Bruce Yarnell
Bruce Patane Altomari Yarnell (December 28, 1935 – November 30, 1973) was an American film, television, theatre actor and singer. He was known for playing the role of Deputy Marshal Chalk Breeson in the final season of the American western television series "Outlaws". Life and career. Yarnell was born in Pasadena, California, the son of Marie and Harold, a police officer. He studied opera and later sang at the Earl Carroll Theatre in Los Angeles. He also sang in Reno, Nevada, where he was later joined by the Mormon Choir, singing in numerous musical productions. Yarnell made his theatre  debut in 1960, as Sir Lionel, in the Broadway musical "Camelot". Yarnell soon began his film and television career, when he joined the cast of the western television series "Outlaws" in 1961, for its final season playing the role of Deputy Marshal Chalk Breeson. He starred in the Broadway musical "The Happiest Girl in the World", as General Kinesias, winning a Theatre World Award in 1961. He continued to appear in films and television programs, including "Irma la Douce" (1963), "Bonanza" (1964–1965) and "Hogan's Heroes" (1965). Yarnell also starred as Billy Bigelow in the 1966 New York City Center  Light Opera Company production of "Carousel", and as Frank E. Butler in the same year's Broadway revival of "Annie Get Your Gun". He also starred in the 1968 action film "The Road Hustlers", as Matt Reedy. In 1969, he starred as Curly in a Little Theatre production of "Oklahoma!" at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City. Yarnell later played leading roles at the San Francisco Opera House. His last credit was in a tour of "Bye Bye Birdie" at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in November 1973. Personal life. Yarnell first married Frances Chadwick, a model , on May 25, 1957. They divorced in March 1971 after having three children, Heather, Therese and Waverly. Yarnell then married Joan Patenaude, a soprano, on July 15, 1972. Death. In November 1973, Yarnell was piloting a plane from San Francisco to Hollywood Burbank Airport and crashed into a mountain slope near Gorman, California, north of Los Angeles. He died with his two passengers, Jerri and David Wirsching, a police officer. His last message was that he had electrical power problems and became disoriented. Yarnell was buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery. Legacy. Yarnell's second wife, Joan, created an award  called the "Bruce Yarnell Memorial Award", awarded at Opera Philadelphia.