What was Richard Boone’s net worth?
RICHARD BOONE, American actor and producer, had a net worth of $5 million at the time of his death in 1981.
Boone was born in Los Angeles, California in June 1917 and was the first actor to ask that his salaries be spread out over multiple years to keep his lifestyle in check and because doing so offered some tax advantages.
For example, his multi-million contract for appearing in the series “Have Gun – Will Travel”, was spread out over a 20 year period.
Boone passed away in January 1981.
Background of Richard Boone
Richard Boone, a descendant of Daniel Boone, was born in Los Angeles, California. He worked various jobs before serving as an aviation ordnanceman on fighter aircraft during World War II. Afterwards, he studied acting at the Actors Studio in New York, using the G.I. Bill.
Boone’s Acting Career
Richard Boone started his acting career in the late 1940s on the New York stage and was involved in many Broadway productions. In the 1950s, he appeared in various live anthology series like “Studio One” and “Kraft Theatre,” which helped him establish his television career.
Boone’s Breakthrough Role in “Have Gun – Will Travel”
Richard Boone’s breakthrough role was as Paladin in the Western series “Have Gun – Will Travel” in 1957. He played an educated and sophisticated gunfighter-for-hire, captivating audiences with his nuanced performance. The show was highly rated and ran for six years on television.
Richard Boone’s Career
While starring in “Have Gun – Will Travel,” Richard Boone also appeared in films such as “The Alamo” (1960) and continued his film career throughout the 1960s and 70s with roles in movies like “The War Lord” (1965) and “Hombre” (1967).
After “Have Gun – Will Travel,” Boone returned to television with “The Richard Boone Show,” which featured a repertory company of actors. Despite critical acclaim, the show only lasted one season. Boone later starred in the medical drama “Hec Ramsey,” playing a former gunfighter turned early forensic scientist.
Richard Boone’s Life in the 1970s and Beyond
In the 1970s, Richard Boone moved to Hawaii where he lived as a self-described “beach bum.” Although he continued to act sporadically in television and film, including a role in “Hawaii Five-O,” he largely withdrew from Hollywood.
Boone was not only an actor but also a painter and poet. In his later years, he taught acting classes at the University of Hawaii. Unfortunately, he passed away on January 10, 1981, from throat cancer.
