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Ty Hardin, born Orison Whipple Hungerford, Jr., (born January 1, 1930) is a former American actor best known as the star of the 1950s ABC western television series Bronco. Hardin was raised in Texas and attended Lamar High School. He served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War where he was commissioned from Officer Candidate School, and became a pilot of O-1 Bird Dog liaison aircraft. After his return from service, he began taking college courses at Texas A&M University in College Station. Working as an engineer in California, Hardin was planning on attending a costume party as a cowboy and... MORE

Ty Hardin, born Orison Whipple Hungerford, Jr., (born January 1, 1930) is a former American actor best known as the star of the 1950s ABC western television series Bronco. Hardin was raised in Texas and attended Lamar High School. He served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War where he was commissioned from Officer Candidate School, and became a pilot of O-1 Bird Dog liaison aircraft. After his return from service, he began taking college courses at Texas A&M University in College Station. Working as an engineer in California, Hardin was planning on attending a costume party as a cowboy and heard that the Western Costume company on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood rented out stage weapons. While there, he was discovered by a Paramount Pictures talent scout. By 1957, Hardin acquired the services of agent Henry Willson and made his way to Hollywood where he was put under contract by Paramount. Initially billed as "Ty Hungerford," he made minor appearances in several Paramount films such as I Married a Monster from Outer Space, The Space Children and Last Train from Gun Hill. The "Ty" came from a childhood nickname of "Typhoon". Hardin stated that he had tried for a role in Rio Bravo that he LESS