Chuck Connors (1921-1992) is most remembered as Lucas McCain, The Rifleman. However, there are many more chapters to his story. Playing professional baseball was one of Chuck’s early goals that he achieved through talent and hard work. He played for several minor league teams and two major league teams before turning in his First Base mitt for a script and a chance at a new career. Although The Rifleman brought Chuck fame, he had already started building a solid career in the entertainment industry. He played bad guys and good guys, cowards and heroes with equal ease. He worked with Hollywood legends like Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Charlton Heston, Gregory Peck, Jennifer Jones, Loretta Young and Burt Lancaster. He rode tall in the saddle in many westerns and fought in the trenches in many war movies. From his childhood in Brooklyn, New York, to his careers in both basketball and baseball, to his entry into Hollywood, Chuck used his natural talents to carve out a life story worth telling. This site is dedicated to that life story. We invite you to join us as we look at Chuck’s history and celebrate his legacy.
Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors was born on
April 10, 1921, in Brooklyn, New York, where he was raised by his parents, Allen and Marcella Connors, immigrants from Newfoundland. Two years later, his sister, Gloria, joined the family. He attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help School and served as an altar boy at that church. One of the defining moments for Chuck was becoming a member of the Bay Ridge Boys' Club and playing sandlot ball as a member of the Bay Ridge Celtics. In his adult life, Chuck credited a man named John Flynn who created the Bay Ridge Boys' Club and who coached him in the Bay Ridge Celtics as helping him learn more than just baseball.
Through Chuck's athletic ability, he won a scholarship to a private high school, Adelphi Academy where he played baseball, basketball and football. After high school, Chuck was offered several scholarships and chose to attend Seton Hall College. Even while in college Chuck pursued his dream of playing professional baseball and played minor league ball during the season.
His college education was interrupted in 1942 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He remained stateside during the war and was an instuctor in tank warfare, eventually serving at West Point. Two of his trainees were Doc Blanchard and Glenn David, Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside of the Army Football team which won the National Championship in 1944 and 1945. After his Army service was complete, Chuck again focused on a career in baseball, but he was also asked to play professional basketball. He played on the Rochester Royals in 1945-46 and then for the Boston Celtics in 1946 -1948. Chuck played both baseball and basketball during those years.
Chuck retired from baseball in 1953 and turned his
attention to his acting career. He played a State Trooper
in a Spencer Tracy/Katherine Hepburn movie, Pat and Mike. He went on to other roles, Trouble Along the Way with John Wayne; South Sea Woman with Burt Lancaster and Virginia Mayo; and he continued to build a resume of varied roles. In 1957, he appeared in Walt Disney's Old Yeller. In 1958, he won a role in The Big Country with Charlton Heston, Gregory Peck and Jean Simmons. His performance was so good that many felt he would be nominated for an Academy Award.
During the early 1950's Chuck also had roles in several TV shows: The Loretta Young Show, Four Star Playhouse, GE Theatre, Superman, he was building a resume of strong performances which led to his selection for his most famous role, Lucas McCain of The Rifleman. After a successful five year run of that show, Chuck went on to movies and other television series. Chuck was still very active in show business right up till his death. In addition to his acting career, Chuck was a very compassionate man and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities both from personal appearances and his own Invitational Golf Tournaments he ran for many years. Chuck chose to keep compassion in his heart for people and that's a wonderful legacy. So join us as we walk through the pages of Chuck's life to celebrate and to remember a very special man.
This is the church where Chuck Connors was an altar boy. It's a magnificent looking church in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The inset in the picture above is how the church looked when it was first built in the 1890's.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
The Church Today
Elementary School, Our Lady of Perpetual Help
High School, Manual Training High School
Adelphi Academy
Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ
Fort Knox, 1942
The high-flying 36th Armored Basketball Team in their silks.
Tactics of the basketball court come in for a final discussion in the huddle of players of the Armored 36th Regiment Basketball Team.
Chuck's childhood homes as they are today.
455 61st St., Brooklyn, NY 358 Senator St., Brooklyn, NY
714 60th St., Brooklyn, NY
Chuck's Ranch Today
Chuck was married three times: his first wife was Elizabeth (Betty) Riddell. They married in 1948 and had four sons: Michael, Jeffrey, Steven and Kevin. They divorced in 1962.
Chuck and Betty's Wedding Day
October 1, 1948
Chuck's wife Betty was Canadian before she became a U.S. Citizen.
In 1963, Chuck married a second time to his Geronimo co-star, Kamala Devi. They divorced in 1972.
Chuck and his fiance Kamala as they fill out their marriage license on April 4, 1963.
Chuck married one more time in 1977 to actress Faith Quabius and that marriage ended in divorce in 1979. Chuck declared that it was "three strikes and you're out" when it came to marriage for him.
Chuck and Faith Quabius take in the sights on 5th Avenue in New York, as they passed St. Patrick's Cathedral, December 13, 1973. Later he held a press conference to discuss his meeting in Moscow with Leonid Brezhnev.
Chuck and three of his grandchildren. Another granddaughter was born after Chuck's death.
St. Charles Borromeo Church where Chuck's Funeral Services were held.
San Fernando Mission Cemetery-Mission Hills, California
where Chuck was buried.
Chuck's Gravesite
Chuck's Grave
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