Richard Gaines

Richard Houston Gaines (July 23, 1904 – July 20, 1975) was an American actor. He appeared in over 75 film and television productions between 1940 and 1962. Early years Gaines was born in Indian Territory and grew up in Texas, learning "to handle the ax, the plough, and the lariat". He enrolled at Texas Christian University when he was 16 and studied drama there. While a student there he acted in productions of little theaters in Dallas and Fort Worth. He worked at a variety of jobs in the United States and in France before winning a scholarship to study at the American Laboratory Theatre. Career Gaines appeared in five Broadway productions between 1929 and 1942. He served as Raymond Massey's replacement as Abraham Lincoln in the original production of Robert E. Sherwood's Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1938–1939).