Biography
This page uses content from the Rick Jason biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.
Rick Jason (May 21, 1923 – October 16, 2000) was an American actor. Jason was born in New York City, and is probably most remembered for his role as Lt. Gil Hanley in the 1960s television drama "Combat!."
An only child, Rick was expelled from several prep schools before graduating from Rhodes Preparatory School in Manhattan. He also served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II from 1943-1945.
After The War, he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts on the GI Bill, and held a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. While in attendance at a New York play, he was spotted by Hume Cronyn who then casted him in "Now I Lay me Down to Sleep". The role earned Jason a Theater World Award and a Hollywood contract with Columbia Pictures. Later on, MGM was searching for an actor to replace Fernando Lamas in the movie "Sombrero". Jason, who was earlier released from Columbia Pictures, got the role. It was a success and it led to "The Saracen Blade" and "This Is My Love". After that, Fox signed him for the male lead role in "The Lieutenant Wore Skirts". He was then signed to a multi-picture contract. His first project was an adaptation of John Steinbeck's "The Wayward Bus", which earned him critical acclaim. A string of good performances, both in films and on television, then followed. Soon after, Rick was deluged by more than 30 offers for TV series. In 1960, he starred as an insurance investigator, Robin Scott, in "The Case of the Dangerous Robin". Then in 1962, he starred as Platoon leader Lt. Gil Hanley on the TV series "Combat!" The show co-starred Vic Morrow as Sgt. Chip Saunders. Five seasons and 152 episodes later it ended. But it was one of the longest-running and most popular World War II dramas on television. After Combat!, Rick returned to theater. He additionally made films in Japan and Israel. In 1970 he took the lead in the 1970 pilot "Prudence and the Chief". His TV career went well in the 70s and 80s, he appeared in shows like "Matt Houston", "Police Woman", "Murder She Wrote", "Wonder Woman", "Fantasy Island", "Airwolf" and "Dallas", just to name a few. In 1973, he was a frequent character on "The Young and the Restless". After his retirement, he kept busy by doing voice-overs for commercials. In 2000, Jason attended a "Combat!" reunion in Las Vegas with fellow cast members. He died later that same year on October 16, 2000.
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