Richard Whorf
Richard Whorf (June 4, 1906 – December 14, 1966) was an American actor, writer and film director. Life and acting career. Whorf was born in Winthrop, Massachusetts to Harry and Sarah (née Lee) Whorf. His older brother was linguist Benjamin Lee Whorf. Whorf began his acting career on the Boston stage as a teenager, then moved to Broadway at age 21, debuting there in "The Banshee" (1927). He had a role in a production of "Taming of the Shrew" at the Globe Theatre in New York City. He moved to Hollywood and became a contract player in films of  the 1930s and 1940s before becoming a director in 1944. He played a famous painter who had resorted to drinking in the 1960 episode "The Illustrator" of "The Rifleman", starring Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford. Directing career. He began his film directing career with the 1942 short subject "March On, America" and the 1944 feature film "Blonde Fever". He directed a number of television programs in the 1950s and 1960s, including early episodes of "Gunsmoke", the entire second season of "My Three Sons" and 67 episodes of "The Beverly Hillbillies". He directed the short-lived series "Border Patrol", and the  1964–1965 ABC sitcom "Mickey", starring Mickey Rooney. In the summer of 1960, he guest-starred in one episode and directed other segments of the short-lived western series "Tate". Whorf directed the unsuccessful 1961 stage comedy "Julia, Jake and Uncle Joe". His hobby was painting; he sold his first painting at the age of 15 for $100. Personal life. In 1929, Whorf married Margaret H. Smith. Whorf died at age 60 on December 14, 1966. His grave site is at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles.