Hugh O'Brian
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Hugh O'Brian (born April 19, 1925) is an American actor.
Born Hugh Charles Krampe in Rochester, New York, he is best known for his starring role as Wyatt Earp in the television series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp that ran from 1955 to 1961.
O'Brian also appeared regularly on other television programs in the 1960s. For example, he was a guest panelist on the popular Sunday Night CBS-TV program, What's My Line? and later served as a mystery guest three times.
He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a drill instructor during World War II. At age 17, he was the youngest drill instructor in the corps.
For his contribution to the television industry, Hugh O'Brian has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6613-1/2 Hollywood Blvd. In 1992, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. O'Brian had a cameo appearance in the movie Twins.
Hugh O'Brian has dedicated much of his life to the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY). HOBY is a non-profit youth leadership development program that empowers 10,000 sophomores annually through its over 70 leadership programs in all 50 states and 8 countries. Since its inception in 1958, over 355,000 young people have been inspired by HOBY.
One high school sophomore from every high school in the United States, referred to as an “ambassador,” is welcome to attend a state or regional HOBY seminar. From each of those seminars, one boy and one girl are selected to attend the World Leadership Congress.
The concept for HOBY was inspired in 1958 by a nine-day visit Hugh O’Brian had with famed humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Africa. Dr. Schweitzer believed "the most important thing in education is to teach young people to think for themselves."
On June 25, 2006, at 82, he married for the first time, to Virginia Barber, 54, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The Rev. Robert Schuller, pastor of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, officiated, and the couple was serenaded by close friend Debbie Reynolds. [1]
Hugh O’Brian’s message to young people is “Freedom to Choose” Here is his brief speech on this topic: "I do NOT believe we are all born equal. Created equal in the eyes of God, yes, but physical and emotional differences, parental guidelines, varying environments, being in the right place at the right time, all play a role in enhancing or limiting an individual's development. But I DO believe every man and woman, if given the opportunity and encouragement to recognize their potential, regardless of background, has the freedom to choose in our world. Will an individual be a taker or a giver in life? Will that person be satisfied merely to exist or seek a meaningful purpose? Will he or she dare to dream the impossible dream?
I believe every person is created as the steward of his or her own destiny with great power for a specific purpose, to share with others, through service, a reverence for life in a spirit of love."
