Richard McCord Long was born on December 17, 1927
In Chicago, IL. His father Sherman D. Long was a commercial
artist and his mother was Dale McCord Long. The family moved to Evanston, IL, where
Long attended Evanston Township High School. The family moved again in 1944, to Hollywood, California,
and Long attended Hollywood High School for his senior year.
At Hollywood High School, Long caught the eye of a talent scout from Universal-International.
In 1946, Long was cast in his first film, "Tomorrow Is Forever “ also in “The Stranger”
with Orson Welles. In 1947 Long was in “The Egg and I” he was cast as Tom Kettle the
oldest son of Ma and Pa Kettle. The movie was a huge hit – so much so, that Universal
decided to spin off the Kettles into their own series of movies. Long appeared in four
of the “Ma and Pa Kettle” films. Long was acting in other films as well such
as “Tap Roots” in 1948, “Criss Cross” and “The Life of Riley” in 1949, “Kansas
Raiders” in 1950.
In 1950, Long was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and then served for
two years at Fort Ord, California. After his Military service long appeared in All
American (1953) and Playgirl in (1954). Long began working on television over the
next few years, guest-starring on episodes of shows such as Climax!, The United States
Steel Hour, Wagon Train, Have Gun – Will Travel, The Millionaire, and memorably in The
Twilight Zone episodes "Number 12 Looks Just Like You" and "Person or Persons Unknown".
He appeared in William Castle's House on Haunted Hill (in 1959).
Long signed a contract with Warner Bros. and guest-starred in many of their TV series,
including Lawman, Maverick and Sugarfoot. Long starred in his own show, Bourbon Street
Beat from 1959–60 as Rex Randolph, Private Eye.
Long reprised his character on episodes of Hawaiian Eye and joined the cast of 77 Sunset Strip from
1960 to 1962.[19] He returned to films in Follow the Boys,
and The Tenderfoot in 1964 for Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color.
In 1965, at the age of 38, Long began his role as Jarrod Barkley, the oldest son of rancher Victoria
Barkley in 112 episodes of The Big Valley, a Western that ran on ABC from 1965 to 1969.
In 1970–71, Long and Juliet Mills starred in the ABC sitcom Nanny and the Professor.
His last appearances were in the TV movies The Girl Who Came Gift-Wrapped and Death Cruise (1974).
Long was twice married: his first wife was singer and actress Suzan Ball, who he married
in 1954 she unfortunately died of cancer in 1955 she was only 21 Years old.
In 1957, he married actress/model Mara Corday, the couple had three children together, Carey,
Valerie and and Gregory In 1961, Long was arrested by police after Corday falsely accused
him of trying to kill her while drunk. After initially threatening to file for divorce,
the two later reconciled.
When Richard Long was young he contracted pneumonia, which may have weakened his heart. He later
experienced cardiac problems as an adult and suffered a heart attack in 1961.
Heavy use of cigarettes and alcohol aggravated his condition and likely contributed to several
more heart seizures. Sadly.. after a month-long stay in Tarzana Medical Center in Los Angeles
to treat additional attacks, he died on December 21, 1974. He was only 47 years old. He was cremated and
his ashes were scattered in the ocean.