VETERAN ACTOR DOUG MCCLURE DIES AT 59

Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: TUESDAY, February 7, 1995 TAG: 9502070104 SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY SOURCE: Los Angeles Times DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium VETERAN ACTOR DOUG MCCLURE DIES AT 59 Doug McClure, the affable, good-looking sidekick Trampas who imprinted himself in the nation's memory riding the Western television range with ``The Virginian'' from 1962-70, is dead at the age of 59.

McClure, who last appeared in the 1994 feature film ``Maverick'' as one of many Western gamblers, died Sunday night at his Los Angeles home after a months-long battle with lung cancer.

McClure expressed pride in bridging two generations. Although his fame peaked with ``The Virginian'' co-starring James Drury, McClure continued to work.

Younger viewers have seen him in the 1988 television comedy series ``Out of This World,'' as well as in guest appearances on such shows as the 1977 classic ``Roots,'' and with Drury on the 1991 Kenny Rogers miniseries ``The Gambler Returns." McClure recently had been working on a film called ``One West Waikiki'' filmed in Hawaii. But on Jan. 8 he collapsed on the set and was flown to Los Angeles for hospitalization. At that time, doctors discovered that his cancer had spread.

``I had this feeling everybody thought I was dead,'' McClure said in a 1988 interview. ``I didn't quit. I did some films and theater in London. I went to New York. But I had been on television so much, people thought [if I wasn't on television] I wasn't around.''

McClure's first acting job was in a syndicated series, ``Men of Annapolis.'' After a few feature films, including ``The Enemy Below,'' ``Gidget'' and ``The Unforgiven,'' he was placed under contract by Universal. He began the string of series for the small screen as William Bendix's sidekick in ``The Overland Trail,'' and went on to the equally short-lived ``Checkmate,'' a private-eye series set in San Francisco.

In 1962, he joined ``The Virginian'' and stayed until it ended eight years later. The series was highly praised for its 90-minute format, serious stories and fine guest stars.

Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition. by CNB