Dick Foran(1910-1979)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Dick Foran was the matinée idol of the B
movies. He started as a band singer and then sang on the radio. He was
hired by Warner Brothers as a supporting actor who could croon a tune
when called upon. His good looks and good natured personality made him
a natural choice for the supporting cast. His first starring role was
in the western
Treachery Rides the Range (1936)
which was Warner Brothers answer to
Gene Autry. In the westerns that
followed, he would sing the tune while riding the horse or romancing
the gal. Whether it was
Song of the Saddle (1936) or
California Mail (1936), his
character name may be different, but 'The Singing Cowboy' tag was
always the same. While at Warner's he also played straight dramatic
roles, supporting the star. In 1940, Dick headed for Universal where he
was, again, in the supporting cast. He worked in serials,
Rangers of Fortune (1940);
horror, The Mummy's Hand (1940);
to comedy,
Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942). His
signature theme "I'll Remember April" was introduced in
Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942). After
that, roles were sporadic. He made a half dozen films in the late
fifties and did some Television. His last film role was in
Donovan's Reef (1963) with his
longtime friend John Wayne.
