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Steve Raines
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Steve Raines (June 17, 1916 – January 4, 1996) was an American television and film actor. He appeared in many TV Western series.
Key Information
Early years
[edit]Born in 1916[1] in Grants Pass, Oregon,[2] Raines was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Savage of San Antonio, Texas. The Savages operated a riding stable located across from the orphanage where Raines resided. He frequently visited the stable and was eventually adopted by the Savages.[citation needed]
Career
[edit]In 1947 Raines began acting and being a stuntman in films.[3] His first film was Along the Oregon Trail (1947).[4] His work included being a double for Alan Ladd in Shane (1953).[3]
Raines appeared in many television series and several films, including Naked Gun (1956), Street of Darkness (1958), and Macho Callahan (1970).
He and Savage performed in some "B" movies with Henry Garcia a local actor. After a while, he decided he would go to California to be in the movies and the rest is below.[citation needed]
Raines participated in bulldogging and bronco riding in rodeos in the United States and South America. He also worked as a stuntman in Hollywood and as a guide for hunters. He was in the US military during World War II.[2]
Raines played Jim Quince in the CBS western series, Rawhide (1959–1965).[5] Raines was featured in the episode, Judgement at Hondo Seco. From the 1950s to the 1970s, he guest-starred in The Adventures of Kit Carson, Brave Eagle, Maverick, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Laredo, and The High Chaparral.
His last appearance was in a 1974 episode of CBS's Gunsmoke, starring James Arness.
Death
[edit]Raines died in Grants Pass, Oregon, of a stroke on January 4, 1996, aged 79.[1]
Filmography
[edit]| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1947 | Along the Oregon Trail | Henchman Steve | Uncredited |
| 1947 | Colorado Skies | Henchman Pony | |
| 1948 | Oklahoma Badlands | Henchman | Uncredited |
| 1948 | Sundown in Santa Fe | Henchman | Uncredited |
| 1948 | Frontier Revenge | 1st Dawson Brother | Uncredited |
| 1949 | Sheriff of Wichita | Will - Henchman | |
| 1949 | Son of a Bad Man | Henchman Larson | |
| 1951 | Border Fence | Steve Patterson | |
| 1953 | Shane | Ryker Man | Uncredited |
| 1954 | Drums Across the River | Uncredited | |
| 1954 | Broken Lance | Cowboy | Uncredited |
| 1955 | Count Three and Pray | Jake Miller | Uncredited |
| 1956 | Reprisal! | Minor Role | Uncredited |
| 1956 | Naked Gun | Stevens | |
| 1958 | Cattle Empire | Paul Corbo | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Street of Darkness | Flakey | |
| 1958 | Frontier Gun | Vince | Uncredited |
| 1967 | Mosby's Marauders | Sgt. Maddux | |
| 1970 | Macho Callahan | Bartender | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1955 | The Gene Autry Show | Henchman Pete Crowder | 1 episode |
| 1952-1956 | The Roy Rogers Show | Henchman Sam Thatcher / Dan Price / Henchman Slim | 6 episodes |
| 1959-1965 | Rawhide | Jim Quince | 215 episodes |
| 1966 | Laredo | Frank / Stage Driver | 2 episodes |
| 1966 | Daniel Boone | Horseman | 1 episode |
| 1967 | Disneyland | Sgt. Maddux | 1 episode |
| 1966-1968 | Bonanza | Deputy Sheriff / Darrel Brightman | 2 episodes |
| 1969 | The Wild Wild West | Ben | 1 episode |
| 1966-1971 | The Virginian | Carlson / Charley Kroeger / Morgan Oliver / Winky | 4 episodes |
| 1959-1974 | Gunsmoke | Driver / Pete / Ed Reilly / 1st Cowboy / Steve | 14 episodes, (final appearance) |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Aaker, Everett (October 15, 2024). Television Western Players of the Fifties: A Biographical Encyclopedia of All Regular Cast Members in Western Series, 1949-1959. McFarland. pp. 432–433. ISBN 978-1-4766-0635-4.
- ^ a b Freese, Gene Scott (April 4, 2014). Hollywood Stunt Performers, 1910s-1970s: A Biographical Dictionary, 2d ed. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-1470-0. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ a b Ryan, Jim (October 17, 2024). The Rodeo and Hollywood: Rodeo Cowboys on Screen and Western Actors in the Arena. McFarland. pp. 77–78. ISBN 978-1-4766-0314-8. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
- ^ Brode, Douglas (January 1, 2010). Shooting Stars of the Small Screen: Encyclopedia of TV Western Actors, 1946–Present. University of Texas Press. p. 271. ISBN 978-0-292-78331-7. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
- ^ Aaker, Everett (May 16, 2017). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. p. 166. ISBN 978-1-4766-2856-1. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Steve Raines at IMDb
| International | |
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| National | |
Steve Raines
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Birth and family background
Steve Edward Raines was born on June 17, 1916, in Grants Pass, Oregon.[1] At 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) tall, Raines was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Savage of San Antonio, Texas, who operated a riding stable near the orphanage where he initially lived. He frequently visited the stable and developed an early interest in horses and riding.[4][5] Limited details are available on his biological family or siblings.Cowboy and rodeo career
Steve Raines pursued a career as a cowboy following his military service in World War II, working on ranches across the American West where he herded cattle and developed essential skills in horsemanship and cattle driving.[2][6] As a young man, he had entered the professional rodeo circuit in the late 1940s and early 1950s, traveling extensively across the United States to compete and entertain in events that highlighted his expertise as a rider.[7][6] One notable episode in his rodeo tenure involved signing on with a promoter for a South American tour; after the final show, the promoter fled with their earnings, stranding Raines and his fellow performers, who then labored their way back to the U.S.[7] Raines continued on the rodeo circuit into the early 1950s, but the intense physical toll—marked by injuries and exhaustion—prompted his retirement around the mid-1950s.[7] These formative years equipped him with practical knowledge of Western ranching and performance techniques, lending genuine authenticity to his subsequent portrayals of cowboys in film and television.[6]Acting career
Transition to acting
In the late 1940s, following nearly two decades as a professional rodeo cowboy, Steve Raines shifted to the entertainment industry, capitalizing on his equestrian expertise and authentic Western persona for stunt work and minor acting roles in Hollywood films. His rodeo background provided a natural bridge, as his skills in horseback riding and roping were highly valued in the Western genre prevalent at the time.[2][3] Raines' entry was facilitated through industry connections stemming from his rodeo circuit, including being spotted by a Hollywood producer while performing stunt riding at a rodeo in Texas. This led to his debut in film as the uncredited Henchman Steve in the Western Along the Oregon Trail (1947), a Republic Pictures production starring Clayton Moore and Monte Hale. He continued with similar uncredited bit parts and stunts in subsequent years, building experience without formal training.[8][9] By the mid-1950s, Raines had progressed to more prominent supporting roles, often leveraging his physicality for action sequences. In the classic Western Shane (1953), directed by George Stevens, he served as an uncredited stunt double for Alan Ladd in horseback scenes and appeared briefly as Ryker Man, one of the film's antagonistic ranch hands. Two years later, he took on the uncredited role of Jake Miller, a townsman, in the post-Civil War drama Count Three and Pray (1955), starring Van Heflin and Joanne Woodward. These early opportunities, secured at age 37 and 39 respectively, highlighted how Raines' real-life cowboy authenticity compensated for his late start and absence of dramatic schooling, enabling steady work in the competitive field of B-Westerns and television pilots.[10][11][12]Role in Rawhide
Steve Raines portrayed Jim Quince, a dedicated and reliable drover, in the CBS Western television series Rawhide, which ran from 1959 to 1965. As one of the core members of the cattle drive crew led by trail boss Gil Favor, Quince was depicted as a quiet, tough, and loyal cowhand who handled the rigors of the trail with steadfast competence. Raines appeared in 215 of the show's 217 episodes across all eight seasons, establishing Quince as a recurring staple alongside leads like Eric Fleming and Clint Eastwood.[13] Raines' performance drew heavily from his own background as a real-life cowboy and rodeo performer, infusing the role with genuine riding expertise and physical authenticity, particularly in action-oriented scenes involving herding, chases, and confrontations. Prior to acting, Raines had worked on cattle ranges from Texas to Wyoming and competed in rodeos as a bronco rider and bullfighter, skills that allowed him to perform many of his own stunts and contribute to the realistic portrayal of frontier life. This personal experience brought a layer of credibility to Quince's character, enhancing the overall immersion in the series' depiction of long, arduous cattle drives.[6] In addition to acting, Raines contributed to the show's creative process by co-writing the season 3 premiere episode, "Incident at Rojo Canyon," alongside Budd Bankson and Charles Marquis Warren. The episode, directed by Ted Post and aired on September 30, 1960, centered on the crew's perilous passage through a canyon fraught with bandits and natural hazards, showcasing Quince's resourcefulness in a high-stakes scenario. Raines' involvement in scripting reflected his deep understanding of Western tropes and cattle-driving dynamics, further solidifying his integral role in the production.[14] The longevity and prominence of his role in Rawhide significantly boosted Raines' career, transforming him from a supporting stuntman into a recognized figure in Western television and cementing his association with the genre for decades. Quince's consistent presence helped anchor the ensemble dynamic that drove the series' success, appealing to audiences through relatable portrayals of teamwork and resilience on the trail.[13]Other television and film roles
Throughout his acting career, which spanned approximately 27 years from 1949 to 1974, Steve Raines frequently took on supporting and stunt roles in Western television series and films, demonstrating his reliability in the genre outside of his signature performance in Rawhide. His work often featured him as rugged characters such as cowboys, drivers, henchmen, and military personnel, contributing to the authenticity of frontier narratives through physicality and brief but memorable appearances.[1][15] Raines made numerous guest appearances on long-running Western series, with one of his most extensive engagements being on Gunsmoke, where he portrayed a variety of minor roles across at least 14 episodes from the late 1950s to 1974, including stage drivers (such as in "Twisted Heritage"), trail bosses, drovers, and characters like Pete, Ed Reilly, and Steve. He also appeared in episodes of The High Chaparral (1967–1970), playing supporting parts such as Bayliss, Jess, and Trent, which highlighted his versatility in ensemble Western dynamics. Other notable television credits included roles in Brave Eagle (10 episodes in the mid-1950s), The Roy Rogers Show (6 episodes), The Adventures of Kit Carson, Maverick, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Laredo, The Virginian (4 episodes), Bonanza, and Daniel Boone (as a horseman in the 1966 episode "River Passage"). These appearances underscored his consistent presence in the golden age of television Westerns, often emphasizing action-oriented stunt work.[15][16][1] In film, Raines contributed to several Western productions, typically in uncredited or small credited roles that supported the main action. Early credits include the henchman Will in Sheriff of Wichita (1949) and appearances in Broken Lance (1954) and Count Three and Pray (1955). He gained more visibility in mid-1950s films like Reprisal! (1956), where he played a rancher, and The Naked Gun (1956), followed by Cattle Empire (1958) as a cowboy and Street of Darkness (1958). Later works encompassed Mosby's Marauders (1967) as Sgt. Maddux and Macho Callahan (1970), along with the TV movie A Man for Hanging (1972). These roles reinforced his niche as a dependable genre performer, blending acting with occasional stunt duties to enhance the physical demands of Western storytelling.[3][1][17]Personal life
Marriage and family
Steve Raines married Sally Jean Durkus on July 31, 1953, in Santa Barbara, California, after meeting her in Wyoming while working as a stuntman on the set of the film Shane (1953).[18][19] The couple had one son, Michael Raines.[18][19] Their marriage lasted over 42 years until Raines' death in 1996, providing personal stability amid the demands of his acting career, which often involved extensive location shooting and travel.[19] Raines and his family maintained a private life, with little public information available beyond these basic details and no records of scandals or controversies.[18]Retirement and interests
After concluding his acting career with a guest role as Pete in the November 11, 1974, episode of Gunsmoke titled "The Tarnished Badge," Raines retired at age 58 following 27 years in the entertainment industry.[20] He returned to his hometown of Grants Pass, Oregon—where he had been born in 1916—opting for a low-profile lifestyle that allowed him to reconnect with his Pacific Northwest roots away from Hollywood's demands.[19] This phase of his life emphasized quiet living in the community he knew from childhood, spanning over two decades until his later years.Death and legacy
Final years and death
Following his retirement, Raines relocated to Grants Pass, Oregon, in 1986.[2] On January 4, 1996, Raines suffered a stroke at the age of 79 while at the Royale Gardens Health Care Facility in Grants Pass.[19][2] He died later that day from complications of the stroke.[19][21] Raines was survived by his wife of over four decades, Sally Jean Durkus, and their son, Michael.[2]Posthumous recognition
Raines was interred at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Grants Pass, Oregon, following his death.[2] In the Western genre, Raines portrayed the drover Jim Quince on Rawhide, a role noted for its authenticity due to his real-life cowboy and rodeo background.[6] Raines' legacy persists in 21st-century Western media retrospectives, with mentions in articles revisiting Rawhide's impact and its role in shaping television Westerns up to 2025.[6] These tributes underscore his quiet reliability as a character actor, maintaining his place in conversations about classic Western television.Filmography
Television appearances
Steve Raines appeared in over 250 television episodes across multiple Western series from 1955 to 1974.[1] His most prominent role was as the drover Jim Quince in the CBS Western Rawhide (1959–1965), in which he appeared in 215 episodes.[22] He also received a writing credit as co-writer for the season 3 premiere episode "Incident at Rojo Canyon" (1960).[23] Raines made multiple guest appearances in other popular Westerns, often portraying supporting characters such as drivers, deputies, cowboys, and henchmen. Notable credits include:| Series | Years | Role(s) | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gunsmoke | 1957–1974 | Various (e.g., Driver, Pete, Ed Reilly, Stage Driver, Trail Boss) | 14 |
| Brave Eagle | 1955–1956 | Various | 10 |
| The Roy Rogers Show | 1952–1957 | Various | 6 |
| The Virginian | 1962–1971 | Various | 4 |
| Daniel Boone | 1964–1970 | Horseman | 1 ("River Passage," 1966) |
| The High Chaparral | 1967–1971 | Trent, Bayliss, Jess | 3 |
| Bonanza | 1959–1973 | Deputy Sheriff, Darrel Brightman | 2 |
| Laredo | 1965–1967 | Frank, Stage Driver | 2 |
Film credits
Steve Raines appeared in a select number of feature films, predominantly Westerns where he took on supporting roles or performed stunts, often uncredited.[1] His film work spanned from the late 1940s to the early 1970s, emphasizing bit parts that contributed to the genre's ensemble casts. The following table lists his verified film credits chronologically, including roles and notes where available:| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Under Colorado Skies | Henchman | Uncredited |
| 1948 | Frontier Revenge | 1st Dawson Brother | Supporting role |
| 1949 | Sheriff of Wichita | Will - Henchman | Supporting role |
| 1949 | Son of a Bad Man | Henchman Larson | Uncredited |
| 1953 | Shane | Ryker Man | Uncredited |
| 1955 | Count Three and Pray | Jake Miller | Uncredited |
| 1956 | Naked Gun | Stevens | Supporting role in Western |
| 1956 | Reprisal! | Townsman | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Cattle Empire | (Unspecified) | Uncredited supporting/stunt |
| 1958 | Street of Darkness | Flakey | Non-Western crime drama; credited as Steve Rains |
| 1970 | Macho Callahan | Bartender | Supporting role in Western |
| 1972 | A Man for Hanging | Willie | Supporting role in Western TV film |