Allen Case

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Allen Case (born Alan Case Lavelle Jones, October 8, 1934 – August 25, 1986) was an American television actor most noted for the lead role of Deputy Clay McCord in NBC-TV's The Deputy (1959–1961) opposite series regular Henry Fonda, who received top billing, but appeared far less frequently than Case.

Case was born in Dallas, Texas. His parents were retail clothiers Casey Jones and Nadine Allen Jones. He attended Southern Methodist University, but left in his junior year.

After he left SMU, Case sang on a television program in Dallas, and then toured in musicals. Following those experiences, he traveled to New York to audition for the Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts program.

Case signed a contract with Columbia Records in 1955, and performed on the first studio cast recording of the Gershwins' musical Oh, Kay! He starred in his first Broadway show, Reuben, Reuben. He also toured with musicals, including South Pacific, Damn Yankees, and My Fair Lady.

In addition to starring in The Deputy,  Case was one of the "friends" on Arthur Godfrey and His Friends.

Case made more than 30 television appearances between 1958 and 1982, often in cowboy roles, such as on the ABC/Warner Bros. Western series, Colt .45, starring Wayde Preston.

In the late 1960s, Case went into business manufacturing fur coats for men. Furs used in the coats included wolf, Norwegian seal, muskrat, and sheared rabbit. Prices ranged from $350 to $1,250. During his theatrical career, Case designed his own clothes, and as the menswear market changed, he thought the time was ripe to express his own ideas and designs.

On September 22, 1961, Case married Bobbie Jones. They had a daughter, and they divorced on June 27, 1979.

While on vacation, he died after suffering a heart attack in Truckee, California, at the age of 51. CLR