Chuck Connors - Wikipedia. Chuck Connors. Chuck Connors in 1. Born. Kevin Joseph Connors(1. April 1. 0, 1. 92. Brooklyn, New York, U. S. Died. November 1. Los Angeles, California, U.

Directed by Robert Stevenson. With Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker, Tommy Kirk, Jeff York. A teenage boy grows to love a stray yellow dog while helping his mother and. Old Yeller star Kevin Corcoran, who went on to become a producer on Sons Of Anarchy and The Shield, dies aged 66 after cancer battle. By Ross Mcdonagh For Dailymail.com.

S. Cause of death. Lung cancer and pneumonia. Resting place. San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Los Angeles. Occupation. Actor, athlete. Years active. 19. Height. 6 ft 5 in (1. Political party. Republican.

Spouse(s)Elizabeth Riddell (1. Kamala Devi (1. 96. Faith Quabius (1. Children. 4Kevin Joseph Aloysius “Chuck” Connors (April 1. November 1. 0, 1.

American actor, writer and professional basketball and baseball player. He is one of only 1. American professional sports to have played both Major League Baseball and in the National Basketball Association. With a 4. 0- year film and television career, he is best known for his five- year role as Lucas Mc. Cain in the highly rated ABC series The Rifleman (1. Early life[edit]Connors was born Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors on April 1. Brooklyn, New York, the elder child of two children born to Marcella (née Londrigan) and Alban Francis "Allan" Connors, immigrants of Irish descent from Newfoundland and Labrador.[2] He had one sibling, his younger sister, Gloria, two years his junior,[2][3] According to the federal census of 1.

Newfoundland, Canada.[2]That same census also records that his father had become a citizen of the United States in 1. Brooklyn in 1. 93.

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His mother had also attained her U. S. citizenship in 1. Raised Roman Catholic, he served as an altar boy at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn. Connors was a devoted, avid fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers despite their losing record during the 1. A gifted athlete, he earned a scholarship to the Adelphi Academy, a preparatory school in Brooklyn, where he graduated in 1. He received additional offers for athletic scholarships from more than two dozen colleges and universities.[4]From those offers he chose to attend Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. There he played both basketball and baseball for the school, and it was there too where he changed his name.

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Since childhood Connors had disliked his first name Kevin, and he had sought another one. He tried using "Lefty" and "Stretch" before finally settling on "Chuck".[3] The name derived from his time as a player on Seton Hall's baseball team. He would repeatedly yell to the pitcher from his position on first base, "Chuck it to me, baby, chuck it to me!" The rest of his teammates and spectators at the university's games soon caught on, and the nickname stuck.[4]Connors, though, left Seton Hall after two years to accept a contract to play professional baseball with the New York Yankees.[4] That opportunity lasted only one season, for he joined the United States Army following America's entrance into World War II. During most of the war, he served as a tank- warfare instructor at Fort Campbell, located on the Kentucky- Tennessee border, and later at West Point in New York.[3]Sports career[edit]During his Army service, Connors moonlighted as a professional basketball player, joining the Rochester Royals and helping to lead them to the 1. National Basketball League championship.[5] Following his military discharge in 1. Boston Celtics of the Basketball Association of America becoming the first professional basketball player to be credited with breaking a backboard. Connors took a shot that caught the front of the rim of an improperly installed glass backboard during the Celtics' warm up at Boston Arena on November 5, 1.

Connors left the team for spring training with Major League Baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers. He played for numerous minor league teams before joining the Dodgers in 1. He joined the Chicago Cubs in 1. In 1. 95. 2, he was sent to the minor leagues again to play for the Cubs' top farm team, the Los Angeles Angels. He was drafted into American Football by the NFL's Chicago Bears, but never suited up for the team.[8]In 1. Connors played an off- field role by helping to end the celebrated holdout (see Reserve clause) by Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax when he acted as an intermediary during negotiations between management and the players.[9] Connors can be seen in the Associated Press photo with Drysdale, Koufax and Dodgers general manager Buzzie Bavasi announcing the pitchers' new contracts.[1.

Connors was listed as 6 foot 5 inches when he played baseball, and 6 foot 6 inches when he played basketball.[1. Acting career[edit]Connors realized that he would not make a career in professional sports, so he decided to pursue an acting career. Playing baseball near Hollywood proved fortunate, as he was spotted by an MGMcasting director and subsequently signed for the 1. Tracy–Hepburn film Pat and Mike. In 1. 95. 3, he starred opposite Burt Lancaster as a rebellious Marine private in the film South Sea Woman and opposite John Wayne in Trouble Along the Way as a football coach. Television roles[edit]Connors had a rare comedic role in a 1. Flight to the North") of Adventures of Superman.

He portrayed Sylvester J. Superman, a lanky rustic yokel who shared the same name as the title character of the series. Connors was cast as Lou Brissie, a former professional baseball player wounded during World War II, in the 1. The Comeback" of the religion anthology series.

Crossroads. Don De. Fore portrayed the Reverend C. E. "Stoney" Jackson, who offered the spiritual insight to assist Brissie's recovery so that he could return to the game. Grant Withers was cast as Coach Whitey Martin; Crossroads regular Robert Carson also played a coach in this episode. Edd Byrnes, Rhys Williams, and Robert Fuller played former soldiers.

X Brands is cast as a baseball player. In 1. 95. 7, Connors was cast in the Walt Disney film Old Yeller in the role of Burn Sanderson. That same year, he co- starred in The Hired Gun.[1. Character actor[edit]Connors acted in feature films including The Big Country with Gregory Peck and Charlton Heston, Move Over Darling with Doris Day and James Garner, Soylent Green with Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson, and Airplane II: The Sequel. He also became a lovable television character actor, guest- starring in dozens of shows. His guest- starring debut was on an episode of NBC's Dear Phoebe.

He played in two episodes, one as the bandit Sam Bass, on Dale Robertson's NBC western Tales of Wells Fargo. Other television appearances were on Hey, Jeannie!, The Loretta Young Show, Schlitz Playhouse, Screen Directors Playhouse, Four Star Playhouse, Matinee Theatre, Cavalcade of America, Gunsmoke, The Gale Storm Show, The West Point Story, The Millionaire, General Electric Theater hosted by Ronald Reagan, Wagon Train, The Restless Gun with John Payne, Murder, She Wrote, Date with the Angels with Betty White, The Du. Pont Show with June Allyson, The Virginian, Night Gallery hosted by Rod Serling, Here's Lucy with Lucille Ball, and many others. The Rifleman[edit].

Publicity still of Connors for The Rifleman, 1. Connors beat 4. 0 other actors for the lead on The Rifleman, portraying Lucas Mc. Cain, a widowed rancher known for his skill with a customized Winchester rifle. This ABCWestern series, which aired from 1. Connors said in a 1. TV Guide that the producers of Four Star Television (Dick Powell, Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino and David Niven) must have been looking at 4.

At the time, the producers offered a certain amount of money to do 3. The offer turned out to be less than Connors was making doing freelance acting, so he turned it down. A few days later, the producers of The Rifleman took their own children to watch Old Yeller in which Connors played a strong father figure. After the producers watched him in the movie, they decided they should cast Connors in the role of Lucas Mc. Cain and make him a better offer, including a five- percent ownership of the show. The Rifleman was an immediate hit, ranking No.

Nielsen ratings in 1. Westerns – Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, and Have Gun – Will Travel.

Watch Out! Family Movies That Could Traumatize Your Kids. I don't mind admitting that there are movies that make me cry. Steel Magnolias gets me every time (that scene where Sally Field loses it after the funeral?), and even WALL- E left me blinking back a few tears (happy ones, but still). I come by my cinema- induced emotions honestly (my dad still tears up at Disney movies), and sometimes I even prefer a good flick that will let loose a few sniffles in the dark. But I'm not a kid, and most of the movies that have made me cry are ones that I knew in advance I should have tissues handy for.

It's a far different experience to be settled in for family movie night - - ready for a few laughs, a few "awwww" moments, and maybe a nice message or two - - and then get hit by THE SCENE: the one you aren't expecting that leaves your kids upset, teary- eyed, or even sobbing. We've rounded up some family- targeted movies that fall into a few key "watch out" categories and might make the kind of childhood memories you'd rather avoid. Warning - - lots of spoilers ahead!)Death of an Animal.

Even the most hardened moviegoers can lose it when an innocent animal suffers on- screen, and kids are hardly the toughest nuts. Dog lovers, especially, beware: Many of the saddest movies on this list deal with painful events befalling man's best friend. Charlotte's Web: When Wilbur's dear friend and constant champion weaves her last web after doing so much for others, many kids are caught unprepared. Hachi: A Dog's Tale: This exceptionally loyal dog lives a long life before passing on, but much of it is spent waiting in vain for a beloved owner who has died unexpectedly. Marley & Me: If you think this based- on- a- true- story tale is a typical dog movie, beware. Many families think they're in for silly dog antics .. Marley's sad death.

My Dog Skip: Skip is another movie dog who ultimately dies of old age - - but not before being bullied and beaten and nearly perishing in some very sad scenes. Old Yeller: Along with Bambi, Old Yeller is one of the most frequently cited emotionally traumatizing movies for kids. After the brave, loyal dog has a run- in with a rabid wolf, his young owner must put him down himself. Devastating. Red Dog: This story about the loss of an exceptionally intelligent, loyal pet offers both joys and sorrows for animal lovers. Where the Red Fern Grows: Life is hard for everyone in the Ozarks in the 1.

Big Dan and Little Ann are no exception. Their tragic end is bound to leave animal- loving kids in tears.

The Yearling: Adapted from the novel by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, this heartrending tale of a boy who loses his beloved pet deer addresses the often- painful process of growing up. Honorable mention: The Fox and the Hound: The main animal characters in this movie don't die, but they aren't allowed to be friends anymore, and their enforced separation is really hard for young kids to take. Watch Videodrome Online Free 2016. Death of a Child.

Many kids, especially really young ones, have no sense of their own mortality - - and why should they? So seeing a young person in danger or worse can be extremely distressing. These movies deal with children's deaths and the emotional aftermath. Bridge to Terabithia: Anyone who's read the book that this touching drama is based on knows what's in store for fearless, imaginative Leslie - - misfit Jess' only friend - - but those expecting a fantasy adventure à la Harry Potter should be warned: Tragedy ahead! Grave of the Fireflies: Beautifully animated but unrelentingly sad, this heartbreaking WWII- set anime tale centers on two children - - brother and sister - - who sicken and die. My Girl: The unexpected death of preteen Vada's best friend (by bee sting, no less) hits many kids very hard, especially since much of the rest of the movie has a sweetly nostalgic feel. The Odd Life of Timothy Green: Technically Timothy doesn't die, but he disappears forever, causing pain for those who loved him, which can be just as hard for kids to deal with.

Honorable mention: E. T.: No, E. T. isn't exactly a child, and no, he doesn't really die - - but for a few moments, it seems as if he's died, and those few moments can be enough to send young fans of the spunky little alien into a tailspin.

Death of a Parent. Few things are more upsetting to young children than something bad happening to a parent on- screen - - separation is bad enough, and death is even worse. All these movies include scenes in which a parent is lost (or in which the loss is recent or imminent): Bambi: Bambi's mother's death takes place offscreen, but it's still the first thing most viewers remember, even decades later. Bambi's subsequent frantic search for her is almost as upsetting. Dumbo: Dumbo's mother doesn't die, but she's cruelly separated from him after she's provoked into a scary rampage. The follow- up scene in which she cradles him with her trunk through the bars of her cage window is gut- wrenching. Finding Nemo: Some parents we know just skip the first scene of this movie altogether until their kids are old enough to handle Nemo's mom's untimely demise at the jaws of a menacing predator fish.

Fly Away Home: The 1. The Good Dinosaur: Arlo's dad is abruptly washed away by a flash flood during a scary storm; timid Arlo is terrified. The Land Before Time: Young dinosaur Littlefoot's mother is killed by an aggressive T. The Lion King: Not only does Simba's dad get trampled to death by a herd of stampeding wildebeests, but Simba unfairly blames himself for the tragedy. A Little Princess: Main character Sara has already lost her mother, and then she's informed that her father has died in battle, leaving her to mourn him through much of the movie.

Mars Needs Moms: The mom doesn't actually die in this touching adventure, but there are references to the fact that she'll be killed when she's outlived her usefulness, and at one point it looks as if she has died. Stepmom: This story about a family dealing with divorce and remarriage takes a tragic turn when the kids' mom is diagnosed with fatal cancer. Tarzan: Baby Tarzan is orphaned after an aggressive, scary leopard kills his parents; they're discovered with bloody paw prints nearby. We Bought a Zoo: Here, the mom passed away six months before the movie begins, but the impact on her family is very much in evidence. Sometimes watching characters deal with grief can be even more painful than the death itself. Honorable mention: Up: While Ellie isn't a parent (which is another emotional aspect of the movie), her death at the end of an extremely poignant montage early in the film has a powerful impact. Whether you're blindsided because a movie's ads conveniently "forget" to mention that there was sad stuff amid the kid- friendly comedy or because you just didn't know that a certain plot twist was coming, you still have to deal with the aftermath.

These tips will help: Before you push play or buy a ticket, check out detailed movie reviews (like ours!) to get a heads- up on potentially upsetting scenes. Watch with your child, and be ready to offer a comforting hug or to pause the movie to talk about why a scene was sad or scary. For kids 7 and under, scenes that deal with loss, separation, and kids and parents in peril are particularly unsettling, so be prepared to help them deal with the tough issues they see. It's best to answer kids' inevitable questions with direct, simple, and honest information and reassure them where you can. It's also important to process feelings of sadness and grief by expressing them - - mainly through play or an activity such as drawing a picture, playing with dolls, or simply talking. Though older kids may have some understanding of loss and death, they too can be upset by both scary scenes (kidnapping, for example) as well as emotional ones.

They may be particularly concerned with the details of death and dying, may tend to think of death as punishment, and may worry about pain and suffering. Address their questions, and provide safe outlets for them to express themselves.