‘Laramie’ actor Robert Fuller reflects on his career in Hollywood

Robert Fuller was on his way to Japan when suddenly the plane he was in caught fire. No one was injured, but it caused his flight to land at 2 a.m. in Tokyo. To his shock, 25,000 fans were waiting for him.

He’d recently been given a lead role in the television show “Laramie,” which launched in September 1959. It was a hit in the United States and became the No. 1 show in Japan. Fuller, who got his first starring role in the movie “Teenage Thunder” a few years before, now was about to receive the Japanese Order of Merit from Japanese Emperor Hirohito.

“I’m not gonna lie. … I was in shock,” The 91-year-old told Talk Business & Politics. “It was pretty exciting. I couldn’t believe it.”

The actor, who would go on to star in more than a dozen movies and other television shows such as “Wagon Train” and “Emergency” recently spoke at the Midsouth Nostalgia Festival. He said he had no clue he would become an acclaimed actor who would work in Hollywood for decades.

He was born in New York City, but grew up in Key West, Fla. During his childhood, it wasn’t uncommon to see then President Harry Truman walking down the street by himself with a hat and cane, he said.

Fuller said he loathed school and dropped out when he was in his teens. His family moved to Hollywood and he soon got work as an extra on film sets and as a stuntman. He had several uncredited roles including in the 1953 hit “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” starring Marilyn Monroe.

He was drafted later that year and served in Korea. He was reportedly awarded a Purple Heart and Flying Cross. He had no intention of resuming his fledgling acting, he said, but when he returned home a friend encouraged him to attend acting school. He met other young actors such as Charles Bronson and soon began to hone his craft.

His mother had been a dance instructor and she taught him how to dance. Parts in musicals were much more lucrative and he auditioned for them every chance he got.

“Musicals paid $250 a week, while regular parts paid $12 a day,” he said. “That was pretty easy math.”

He nearly landed the role of Little Joe Cartwright in the television show “Bonanza” but it ultimately went to Michael Landon. After several movie and television roles, he landed his first major television role as Jess Harper in “Laramie.” Fuller said it was one of his favorite roles of all time and the directors were part of the reason why.

“They knew how to make a western, and I loved working with them,” he said.

The show would last for five seasons and 124 episodes were produced. The show would air in more than 70 countries and was popular in Germany in addition to Japan. During this time, he became friends with iconic actor Yul Brynner.

Years later, he would star in the television show “Wagon Train” and in the 1970s he was a character in the hit show “Emergency.” Throughout his career, he made guest appearances in a slew of television shows including “Murder She Wrote,” “The Love Boat,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” and others. He even made a guest appearance in the 1994 movie, “Maverick.”

Once, early in his career, he had a day off. On days like this, he would try to sneak onto other sets as an extra. He would put on wigs, facial hair, costumes and others in the prop room and try to surprise his other actor friends on their sets. 

This particular day, he threw four bottles of whiskey into a duffel bag and sneaked onto the set of “The War Lord.” There was a scene where a group of stuntmen and extras would storm across a bridge over a moat and invade a castle. The stuntmen in the front would take an arrow and perish. 

The unsuspecting casting director selected Fuller for the part. Fuller was sure the cast and crew had no idea who he was. The scene unfolded, and Fuller took the arrow and hit the ground. Suddenly, all the stuntmen and extras stomped all over him as they ran into the castle.

“They all knew it was me,” he said with a laugh. “They’d been waiting to get me back for a long time.”

Fuller said he’s glad he got out of acting when he did. He said the entertainment sector has changed dramatically since he was at his peak in the 1960s and 1970s.

“I was fortunate to work in Hollywood during its golden years,” he said. “If I hadn’t got into acting I would have become a vet. I love animals.”