Paul Alden Brinegar Jr. (December 19, 1917 â€" March 27, 1995) was an
American character actor best known for his roles in three Western
series: The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Rawhide, and
Lancer.Brinegar was born in 1917 in Tucumcari in eastern New Mexico,
the first child of Louise (née McElroy) and Paul A. Brinegar Sr., who
was a farmer. His family relocated several times during his childhood,
first moving to Alamogordo, then to Las Cruces, and finally to Santa
Fe. It was in Santa Fe where Brinegar became interested in acting,
performing in stage productions at his local high school.After his
graduation in 1935, Brinegar left Santa Fe to attend Pasadena Junior
College in California. There he studied drama, literature, and art.
According to the United States Census of 1940, he was back in Santa Fe
by May of that year living with his parents and his two younger
brothers, Warren and Robert.The 1940 census also identifies him at
that time as an independent "Writer" and his father then as a
freelancing "general short hand Reporter". Soon thereafter young
Brinegar joined the United States Navy to serve four years during
World War II as a chief radio operator in the South Pacific. After the
war he returned to California, where he applied his military training
and experience to earn a living in the Los Angeles area as a radio
repairman. He also resumed his pursuit of an acting career in his
spare time, playing bit parts in movies.
American character actor best known for his roles in three Western
series: The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Rawhide, and
Lancer.Brinegar was born in 1917 in Tucumcari in eastern New Mexico,
the first child of Louise (née McElroy) and Paul A. Brinegar Sr., who
was a farmer. His family relocated several times during his childhood,
first moving to Alamogordo, then to Las Cruces, and finally to Santa
Fe. It was in Santa Fe where Brinegar became interested in acting,
performing in stage productions at his local high school.After his
graduation in 1935, Brinegar left Santa Fe to attend Pasadena Junior
College in California. There he studied drama, literature, and art.
According to the United States Census of 1940, he was back in Santa Fe
by May of that year living with his parents and his two younger
brothers, Warren and Robert.The 1940 census also identifies him at
that time as an independent "Writer" and his father then as a
freelancing "general short hand Reporter". Soon thereafter young
Brinegar joined the United States Navy to serve four years during
World War II as a chief radio operator in the South Pacific. After the
war he returned to California, where he applied his military training
and experience to earn a living in the Los Angeles area as a radio
repairman. He also resumed his pursuit of an acting career in his
spare time, playing bit parts in movies.
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