Biography
Actor Sean McClory laid the groundwork for his long career at the National Theater of Ireland before joining the ranks of the Hollywood studio RKO as a contract actor in the late '40s. He soon elevated himself above the rank and file, appearing with celebrities such as Ronald Reagan, Ginger Rogers, and Doris Day in "Storm Warning," and earning a supporting role in John Ford's "The Quiet Man." Shot in Ireland and starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara (with whom McClory would later appear with in Ford's "The Long Gray Line"), the film marked the third of four pictures the actor would make with the legendary director. Maintaining a full schedule through the '50s, McClory appeared in the cult horror-classic "Them!," which, with its plot about radioactive mutant ants, reflected United States post-war paranoia, as well as several western films and television series. Beginning in 1957, he took on the recurring role of Jack McGivern in the Gold Rush-themed "The Californians," portraying the character for over 30 episodes. Continuing to play tough frontier roles, McClory made guest appearances on over 15 western-themed television series in the '60s; during this time, he also became a regular on "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color." In 1964, McClory made his final film with John Ford, the Oscar-nominated "Cheyenne Autumn," about the United States government's betrayal of the Cheyenne. While his career cooled in the '70s and '80s, McClory memorably played Mr. Grace in the Oscar-nominated "The Dead."
