Richard Egan, Star of ‘A Summer Place’ and ‘Pollyanna’, Dead at 65

Best known for his roles in A Summer Place (1959), The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956), and Elvis Presley’s Love Me Tender (1956), he also gained recognition for his performance in Disney’s Pollyanna (1960) and for starring in the 1960s Western television series Empire.

Before his acting career took off, he served during World War II, training U.S. Army troops in judo. After the war, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of San Francisco and went on to complete a master’s degree at Stanford University.

Personal life

In 1956, Egan met actress Patricia Hardy, and they married on June 7, 1958, in San Francisco. Their marriage lasted until Egan’s death.

The couple had five children: four daughters—Patricia, Kathleen, Colleen, and Maureen—and one son, Richard Egan Jr.

Maureen Egan became a writer and music video director, while Richard Egan Jr. founded Vagrant Records, a notable independent music label.

How did Richard Egan die?

Egan passed away from prostate cancer on July 20, 1987, in Santa Monica, California, just nine days before his 66th birthday. He was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.