Biography of Kirby Grant
Kirby Grant, born in South Dakota, was the son of a railway and factory worker. At the age of four, his family relocated to Glendale, California, where he spent his childhood. After completing his education, Grant attended Glendale City College and gained his initial acting experience through amateur school and college plays.
His talent was soon recognized, and he was invited to audition for Warner Brothers, subsequently landing a part in the 1951 crime drama "I Was a Communist for the F.B.I." Grant briefly worked as an ambulance driver before being drafted into the army. Initially trained as an infantryman at Fort Ord, he was later reassigned to a television subsidiary of the army, where he contributed to the production of the syndicated TV show "The Gray Ghost" (1957).
Grant gained widespread recognition for his role as "Clipper", the lead character's nephew, in the TV series "Sky King" (1951). He also made a notable appearance in the pilot episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962) as the geologist who discovered oil on the Clampett's property. On the big screen, Grant starred alongside Janice Rule in the musical "Starlift" (1951) and played a naive juvenile who fell in with criminals in "City That Never Sleeps" (1953).
Throughout his career, Grant featured in numerous westerns, showcasing his exceptional horse riding skills, which he had developed from a young age. Some of his notable western roles include "Annie Oakley" (1954),"Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957),"Gunsmoke" (1955),"Have Gun - Will Travel" (1957),"Rawhide" (1959),and "The High Chaparral" (1967).
Grant retired from acting in 1968 and went on to work in management for a real estate company in Century City, Los Angeles. Later, he established his own agency in Orange County.
