Ralph Adolph Taeger, a handsome and firm-jawed actor, experienced a brief moment of fame in the 1960s on TV and film. Born on July 30, 1936, in Richmond Hill, New York, to German-speaking parents, Taeger was a shy youngster who overcame his social handicap by taking public speaking classes.
As a young man, he pursued acting roles in college plays and summer stock, and even tried out for a career in professional baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, knee injuries forced him to rethink his future plans.
Taeger enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where he attended classes and worked as a male model on the side. He eventually moved to the West Coast, where he caught the eye of an MGM talent scout with a stage performance at the Beverly Hills Playhouse.
Taeger's early career was marked by small, uncredited roles in films and TV shows, including "Highway Patrol," "Manhunt," "Tombstone Territory," and "Sea Hunt." He found his footing as a strong, silent, and adventurous type, and went on to star in several crime and western series, including "Klondike" and "Acapulco."
Despite his early success, Taeger's TV shows were short-lived, and he eventually found himself relegated to supporting roles in films like "X-15" and "The Carpetbaggers." He also gained a reputation for being difficult on set, which likely contributed to his decline in popularity.
Taeger's personal life was marked by a marriage to Linda Jarrett in 1967, with whom he had one son, Richard. He went on to work as a wholesaler of firewood and operated a family business in northern Placerville, California. He also continued to act in local theater productions and appeared as a guest star on TV shows like "Quincy" and "Father Murphy" in the 1980s.
Taeger passed away on March 11, 2015, at the age of 78, following an extended illness.
