was later transferred to West Point, New York. But there was another side to things. Chuck took up smoking in the 40s, and would often smoke two packs of cigarettes per day. Joe Mannix is a man who believes in looking a man squarely in the eyes., He added to the Star-Gazette of Elmira, New York, The basic premise of the show was that I would fight the establishment and the computerized procedures. After that I flew to Caracas for four weeks and found the same wonderful reception., Elaborating on how that situation came about, he told The San Bernardino County Sun in 1964 that he had more or less laid low for the previous three years: I evaporated on purpose. And then, after that, came his return to television in Mannix. was not quite over as the show would get a second run in syndication. Born on August 15, 1925, the actor Mike Connors was arguably the worlds most influential social media star. The duo also shared the screen in other works such as Branded, Broken Sabre and Cowboy in Africa before their divorce in 1973. He spent only two years at Seton Hall University, as the US entered the World War II, and Chuck was needed in the Army. Learn How rich is She in this year and how She spends money? He was governed by his own rules., He was particularly impressed by the environment in which Mannix was placed; a pure individual employed in the first season by an ultra-modern detective organization known as Intertect, where everybody dressed the same and computers did 50 percent of the leg work. Mannix ran for eight seasons (1967-1975), a testament to its enduring popularity. Geller is a behind-the-scenes Mannix. The Everett Collection Connors and Devi hit it off. Read the full article to be acknowledged Mike's married life and children. (Getty . Marylou Connors (Mary Lou Willey) was born on 22 December, 1926 in Utica, Indiana, USA, is an Actor. Mannixran for eight years on CBS beginning in 1967. His acting career spanned over 40 years during which he secured more than 130 film and TV roles, but the role of Lucas has indeed become the hallmark of his career. The two married on April 10, 1963. The actor died surrounded by family Thursday afternoon. Ironically, this would make Mannix a victim of the very genre it is so often credited with creating., Amusingly, Mike did play the role of Joe Mannix in three other instances. Marylou Connors will celebrate 97rd birthday on a Friday 22nd of December 2023. Connors, at the time of his death, was survived by his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and grand-daughter, Coper Wills. Mike Connors, Jeff Connors, Kevin Connors, Steve Connors: Wife: Faith Quabius (m. 1977-1980), Kamala Devi (m. 1963-1972), Elizabeth Riddell (m. 1948-1962) . He'll take that instead of commission. Mike Connors, who starred as a hard-hitting private eye on the long-running television series Mannix,has died. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. That is a problem of mechanization. I never heard him say a disparaging remark about her when she left the room. Irish-American actor Chuck Connors (1921-1992) was born Kevin Joseph Connors in Brooklyn, New York. Chuck Person, an NBA Player, is named after him. I played to 5,000 people a night, doing four shows. Part of #BBN! In a 1997 biography titled "The Man Behind the Rifle", author David Fury says that "Chuck" Connors acquired his nickname while an athlete playing first base. pic.twitter.com/BDtfLUrL3U. Almost suffered the same fate in each of his two television westerns. The Remarkable story of Mannix- Mike Connors who died at 91; from UCLA basketball star to TV Star; recruited to be Mannix by Lucy Nov 28 tramscorp@aol.com The remarkable story of Krekor Ohanian who became known as Mike Connors, the Star of the tv series Mannix, can happen only in America. Mike Connors, Marylou Connors. Greg Gutfeld And Wife Elena Moussa Married Since 2003 Without Divorce Rumors ; Do They Have Children? This turned out to be a turning point in his life; while playing for the Los Angeles Angels, he was spotted by an MGM casting director, and in 1952 he became a full-time actor, leaving his career in sports behind him. It was a gamble. The actor died surrounded by family Thursday afternoon. He was 91. Actor Mike Connors attends the signing of Bob Newhart's book "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This" at Borders on September 26, 2006 in Westwood, California | Photo: Getty Images Together, they share a son Matthew Gunnar Ohanian, and a daughter, Dana Lee Connors. I don't want my kids growing up believing that there is nothing destructive in the world. See Her Beautiful Bikini Photos, Inside Dr. Phil and Wife Robin McGraw's Sprawling Beverly Hills Home, Headed to the Beach! Luckily for me they decided in my favor. Chuck Norris is not having an affair with anyone presently. But, I will never forget Stan's kindness. I want to do pictures and then get ready to do another series. Jimmy Connors' wife Patti McGuire. Connors was an avid basketball player in high school, nicknamed Touch by his teammates. Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Lucas McCain on. So they stripped away all of the gimmicks and put Joe Mannix in an office with a secretary out front (Peggy, played by Gail Fisher, the first black actress to win an Emmy). . Born Kreker (some sources state spelling is Krekor) Ohanian, to parents of Armenian descent, he served with the United States Army Air Force during World War II. I began to see the light." Chuck Connors " "I can never get rid of 'The Rifleman,' and I don . Interviewed in Tom Weavers book Eye on Science Fiction (McFarland & Co., 2003). There is no question Mike Connors was the most famous & most loved celebrity of all the time. Now who goes to the games in LA? Up until Mannix, most private investigators were hard-nosed, cynical guys who lived in a seedy area and had no emotions, Connors theorized in 1997. . Volume 3, 1991-1993, pp. Compatible with Horse or Dog. Mike debuted in the thriller movie Sudden Fear in 1952. Like, Hell Touch the Top.. LOS ANGELES - Mike Connors, who starred as a hard-hitting private eye on the long-running television series "Mannix," has died. Chuck Connors " "The day I left baseball, I became smart. Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Tiger are authoritative, self-possessed, have strong leadership qualities, are charming, ambitious, courageous, warm-hearted, highly seductive, moody, intense, and theyre ready to pounce at any time. Il rsidait avec son pouse Encino en Californie. Before he was an actor, he spent most of the war as a tank-warfare instructor in Camp Campbell, Kentucky, before West Point, New York. With his large number of social media fans, he often posts many personal photos and videos to interact with his huge fan base on social media platforms. The ratings zoomed. Sagittarius is extrovert, optimistic and enthusiastic, and likes changes. He spent two years in Boston, and in the first home game, he became the first basketball player to break the backboard. Mike was in almost every scene, and many of the scenes not only were on location, but also involved stunts. From 1981 to 1982, he starred in 18 episodes of the series Todays F.B.I. James Arness 1st Wife Left Behind the Glitz After Their Split - His 2nd Wife Stayed by His Side Until the End, 'M*A*S*H's Sally Kellerman Lost Husband & Daughter in 3 Months & Still 'Put on a Brave Front' Amid Grief, Martin Sheen's Four Children Follow in His Footsteps - One of Them Also Inherited His Vices. . His son, says JoAnn, ultimately had to be institutionalized. I was such a hit they kept me for eight weeks. May his soul rest in peace. Growing up in a devout Christian family, Chuck contributed to his familys devotion by serving as an altar boy at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in his hometown of Brooklyn. After he won a scholarship attending a private high school, he played basketball, football & baseball. Anniversary in 270 days . He was 71. ", The legendary actor made his final appearance in 2007, The Californian native was encouraged to take up acting by Williams A. Wellman. . Before his death, in a 2014 interview, the actor attributed his keeping fit to swimming and exercising with machines. In many ways, the show seems like a predecessor to the Ken Wahl 80s undercover cop series Wiseguy. 2023 Wiki Biography & Celebrity Profiles as wikipedia, Chris Simmons Wiki, Biography, Age, Net Worth, Family, Instagram, Twitter, Social Profiles & More Facts, Heinz Edelmann Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Family, Net Worth, Fella Edmonds Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Family, Net Worth. Apr 30, 2021 at 6:44 am. Towards the end of the series, his earnings per episode averaged a respectable $40,000. However, it was the glass that was installed improperly which resulted in breaking at a tiny pressure. On January 26, 2017, Mike Connors died of non-communicable disease. After many years as a struggling actor, Mikes first TV hit was Tightrope (1959) for CBS in which he starred as an undercover cop infiltrating an organized crime syndicate. The former Fresno High School student, who made a name for himself as a court star in the institution, went to the University of California in Los Angeles to study law and also to engage in his favorite sport. It was while doing so that he was discovered by agent Harry Willson, who suggested the name change, commenting, It will be good for publicity.