Rhodes Reason (April 19, 1930 – December 26, 2014) was an American actor who appeared in more than 200 roles in television, film, and stage.
Film and television career Reason was born in Glendale in Los Angeles County, California, the son of Rex G. Reason and the former Jean Robinson. The younger brother of actor Rex Reason, Rhodes Reason made his acting start at the age of 18 in a production of Romeo and Juliet directed by Charles Laughton.
Among his starring roles were parts in King Kong Escapes (1967); 39 episodes of the British television series White Hunter (TV series), (1957); and as Sheriff Will Mayberry in the ABC drama series Bus Stop. Reason was cast as Chuck Wilson in "Rodeo Round-Up" in 1956 and as Kinnard in "Dust of Destruction", episodes of the Western aviation adventure series, Sky King, episode "Conflict" in the "Rifleman" as Ben Kendrick.
Reason had a major part as hired gunslinger Burr Fulton in an episode of the ABC/Warner Bros. Western series, Sugarfoot in the season 1 episode "The Strange Land" (1957). Reason was a guest star in Frontier Doctor, a syndicated Western series. He was cast as Black Jack in the episode "The Homesteaders" (1958). Another ABC/WB Western series Reason appeared in was Colt .45, as Ben Thompson in the episode "Appointment in Agoura" (1960); Reason also appeared in The Rifleman.
Reason guest starred on Tales of the Texas Rangers, Maverick (1957 episode "Ghost Rider"), Tombstone Territory (1957 episode "Ambush at Gila Gulch"), Perry Mason as Martin Eldridge in the 1966 episode, "The Case of the Bogus Buccaneers", 77 Sunset Strip (1958), Bourbon Street Beat (1960), The Time Tunnel (1966), The Big Valley (the episode "Plunder" in 1967), The Lucy Show (also 1967), Star Trek in 1967 as gladiator Flavius Maximus ("Bread and Circuses", 1968), Here's Lucy (also 1968), and The Bob Newhart Show (1976).
Reason appeared as Peter Jeffries in the 1955 episode, "California's First Ice Man" of the Western television anthology series, Death Valley Days. He also appeared as Wild Bill Hickok in the 1966 episode (S15, E13) of Death Valley Days, “A Calamity Called Jane”.
His feature film appearances include Yellowstone Kelly (1959, with Clint Walker) and A Fever in the Blood (1961). In the early 1980s, he starred in the Broadway musical Annie, playing Daddy Warbucks for nearly three years.
Reason died in Palm Springs at the age of 84 of lymphoma.Rest in Peace: Rhodes Reason
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1955 Lady Godiva of Coventry Sweyn Uncredited1956 Crime Against Joe George Niles 1956 Tension at Table Rock Baid Uncredited1956 Cheyenne Les Shore Episode: The Trap 1956 Flight to Hong Kong Bob Denham Uncredited1956 Emergency Hospital Juvenile Officer Ross 1956 The Desperados Are in Town Frank Banner 1956 Highway Patrol Robber Episode "Motel Robbery" 1957 Voodoo Island Matthew Gunn 1957 The Silent Service Lt. Commander John Frye Episode: The Batfish Scores1957 Jungle Heat Major Richard 'Dick' Grey 1957 Maverick Hank Foster Episode: Ghost Rider1957 Sugarfoot Burr Fulton - Hired gunslinger Episode: The Strange Land1959 The Big Fisherman Andrew 1959 Yellowstone Kelly Maj. Towns 1960 Cheyenne Bill Lockhart Episode: Outcast of Cripple Creek 1961 A Fever in the Blood Walter Thornwall 1962 The Rifleman: The ConflictBen Kendrick1967 King Kong Escapes Commander Carl Nelson 1970 The Delta Factor Dr. Fredericks 1976 Cat Murkil and the Silks Detective Harder
References
External links
Rhodes Reason at the American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Rhodes Reason at AllMovie
Obituary in The Desert Sun (February 8, 2015)