Richard Emory was an American actor. He would achieve his fame as an American B-movie actor of the 1950s and 1960s. He would also play supporting roles in various television series of the same period. He retired from movies and television in 1963.
Biography
Early Life
Walter Emory Johnson Jr. was born in Santa Barbara, California. His mother was silent film actress Ella Hall and his father was actor turned director Emory Johnson. At the time of his birth, both parents were contract players for Universal. By 1924, their parents' marriage was on the rocks. His parents reconciled in late 1925; then tragedy struck in March 1926. While Ella and the kids were crossing a busy street in Hollywood, Emory's 5-year-old brother Alfred was struck and killed by a truck. The truck had narrowly missed Emory. After his parent's reconciliation, Ella and Emory decided to have one last child. Emory's sister, Diana Marie, was born on October 27, 1929. His parents divorced in 1930. Emory, along with his two younger sisters, went to live with their mother. Richard Emory would be the first of the Johnson children to appear in a film. At age 10, he had an uncredited role in the 1930 film All Quiet on the Western Front. He would have another uncredited part in the 1941 production of I Wanted Wings.
Military
Dick Emory's early personal life was focusing on finishing High School. He also liked to hunt and fish. He enlisted in the Marines reserves when he came of age. Emory then registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, as Emory Waldemar Johnson. He stated he was 21 years old, 6' tall, 162 pounds, blue eyes, blond hair, and lived in North Hollywood. He also stated he was a private in the Marine Corps Reserve. Emory Johnson enlisted in the Marines on November 7, 1940. He served until his release on September 12, 1945.
Career
After World War II, he got work as a wholesale florist. After a year and a half, he quit and started studying at the Gilliard's Playhouse. He remained there for two years. He reignited his film career with his first credited role in South of Death Valley released in 1949. Bandit King of Texas was released days later. Thus, he would embark upon a career as a Character actor in both films and television. Around the time he left dramatic school, his rugged good looks got him employment as an advertising model. He used modeling to supplement his income for eighteen years because of the unsteady pay generated from movie parts. Richard Emory would act in a variety of movie roles including adventures, comedies, science fiction, Westerns and even musicals. A full third of his artistic output was in the Western genre. These films included Code of the Silver Sage, Gene Autry and the Mounties, Little Big Horn, Hellgate and Perils of the Wilderness.He earned a variety of roles on television. A third of his television output were westerns including roles in The Cisco Kid, The Roy Rogers Show, The Gene Autry Show and The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. He ended his acting career with a role as an intern in the television series Perry Mason. The episode aired on May 9, 1963. Dick Emory was 44 years old.
Post Career
Dick Emory spent a good part of his life living in North Hollywood. California. In fact, he was married there in January 1952. After he retired from movies and television, he tried selling insurance and real estate. He also pursued other opportunities until he finally found his niche. In 1966, he went to a local college and started work as a landscaper and gardener. He worked at his new job for ten years. In 1976, Dick retired at 57 years old. In 1980, Dick and his wife moved to Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Richard was once again able to pursue his passion in life – growing things. Ten years later, Richard and his wife decided to move to Moab, Utah. The move to Utah, explains why Richard Emory is listed in the "Brief Biographies of Church of the Latter Day Saints and/or Utah Film Personalities" website. The listing is based on being a Film Personality residing in Utah. He was not a member of the LDS church.
Death
Emory was in his early seventies when they moved to Moab. Richard Emory died of a stroke on Friday, February 15, 1994, in Moab, Utah. Unlike his parents and two siblings, he chose not to be interred with the rest of the family at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in California. Richard Emory had a non-cemetery burial in Utah. Richard Emory had just turned 75 years old at the time of his death.
