Clu Gulager (born November 16, 1928) was an American television actor and director who made giant strides in the movie industry before his death on August 5, 2022, at the age of 94.
Gulgar was known for his role in the half-hour American Western TV series, The Tall Man, which aired seventy-five episodes on NBC. Although Gulager starred in other movie genres, he is mostly recognized as a horror film actor, having featured severally in the horror genre. Through his numerous acting works, he achieved tremendous fortune and fame. Discover more amazing facts that you never knew about the actor below.
Kay Facts About Clu Gulager
1. Clu Gulager’s Acting Career Spans Several Decades
Gulager began his acting career by making an appearance in the 1955 TV series, Omnibus. He followed it up the next year by appearing as Coker in one episode of the anthology series titled, The United States Steel Hour. In 1957, he was featured as Lloyd Carpenter in Studio One in Hollywood and James Wesley in The Alcoa Hour. Then three years later, he landed his break-out role of Billy the Kid in the series, The Tall Man, which he enacted in 75 episodes of the series.
He went on to feature in other series, which include Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1959-60), Kraft Suspense Theatre (1964), San Francisco International Airport (1970), Knight Rider (1985), Magnum P. I (1986), Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1996), and others. Aside from starring in TV series, Clu Gulager also has some feature film credits, having made his first motion picture appearance in the 1964 movie, The Killers. Other movies he has starred in are Winning (1969), Hit Lady (1974), Skyward (1980), My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1992), Gunfighter (1999), Feast (2005), Piranha 3DD (2012), Blue Jay (2016), Children of the Corn: Runaway (2018), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).
2. He Has Won an Award and Several Nominations
Having achieved a long-term acting career that has spanned over six decades, Gulager has been recognized with several awards and nominations for his brilliant works. In 1966, he took home the Bronze Wrangler Award for Best Fictional Television Drama Ensemble Cast. Then in 1969 and 1986, he gained nominations for Palme d’Or Cannes Film Festival and Saturn Award, respectively.
- In 1966, he won the Bronze Wrangler Award for Best Fictional Television Drama ensemble cast in The Virginian (TV series)
- He was Nominated Palme d’Or – Cannes Film Festival for directing “Best Short Film” – A Day with the Boys in 1969
- Hunter’s Blood (1986) also got him a Nomination for Saturn Award for “Best Supporting Actor”
- In recognition of his contributions, Clu Gulager is one of several members of “Oklahoma Walk of Fame” that are represented in front of Tulsa’s Circle Cinema medallion
3. He is a Film Director
Beyond being an actor, Gulager has also carried out some works in the capacity of a film director. His directing credits include the 2012 drama movie Moment and the 1969 short film titled, A Day with the Boys, which gained him a nomination for Best short film at the Cannes Film Festival Award.
4. Clu Gulager is a Former US Marine
Before embarking on the career path of becoming an actor, Clu Gulager rendered a two-year service in one of the four armed service branches in the U.S. Department of Defense, The U.S. Marine Corps, from 1946 to 1948.
5. He Attended Two Universities
Following his two-year service in the United States Marine, Gulager enrolled at the Northeastern State University situated in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He later switched to Baylor University, located in Waco, Texas, before having a one-year scholarship to study abroad.
6. Clu Gulager’s Wife was an Actress
In 1960, Clu Gulager exchanged vows with the late Arkansas-born actress Miriam Byrd Nethery, the daughter of Daniel Thompson Nethery and Ruby Estelle Byrd. She was a film and television actress that had roles in movies like Mr. T and Tina as Miss Llewellyn, The Big Bus as the Farmer’s Wife, and Victory at Entebbe as Nun’s Ward. The highlights of her acting career include In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco, Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Summer Heat, Just Me and You, The Dukes of Hazard, Charlie’s Angels, and others. Sadly, Miriam died on January 6, 2003, at the age of 73 in Los Angeles.
7. Clu Gulager’s Son is a Film Director
Clu Gulager’s first son, John Thompson Gulager, is a film director, cinematographer, and actor. He has directed movies like Feast, Feast II: Sloppy Seconds, Feast III: The Happy Finish, Piranha 3DD, Zombie Night, and Children of Corn; Runaway. Working as a cinematographer, his credits include Pornstar Pets, The Poet Writes His Wife, Vic, and others.
8. Diane Ayala Goldner is Clu Gulager’s Daughter-in-Law
The film actress Diane Ayala Goldner married Gulager’s first son, John in the year 1986. Having kick-started her acting career in 1998, she has featured in many movies, including her husband’s film series, Feast. She also had roles in other films like Pulse 2: Afterlife, The Collector, Halloween II, This Never Happened, The Night Plays Tricks, Whispers, and Children of the Corn: Runaway, among others.
9. Tom Gulager is Clu Gulager’s Son
The American actor Tom Gulager, who was born in July 1965, is the second son of Clu Gulager. Aside from starring in other films, Tom also starred in his brother’s movie series, Feast. He has additionally picked up roles in Gunfighter, Dodge Alley, Palmer’s Pick Up, Clockmaker, The Collector, and others.
10. Clu Gulager’s Net Worth
Gulager’s net worth is estimated at $10 million. The Oklahoma-born actor, who has more than 160 acting credits to his name, has made huge earnings from his acting and directing works.