Forrest Draper

Forest Draper was an actor and musician who appeared on a variety of television shows and movies between 1955 and 1976; he died in December 2020 at the age of 88. Known for his rugged good looks, he played the part of a cowboy in popular TV westerns such as "Big Valley", "Bronco", "Cheyenne", "Colt 45", "Gunsmoke", "Larabee", "Laredo", "Lawman", "The Lone Ranger", "Maverick", "The Rebel", "Rawhide", "Restless Gun", "The Rifleman", "Roy Rogers", "Sugarfoot", "Texas Rangers", "The Virginian", "Wagon Train", and "Whispering Smith". Draper also appeared in TV dramas such as "Naked City", "Streets of San Francisco", "Car 54", "The Untouchables", "Hawaii Five-O", "Seahunt", "77 Sunset Strip", "Ben Casey", and "Hawaiian Eye", and in early commercials for Maxwell Coffee House and Gallo Wine. He was an actor in "The Tender Trap" (1955) with Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds, "How The West Was Won" (1962) with Gregory Peck, John Wayne and James Stewart, "Send Me No Flowers" (1964) with Tony Randall, Doris Day and Rock Hudson, "The Night Walker" (1964) with Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck, and "That Funny Feeling" (1965) with Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee. Draper began his musical career as a drummer and vocalist with the Tony Pastor Orchestra from 1947 to 1954. He played drums for Rosemary Clooney, appeared on the Perry Como show twice and on the Ed Sullivan show once, toured with stars such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Jack Jones, and was the drummer on more than 150 songs recorded at Columbia Records between 1950 and 1965, with artists such as the Four Lads, Johnny Ray, Rosemary Clooney, Guy Mitchell, Kitty Kallen, Tommy Leonetti, Kalin Twins, Don Cherry, and Bobby Darin.