Paul Richards

Paul Richards (born Paul Richard Levitt; November 23, 1924 – December 10, 1974) was an American actor who appeared in films and on television in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Early years A native of Hollywood, Richards earned a psychology degree at University of California, Los Angeles and a master's degree in drama, also from UCLA. He gained additional acting experience at the Theatre Wing in New York. Career He guest-starred in television western series such as The Rifleman, Have Gun–Will Travel, Highway Patrol (1956), Zorro, Johnny Ringo, The Rebel, Zane Grey Theatre, Black Saddle, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Untouchables,Trackdown, Rawhide, The Virginian, The Loner, and The Guns of Will Sonnett. Richards performed four times on Gunsmoke. In 1955, in the series' first episode, "Matt Gets It", he portrays a near-sighted gunfighter who outdraws and nearly kills Matt Dillon. The next year, in "Mr. and Mrs. Amber", he portrayed a poor, desperate homesteader beleaguered by his rich, self-righteous brother-in-law. His other two appearances on Gunsmoke were in 1958 and 1968 episodes. He also appeared in the syndicated series Sheriff of Cochise and The Silent Service. He was a guest star on Kenneth Tobey's Whirlybirds, a syndicated aviation adventure series. He appeared on The Brothers Brannagan, with Stephen Dunne and Mark Roberts. He made guest appearances on Straightaway and on Dragnet. In the 1955 episode "The Big Bird," Richards played Phil Baurch, who stole from people's homes after being hired out to do yard work.