September 3 Birthday Wishes

Alan Ladd [1913 - 1964]

Burt Kennedy [1922 - 2001]

Terry Wilson [1923 - 1999]

Steve Rowland [1932 - ]

Also today:

Charlie Sheen (1965-)

Howdy Manco!!

Alan Ladd began his career in 1932 and appeared in several films, before being cast in the role of the grinning psychotic killer in the 1942 film, This Gun For Hire. This role made him a box office star and led to roles in The Black Dahlia, Boy On A Dolphin, Whispering Smith, Drum Beat and the classic western, Shane in 1953. Ladd was fortunate to be born with a baby face and blonde hair, so that he resembled a choirboy. Unfortunately, baby faces don't age well and in 1962, Ladd was found with a self inflicted bullet wound near his heart. He recovered from this, but 2 years later, after combining Alcohol and sedatives, Alan Ladd died at the youg age of 50.

Burt Kennedy was one of the all time great screenplay writers and directors of westerns. Starting in 1952, he wrote the story, screenplay, was assistant director or directed, Seven Men From Now, The Tall T, Gun The Man Down, Commanche Station, Ride Lonesome and he was just getting started. He also directed The War Wagon, The Good Guys And The Bad Guys, Dirty Dingus McGee and a host of others westerns during his career.
Happy Birthday .Mr Kennedy and thanks for all the great films!!

Like many of the great western character actors, Terry Wilson began his career in film as a stuntman or stunt double. He performed stunts in over 30 films between 1947-1957, such as The Quiet Man, Colt .45, The Red Badge Of Courage, Westward The Women, Ride Vaquero and many more. He began appearing in films in the early 50's and was cast in The War Wagon, Westworld, Support Your Local Sheriff and others, but he will be best remembered by western fans for his role of Bill Hawkes on the long running t.v. series, Wagon Train.

Steve Rowland began his short film career in 1952, in a Hopalong Cassidy film. He continued to appear on many of the t.v. westerns during the 50's and 60's, such as Tales Of Wells Fargo, Wagon Train, The Rifleman etc. During the mid 60's, he was cast in The Batle Of The Bulge and Gunfighters Of Casa Grande. He retired from acting in 1966.

Charlie Sheen is the son of actor Martin Sheen and brother to Emilio Estevez. He began his career back in the 70's, in the film, Badlands. He has appeared in Red Dawn, Platoon, Young Guns and Hot Shots, Part Deaux. He is probably best known for his t.v. series, 2 & 1/2 Men and his controversial separation from the series, along with his battles with drugs during the course of his career. The drug problems seem to have come to an end, when his father, Martin Sheen had his son arrested for drug use.

Ed

Steve Rowland appeared in a bunch of movies and TV shows. His Western appearances include the movies The Silver Star and Gun Glory, and the TV shows Hopalong Cassidy, Wagon Train, Tales of Well Fargo, Wanted Dead or Alive, Bonanza, The Rifleman, and as Phin Clanton of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. He was also a singer and record producer.

Carlos Estevez, better known as Charlie Sheen, gained popularity in the 1980s as one of the "Brat Pack", along with young actors such as Kiefer Sutherland, Judd Nelson, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, and his brother Emilio Estevez. He got his big break in the 1985 Vietnam War movie Platoon. He later played Dick Brewer in the "Brat Pack Western" Young Guns. He went on making films, and gained success on TV , first taking the place of Michael J. Fox on Spin City, and then on Two and a Half Men. His star has lost some of shine the past couple years because of his drug use and bizarre behavior.