On June 3, 1949, Hollywood actor Fred Clark, Jr. returned to his home county to be the master of ceremonies for the coronation of the Gold Show Queen as part of the annual Gold Rush Revival celebration. California Lieutenant Gov. Goodwin Knight was also there to crown Queen Harriet Huntley.
Clark, Jr. was born March 19, 1914 in Lincoln. After high school, he focused on becoming a doctor and was accepted into Stanford University. While a student there, he acted in a play and everything changed. He became a drama major, eventually leaving Stanford to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
Over the course of his career, Clark, Jr. acted in 108 movies and television shows. He had roles in “White Heat” (1949), “Sunset Boulevard” (1950), “A Place in the Sun” (1951) and “How to Marry a Millionaire” (1953), just to name a few. He also had guest appearances in many popular television shows such as “Bonanza,” “I Dream of Jeannie” and “The Addams Family.”
He acted until his untimely death Dec. 5, 1968, due to liver disease.
Photo: Fred Clark, Jr., c. 1950
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