Warren Douglas; Actor, Screenwriter, Lyricist

Warren Douglas, veteran actor of the 1940s and 1950s who became a successful screenwriter, lyricist and novelist, has died. He was 86.

Douglas, who had retired to the Gold Country in Northern California, died in Jackson, Calif., on Nov. 15 of heart failure, his daughter, Ann Douglas, said Wednesday.

As an actor, Douglas was often cast as an officer or serviceman in such World War II-based films as “Destination Tokyo,” “God Is My Co-Pilot” and “The Pride of the Marines.” He later had key roles in such films as “The Magnificent Rogue,” “County Fair,” “Cuban Fireball,” “High Conquest” and “Homicide for Three.”

When a Douglas fan club was formed in the 1940s, Ronald Reagan became an early member.

In the 1950s, although Douglas continued to act in small roles, he switched his efforts to writing. He was particularly attracted to the Western genre, and wrote two novels, “The Man from Wells Fargo” and “One Came Alone,” as well as 48 screenplays and teleplays.

His films included “Dragoon Wells Massacre,” “Jack Slade” and a sequel, and in 1966, “The Night of the Grizzly” starring Clint Walker.

Douglas wrote regularly for the Western television series “Bonanza,” “Cheyenne,” “Sugarfoot,” “Bronco,” “Gunsmoke,” “High Chaparral,” “Lassie,” “Laramie,” “Wyatt Earp,” “Rawhide” and “McCloud.”

He also wrote for such non-Western series as “77 Sunset Strip” and “This Is Your Life.”

Also a talented lyricist, Douglas wrote the book and lyrics for three musicals--”The Peaceful Palace,” “Belle Starr” with Betty Grable, and “Go for Your Gun” with Emmaline Henry.

Born in Minneapolis, Douglas caught the acting bug when he appeared in a high school play. He began his career based in New York and touring with the Oxford Players. He moved to Hollywood to work for Warner Bros. and later Republic and Allied Artists studios.

According to his daughter, Douglas had recently completed writing his autobiography.

Survivors also include his wife, Bonnie, and two stepchildren, Robert Padgette and Sandra Apple.