Randy Boone, who played the guitar-strumming singing ranch hand Randy Benton on the classic NBC western The Virginian, died on 28 August. He was 83.
His death was reported by his wife Lana. Additional details were not disclosed.
Born Clyde Wilson Randall Boone Jr. on 17 January 1942 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Boone later attended North Carolina State College before dropping out and hitchhiking to California to pursue acting. His first role was a 19-episode run on the 1962 comedy-drama It’s A Man’s World. After its cancellation, he guest-starred on series including The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Wagon Train, The Fugitive and The Twilight Zone, before landing his 70-episode stint on The Virginian from 1964 to 1966.
Boone later said he was fired by producer Frank Price, who thought he was 'window dressing'. Following his time on The Virginian, he starred on Cimarron Strip from 1967 to 1968 and made guest appearances into the 1980s on shows such as Lassie, Emergency! and Gunsmoke. He also starred in the 1966 film Country Boy. He left acting in the late 1980s and worked in construction until his retirement.
He is not related to historical figure Daniel Boone, but shares the name with singer Pat Boone and the late actor Richard Boone.
