'The Life and Legend' star Hugh O'Brian dies at 91

Image courtesy- movie still

Los Angeles: Hugh O'Brian, popularly known for playing lawman Wyatt Earp on the ABC series 'The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp' has passed away. He was 91.

The actor died peacefully in his Beverly Hills home on Monday morning, the Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) leadership organization confirmed, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Born in Rochester, New York, O'Brian rose to fame on television as the quick-drawing Wyatt Earp when he was chosen to portray the legendary lawman in 1955.

He also played the famed lawman in a 1956 episode of ABC's 'Make Room for Daddy', 'Guns of Paradise' (1989), 'The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw' (1991) and in the 1994 CBS TV movie 'Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone'.

O'Brian appeared regularly on other popular programs like 'The Nat King Cole Show', 'The Jackie Gleason Show', 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and 'The Dinah Shore Chevy Show' all in 1957.

The actor made a number of motion pictures including, 'Rocketship X-M' (1950), "The Lawless Breed" (1953), "There's No Business Like Show Business" (1954), "Ten Little Indians" (1965) and Ambush Bay (1966).

He was also known for his noble causes. He launched HOBY in 1958 to teach 10th class students to become future leaders, and almost 60 years later, the program has more than four lakh alumni.

In addition to his wife, O'Brian is survived by his brother, Don Krampe, a co-founder of his foundation.