| spouse=Ruth Palmer (married 1967-1999, her death)
}}
'''Gregg Palmer''' (born '''Palmer Edvind Lee'''; January 25, 1927 – October 31, 2015) was an [[United States|American]] character [[actor]], known primarily for his work in [[television]] westerns. He appeared from 1960 to 1975 in varying roles in twenty episodes of [[CBS]]'s ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' with James Arness, thirteen segments of the syndicated anthology series, ''Death Valley Day,'' and nine episodes of [[NBC]]'s ''The Virginian,'' starring James Drury in the title role. He guest starred five times on ''Bonanza,'' NBC's longest-running western.<ref name=imdb>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0658250/|title=Gregg Palmer|publisher=Internet Movie Database|accessdate=October 30, 2019}}</ref>
In 1950, at the age of twenty-three, he procured his first screen role, as an uncredited [[ambulance]] attendant in the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comedy, ''My Friend Irma Goes West.'' In 1952, he had minor roles as Gratton "Grat" Dalton of the Dalton gang in the film, ''The Cimarron Kid,'' and as Joe Bent in ''The Battle at Apache Pass.'' In the early 1950s, Palmer and [[Marilyn Monroe]] both unsuccessfully auditioned for roles as Abner and Daisy Mae in a proposed ''Li'l Abner'' television series based on the [[Al Capp]] cartoon, but the effort never materialized. Palmer was signed to a contract with Universal Pictures. In 1952, he appeared as William Norton in the comedy film ''Francis Goes to West Point,'' starring Donald O'Connor.<ref name=bio/> Palmer claimed that he was going to be pushed as a big star by Universal in a similar manner to their other stable of stars, but in the 1950s the studio changed, hiring out major stars from other studios rather than build up their own. Palmer was soon dropped and went freelance.<ref>Tom Weaver, ''Return of the B Science Fiction and Horror Heroes: The Mutant Melding of Two Volumes of Classic Interviews'' (Jefferson, [[North Carolina]]: McFarland & Company, 1991), p. 326, ISBN 9780899505947</ref>
==Westerns, 1955-1961==
On March 4, 1955, Palmer appeared as Jack Slade in an episode of Jim Davis' syndicated western series ''[[Stories of the Century]].'' Slade was the superintendent of the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company, based in Julesburg in northeastern [[Colorado]], who sets out to capture the outlaw Jules Beni, played in the episode by Paul Newlan. Elaine Riley appeared as Slade's wife, Maria Virginia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0710951/|title=''Stories of the Century'': "Jack Slade", March 4, 1955|publisher=Internet Movie Database|accessdate=October 30, 2019}}</ref>
From 1955 to 1958, Palmer appeared five times on the syndicated ''26 Men,'' starring Tristram Coffin and based on the actual files of the Arizona Rangers law enforcement group. The episodes are entitled "Chain Gang," "The Vanquisher," "Runaway Stage," "Hole Up," and "Terror in Paradise." During the late 1950s, Palmer was particularly busy in acting, having appeared on ''The Lone Ranger,'' Rod Cameron's syndicated ''State Trooper,'' Scott Brady's syndicated ''Shotgun Slade,'' Grant Sullivan's syndicated western ''[[Pony Express]],'' John Lupton's [[ABC]] series ''[[Broken Arrow (TV series)|Broken Arrow]],'' John Payne's ''The Restless Gun'' on NBC, Kirby Grant's ''Sky King,'' Jeff Richards' ''Jefferson Drum'' on NBC, Rex Allen's syndicated ''Frontier Doctor,'' and Rory Calhoun's ''The Texan'' on CBS. He appeared on NBC's ''Buckskin'' as Jackel in the episode "A Man from the Mountains" and on ''Cimarron City'' as Tom Hiller in "The Bitter Lesson."<ref name=imdb/>
==Westerns, 1962-1978==
In 1962, Palmer appeared as Colton in the episode "Destinies West" of Ty Hardin's ABC/WB series, ''Bronco'' series, a spin-off of ''Cheyenne.'' Through 1962, he appeared in four segments of CBS's ''Have Gun - Will Travel,'' starring Richard Boone: "Fragile," "The Misguided Father," "Fight at Adobe Wells," and "Trial at Tablerock" as a [[sheriff]]. In the 1962-1963 1962–1963 season, Palmer appeared twice on NBC's ''Laramie'': as Duke in "The Long Road Back" and as Chuck Logan in "Badge of Honor".<ref name=imdb/>
His next western roles came in 1965: as Mace in the episode "The Violent Land" of CBS's ''Rawhide,'' Mel Combs in the episode "Winner Lose All" of ABC's ''The Big Valley,'' and as Doc in "$10,000 for Durango" of NBC's ''Branded,'' the second Chuck Connors western. The next year, he appeared as Moose Walters in "A Real Tough Town" of ABC's ''The Legend of Jesse James,'' starring Christopher Jones in the title role, with Allen Case as Frank James.<ref name=imdb/>
In 1965-19661965–1966, he appeared as Curly in the episode "The Golden Trail" and as Sergeant Mason in "The Dance of the Laughing Death" in NBC's ''Laredo'' western series. In 1967 and 1968, he appeared three times in Stuart Whitman's 90-minute western ''Cimarron Strip'' in episodes entitled "Journey to a Hanging," "The Deputy," and "The Greeners." Palmer also appeared three times between 1965 and 1968 in Robert Conrad's unconventional western, ''The Wild Wild West.'' In 1972, Palmer appeared on ABC's ''Alias Smith and Jones'' series.<ref name=imdb/>
Palmer was cast as Ezra Parker in the 1969 film ''The Undefeated.'' That same year, he played the role of Jacob in the episode "A Key for the Fort" in the syndicated series ''Death Valley Days,'' hosted by Robert Taylor not long before Taylor's own death. The story line focuses on a young Eliza Stewart Udall, who sends the first [[telegraph]] message from [[Arizona|Arizona Territory]] and works with her Aunt Cora (Ivalou Redd) to nurse an ill [[Ute]] chief, Black Wing (George Keymas), back to health. The episode was filed at Pipe Spring National Monument.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0954622/?ref_=tt_ep_nx|title=A Key for the Fort on ''Death Valley Days''|publisher=Internet Movie Database|date=March 26, 1969|accessdate=October 30, 2019}}</ref>
He played Karl Riker in the 1970 film ''Chisum'' and John Goodfellow in the 1971 film ''Big Jake,'' both starring [[John Wayne]]. He also became a member of the John Wayne Stock Company, founded in 1945, with original members including Ward Bond, Grant Withers, and Paul Fix.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S6XlR9_emRQC&pg=PA275|title=John Wayne: American|author=Randy Roberts and James Stuart Olson|publisher=books.google.com|accessdate=February 22, 2009}}</ref> In 1976, Palmer was cast as the unnamed "Burly Man" in the last of Wayne's films, ''The Shootist.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dukewayne.com/index.php?thread/6442-gregg-palmer/|title=Pals of the Saddle - Gregg Palmer|publisher=dukewayne.com|accessdate=October 31, 2019}}</ref>
In 1977, Palmer appeared as mountain man Jim Bridger in the two-part anthology series, ''Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color.'' In the
Disney episode, "Kit Carson and the Mountain Man," Christopher Connelly portrayed frontier scout Kit Carson, and Robert Reed portrayed [[John C. Frémont]]. Gary Lockwood also appeared as Brett Haskell. In 1978, Palmer appeared as Loman in James Arness's second western, ''How the West Was Won.''<ref name=imdb/>
In 1955, Palmer portrayed Lieutenant Manning in the autobiographical Audie Murphy World War II film ''To Hell and Back.'' Palmer played an unemployed actor in the 1959 film, ''The Rebel Set.'' Thereafter, he appeared in numerous drama roles over the years, including the ABC/WB detective shows: ''Surfside 6'' and ''77 Sunset Strip.'' Palmer played Lou Montell in "High Tide," the second episode of ''Surfside 6.'' From 1960 to 1963, he appeared in the ''77 Sunset Strip'' episodes "The Parallel Caper," "Framework for a Badge," and "To Catch a Mink." He also guest starred in the ABC/WB crime drama, ''The Roaring 20s,'' starring Dorothy Provine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fandango.com/people/gregg-palmer-508158/biography|author=Hal Ericson|title=Gregg Palmer, Biography|publisher=Fandango|accessdate=October 31, 2019}}</ref>
Other drama appearances included ''Highway Patrol,'' ''Navy Log,'' ''The Lineup,'' ''The Millionaire,'' Lloyd Bridges' ''Sea Hunt,'' ''The Untouchables'' (uncredited as Paul Di Marco), ''Run for Your Life,'' ''The Long Hot Summer'' (as Grant Johnson in episode "Man with Two Faces"), ''Cannon,'' ''Tarzan'' (1966), ''CHiPs,'' ''Mission: Impossible,'' and ''[[Star Trek]],'' the original series that premiered in 1966.<ref name=imdb/>
He also appeared in the 1981 slasher film ''Scream.'' There were even a few situation comedy appearances, including a recurring role as Harry on the CBS series ''[[Run, Buddy, Run]],'' starring Jack Sheldon. He appeared too on CBS's ''Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.,'' and the 1968 series, ''The Good Guys,'' on NBC's ''[[Get Smart]]'' and the 1957 version of ''Blondie.''<ref name=imdb/>Palmer's last screen appearance was as a [[colonel]] in the 1982 ABC miniseries, ''The Blue and the Gray.''<ref name=imdb/>
==Later years==
In a June 2013 wide-ranging interview with Jeremy Roberts of ''Examiner.com,'' Palmer attributed his multiple acting appearances to his preparation: "If you come prepared and do your best, you'll work. When you don't perform right, you're not called back."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/shreveporttimes/obituary.aspx?n=gregg-palmer&pid=176308701#sthash.PN8IB9od.dpuf|title=Gregg Palmer obituary|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|accessdate=October 29, 2019}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gregg-palmer-dead-big-jake-836006|title=Gregg Palmer, Bad Guy in John Wayne's ''Big Jake,'' ''Dies at 88|publisher=''The Hollywood Reporter''|accessdate=October 30, 2019}}</ref>
==Filmography==