Hubbry Logo
Richard RustRichard RustMain
Open search
Richard Rust
Community hub
Richard Rust
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Richard Rust
Richard Rust
Richard Rust
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Richard Rust (July 13, 1935 – November 9, 1994) was an American actor of stage, television, and film.

Key Information

Early years

[edit]

Born in Boston, Rust attended a Massachusetts boarding school[1] and the University of Miami, where he was an archery champion.[2] After majoring in drama at Miami, he enhanced his skills at the Neighborhood Playhouse.[1]

Stage

[edit]

Rust first acted professionally in a 1951 production of The Milky Way at Southbury Playhouse in Connecticut.[1][3][4][5][6]

Television

[edit]

Rust appeared in The Rifleman, played Brice in the 1961 episode "Quiet Fear". He also acted in the "Perry Mason" episodes "The Case of the Startled Stallion" (1959) and "The Case of the Nervous Neighbor" (1964), and the "Gunsmoke" episodes "Kangaroo" (1959), and "Say Uncle" (1960). He also appeared in the "Lawman" series in 1959 in the episode "9:05 to North Platte". He played attorney Hank Tabor in the NBC series “Sam Benedict” (1962-63).

Death

[edit]

Rust died in Los Angeles on November 9, 1994, at the age of 59.[citation needed]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1955 The Phenix City Story Soldier Uncredited
1959 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Detective Charlie Season 4 Episode 23: "I'll Take Care of You"
1959 The Legend of Tom Dooley Country Boy
1960 Gunsmoke Lee "Say Uncle" S6 Ep 1
1960 This Rebel Breed Buck Madison
1960 Comanche Station Dobie
1961 Underworld U.S.A. Gus Cottahee
1961 Homicidal Jim Nesbitt
1962 Walk on the Wild Side Oliver
1962 Taras Bulba Captain Alex
1966 Alvarez Kelly Sergeant Hatcher
1969 Naked Angels Fingers
1970 The Student Nurses Les [7]
1971 The Last Movie Pisco
1973 Kid Blue Train Robber #2
1973 I Escaped from Devil's Island Sergeant Zamorra
1977 The Great Gundown Joe Riles
1988 Colors Hearing Officer
1988 Daddy's Boys Construction Worker
1988 Double Revenge Sheriff Blanchfield

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Richard Rust

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Richard Rust (July 13, 1935 – November 9, 1994) was an American actor recognized for his versatile performances in film, television, and theater over a career that spanned more than three decades. Born in , , into a prominent military family, Rust lost his mother at age five and was raised by his aunt while his father served as a naval officer; he attended a private in before earning a degree in theatrical arts from the , where he excelled as an archery champion. After relocating to , he trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and began his professional stage career, appearing in Broadway productions such as a replacement role in (1956–1958) and off-Broadway shows like and Dark of the Moon. His television breakthrough came in 1962 when he was cast as Hank Tabor on the legal drama Sam Benedict, a role he secured over 60 competitors due to his acting experience and educational background. Rust gained further prominence on as Jason Vining on ABC's in 1975. In film, he debuted with supporting roles in Westerns like (1959) and (1960), followed by notable appearances in thrillers such as (1961) and (1961), as well as later works including (1970), (1973), and his final screen role as a hearing officer in Colors (1988). Known primarily as a , Rust often portrayed authoritative or rugged figures, contributing to over 50 credits across mediums before his death from a heart attack in at age 59.

Early life

Childhood and family

Richard Rust was born on July 13, 1935, in , Massachusetts. Rust's early childhood was marked by significant family loss and upheaval. His mother passed away when he was five years old, after which his father, a career naval officer whose duties often required extended absences, arranged for Rust to live with his aunt. This arrangement stemmed from the demands of his father's , which frequently relocated him and limited his ability to provide daily care. Despite the instability, Rust received a structured education at a private all-boys boarding school in , where he was immersed in a disciplined environment typical of such institutions during the era.

Education and early training

Rust enrolled at the as a drama major and earned a degree in theatrical arts. During his time there, he distinguished himself as an archery champion, showcasing his athletic prowess alongside his academic pursuits. Following graduation, Rust relocated to to pursue advanced acting training. He then studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, where he participated in student productions to hone his craft.

Stage career

Debut and regional theater

Rust made his professional acting debut at the age of 16 in 1951, appearing in Lynn Root and Harry Clork's comedy The Milky Way at the Southbury Playhouse, a in . This initial role marked his entry into the professional stage. In the early 1950s, Rust continued building his experience through regional theater productions in New York and nearby areas, including . He performed in smaller venues and non-Broadway shows. These opportunities allowed him to take on featured roles in intimate settings, contributing to his growth as a versatile performer capable of handling comedic and dramatic material. He also appeared in productions such as and Dark of the Moon. Throughout the decade, Rust's work in these regional circuits emphasized skill development through consistent stage time in stock companies and experimental productions. This period laid the groundwork for his later transitions to higher-profile theater, as he refined his timing, voice, and presence in front of live audiences, often in ensemble casts that demanded adaptability to varying production scales. After earning his degree from the , he trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in , where he honed fundamental acting techniques under notable instructors.

Broadway and understudy roles

Rust's Broadway career was marked by understudy and replacement roles in significant productions, providing him with exposure to prestigious theater despite limited principal opportunities. In the original 1956–1958 production of Eugene O'Neill's at the Theatre, Rust served as for the role of Edmund Tyrone, the troubled youngest son, and later replaced the original actor in the part during the run. This revival, starring as James Tyrone and as Mary Tyrone, was a critical success, earning for Best Play and Best Actor, and offered Rust the chance to observe and perform alongside acclaimed performers in O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama. Later, in December 1964, Rust took on understudy duties for Jason Sample and Paul Keyes in the short-lived original production of One by One, a drama by William Goodhart that ran for only five performances at the . Although the play closed quickly, the role underscored Rust's continued involvement in Broadway's ensemble support structure. These understudy positions, while not leading to starring roles, presented challenges such as maintaining readiness for sudden performances and adapting to high-stakes environments, but also afforded learning opportunities through close proximity to veteran actors and directors in major dramatic works. Overall, Rust's Broadway engagements were scarce, with no lead credits, reflecting his career's primary emphasis on television and film mediums where he found greater prominence.

Television career

Guest spots in westerns and dramas

Richard Rust began accruing guest spots on television in the late 1950s, frequently appearing in popular western series where he embodied rugged, supporting characters often involved in frontier conflicts or law enforcement scenarios. In 1959, he debuted in the genre with a role as Rood Jutes, a member of an outlaw family holding hostages in the town of Laramie, in the episode "9:05 to North Platte" of Lawman. That same year, Rust portrayed Dal Skurlock in the Gunsmoke episode "Kangaroo," a story involving a perilous journey through harsh terrain that highlighted his ability to convey determined, physically demanding personas. His performance as the suspicious son Lee in the 1960 Gunsmoke installment "Say Uncle" further exemplified this typecasting, as he navigated family intrigue and accusations of foul play in a Dodge City setting. Rust's dramatic range extended to legal procedurals, where he took on roles that underscored moral ambiguity and courtroom tension. He appeared as Peter White, a key witness entangled in a horse-racing scandal, in the 1959 Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Startled Stallion." Five years later, in 1964's "The Case of the Nervous Neighbor," he played Charles Fuller, an amnesiac defendant accused of and , delivering a nuanced portrayal of psychological distress amid high-stakes litigation. These anthology-style appearances, bolstered by his early training, positioned Rust competitively for parts in shows like the legal drama Sam Benedict, though his western roles often reinforced a pattern of rugged authority figures or conflicted frontiersmen. Across these guest spots, Rust was consistently cast in supporting capacities that amplified the episodic narratives of justice, survival, and interpersonal strife, reflecting the era's demand for versatile character actors in television's burgeoning western and genres.

Recurring and soap opera roles

Rust's first significant recurring television role came in the legal series Sam Benedict, where he portrayed Hank Tabor, the ambitious young associate to the titular defense attorney played by . The series aired on from 1962 to 1963, spanning 28 episodes, and Rust's performance as the earnest highlighted his ability to convey determination and moral complexity in courtroom settings. He secured the role over 60 competitors, credited to his prior acting experience and strong educational background, which included a degree in theatrical arts from the and training at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. Building on his earlier guest appearances in westerns and dramas that helped build his resume, Rust transitioned to longer-term television commitments in the 1970s, most notably with his work. In 1975, he joined the cast of ABC's as Jason Vining, whose storyline involved raising Laura Webber—switched at birth with the Vinings' stillborn daughter—unveiling family secrets, tragedy, and a subsequent custody battle that intertwined with the show's core maternal and arcs. His portrayal, which lasted through 1975, added depth to the community dynamics, emphasizing themes of grief and resilience amid interpersonal conflicts. This engagement significantly boosted Rust's visibility during the 1970s, providing steady employment in an era when offered reliable opportunities for character actors to develop ongoing narratives. Unlike his previous one-off guest spots, these recurring and soap roles allowed for sustained character exploration, marking a pivotal shift toward more consistent television presence in his career.

Film career

Early film appearances

Richard Rust made his film debut in an uncredited role as a in the 1955 crime drama , directed by and based on the real-life corruption and violence in . This low-budget Allied Artists production marked his initial foray into cinema, showcasing his ability to blend into ensemble casts amid tense, authoritative narratives. Throughout the late 1950s, Rust appeared in supporting roles in genre films, including the Western (1959), where he played a country boy in a story of post-Civil War vengeance starring . His stage training from the Neighborhood Playhouse provided a solid foundation for these early screen performances, emphasizing naturalistic delivery in rugged settings. In 1960, Rust gained more visibility in Budd Boetticher's taut Western , portraying Dobie, one of the outlaw trio led by opposite Randolph Scott's stoic hero; the role highlighted his knack for depicting tough, opportunistic antagonists in the Ranown Cycle's economical style. That same year, he took on the part of Buck Madison in the crime drama This Rebel Breed, a release exploring and police work in . Rust's early 1960s films often cast him as authoritative or hardened figures in thrillers and low-budget productions, such as Gus Cottahee, a member of a criminal syndicate, in Samuel Fuller's gritty noir Underworld U.S.A. (1961). He followed with the role of Jim Nesbitt, a hotel bellboy entangled in deception, in William Castle's thriller Homicidal (1961), which mimicked suspense techniques with its shocking twists and psychological tension. His concurrent guest spots in television Westerns, such as Gunsmoke and Black Saddle, reinforced this screen persona, influencing casting directors to seek him for similar rugged, no-nonsense parts in genre cinema.

Mature roles and later films

In the early 1960s, Rust took on supporting roles in historical epics, notably portraying Oliver in Walk on the Wild Side (1962), a drama directed by , and Captain Alex, a Polish officer, in (1962), a lavish production directed by and starring as the rebellious Cossack son Andrei Bulba. In this adaptation of Nikolai Gogol's novella, Rust's character serves amid the film's grand-scale battles and themes of loyalty and revenge set in 16th-century . By the mid-1960s, Rust transitioned into Westerns with more antagonistic undertones, appearing as Sergeant Hatcher in (1966), a film directed by . Set during the , the story follows a cattle drive hijacked by Confederate forces, with Rust's Hatcher as a ruthless Union soldier who meets a dramatic end by being shot in the back for betrayal, adding tension to the conflict between leads and . Entering the late 1960s and 1970s, Rust embraced the era's exploitation cinema, playing the biker gang member Fingers in Naked Angels (1969), a low-budget written and directed by Bruce D. Clark. The movie delves into the gritty subculture of outlaw motorcycle clubs, with Rust's character contributing to the film's raw depiction of violence and rebellion as the gang, led by Michael Greene's "Mother," clashes with rivals. He followed this with the role of Les in (1970), directed by for , where he portrayed a entangled in the lives of nurses amid social issues like drug abuse and activism. This entry in the nurse exploitation subgenre showcased Rust's versatility in supporting parts that blended with sensational elements. Rust continued with smaller roles such as Pisco in (1971), a Dennis Hopper-directed experimental Western, and Train Robber #2 in Kid Blue (1973), a comedic Western starring Dennis Hopper. In 1973, he played Sergeant Zamorra in the action-adventure I Escaped from Devil's Island, directed by William Witney and starring as a prisoner escaping . Later, he appeared as Joe Riles in the low-budget Western The Great Gundown (1977). Rust's film work continued sporadically into the 1980s, reflecting a shift toward character acting in diverse genres bolstered by financial stability from his soap opera roles. One of his final appearances was as the Hearing Officer in Colors (1988), Dennis Hopper's high-profile Orion Pictures drama starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall as LAPD officers combating gang violence in Los Angeles. In this intense police procedural, Rust's authoritative figure presides over an internal affairs inquiry. That same year, he had supporting roles as a Construction Worker in the horror film Daddy's Boys and as Sheriff Blanchfield in the thriller Double Revenge, marking the end of his screen career.

Death

Final years

Following his retirement from acting in 1988 after appearing in the film Colors, Richard Rust withdrew from the public eye and pursued a more private existence. He resided in throughout his final years. Public details about Rust's during this period remain sparse, including information on relationships or daily routines. He had been married three times, all ending in divorce, with three children from his union with actress Dionne Van Hessen.

Death and aftermath

Richard Rust died on November 9, 1994, in , , at the age of 59, from complications of a . His passing garnered limited public reporting, with no major obituaries or detailed news coverage appearing in contemporary sources. Rust's remains were cremated, and his ashes were given to family or friends, suggesting private memorial services without public ceremonies. In the years following his death, Rust's work in television soap operas, such as , and genre films like Colors (1988)—which marked a capstone to his screen career—has been preserved in entertainment archives and continues to receive recognition among fans of classic television and cinema.
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.