From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hugh O'Brian (born April 19, 1925) was an American actor, known for his starring role in the ABC television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961). "Wyatt Earp" remained a Top 20 hit until 1960, but it was canceled the following year after being supplanted by the avalanche of other adult Westerns. O'Brian, meanwhile, continued to work frequently in movies, television and theater through the 1990s, although he never again achieved the prominence he enjoyed as Wyatt Earp. He starred in the 1970s detective series "Search" and appeared in such films as "In Harm's Way" and "Ten Little Indians," and reprised his role as Earp in 1994's "Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone," a film that combined new footage with colorized scenes from the original black-and-white TV show. He also had a small but memorable role as the faro dealer in John Wayne's last film, "The Shootist," and later noted with pride that it gave him the distinction of being the last bad guy killed by Wayne. (Wayne himself is reputed to have met the real Wyatt Earp as a young man in Hollywood in the 1920s.) Late in his career, O'Brian made frequent guest appearances in television series and variety shows and toured in the national companies of "Cactus Flower," "1776" and "Guys and Dolls."