Barry Curtis (actor)

{{Short description|American film and television actor (1943–2019)}}

{{Infobox person

|name = Barry Curtis

|image = The Adventures of Champion (King of the Rodeo) scene.jpg

|caption = Curtis (bottom) with Jim Bannon in The Adventures of Champion, 1955

|birth_name = Barry Alan Curtis

|birth_date = {{birth date|1943|09|10}}

|birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|2019|01|13|1943|09|10}}

|death_place = Hilo, Hawaii, U.S.

|occupation = Film and television actor

|years_active = 1952–2011

|alma mater = University of California
Harvard University

|spouse = Julie Curtis

}}

Barry Alan Curtis (September 10, 1943 – January 13, 2019) was an American film and television actor.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X95kAAAAMAAJ|title=Television Western Players of the Fifties: A Biographical Encyclopedia of All Regular Cast Members in Western Series, 1949-1959|page=159|first=Everett|last=Aaker|publisher=McFarland|date=1997|isbn=9780786402847|via=Google Books}} He was known for playing Ricky North in the American western television series The Adventures of Champion.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iW0HEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT106|title=Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2019|page=92|first=Harris|last=Lentz|publisher=McFarland|date=November 6, 2020|isbn=9781476679785|via=Google Books}}

Born in Los Angeles, California. Curtis decided to become an actor at the age of six.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40278641/barry-curtis-september-2-1956-in/|title=Barry Curtis, Film, TV Veteran At 12, Relatives in City|work=The Sunday News and Tribune|location=Jefferson City, Missouri|date=September 2, 1956|access-date=March 19, 2022|page=18|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}} He began his career in 1952, appearing in the film The Marrying Kind. Curtis then appeared in the 1953 film Abbott and Costello Go to Mars. In 1955, he starred in the new CBS western television series The Adventures of Champion{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4aH9gzma0gwC|title=Gene Autry: His Life and Career|page=151|first=Don|last=Cusic|publisher=McFarland|date=2007|isbn=9780786430611|via=Google Books}} playing Ricky North. He starred alongside actor, Jim Bannon, who played the role of Sandy North. Curtis played Nugget Saunders in the 1955 film One Desire.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rQxlAAAAMAAJ|title=Jeff Chandler: Film, Record, Radio, Television and Theater Performances|page=86|first=Jeff|last=Wells|publisher=McFarland|date=January 5, 2005|isbn=9780786420018|via=Google Books}} His television credits include Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best,The Lone Ranger, The Sheriff of Cochise, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, Annie Oakley and State Trooper.

Curtis retired in 1960, last appearing in the sitcom television series Leave It to Beaver. After retiring, he attended the University of California, earning his philosophy degree. He then attended Harvard University, earning his doctor of philosophy degree, in 1975. Curtis taught at numerous universities, the last of which was the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, in 2011.

Curtis died on January 13, 2019, in a hospital in Hilo, Hawaii, at the age of 75.