Dack Rambo
Dack Rambo in Dirty Sally (1974)
Born
Norman Jay Rambo

(1941-11-13)November 13, 1941
Earlimart, California, U.S.
DiedMarch 21, 1994(1994-03-21) (aged 52)
Delano, California, U.S.
Other namesDack Rambeau
Norman "Dack" Rambo
Norman Rambo
OccupationActor
Years active1962–1993

Norman Jay "Dack" Rambo (November 13, 1941 – March 21, 1994) was an American actor, widely known for his role as Walter Brennan's grandson Jeff in the series The Guns of Will Sonnett, as Steve Jacobi in the soap opera All My Children, as cousin Jack Ewing on Dallas, and as Grant Harrison on the soap opera Another World.

Early life

Norman Jay Rambo was born in Earlimart, California, to William Lester and Beatrice A. (née Rossi) Rambo. He was a middle child in a family of four children. His siblings were William Donald Rambo; identical twin Orman Ray "Dirk" Rambo (died 1967), and sister Beverly Jean Rambo. Beatrice Rambo outlived two of her three sons.[1][2]

Career

After moving to Los Angeles in the 1960s, the 20-year-old twins were discovered by actress Loretta Young in 1962 and cast in her CBS series The New Loretta Young Show.[3] On February 5, 1967, Dirk Rambo was killed in a road accident at the age of 25.[4]

Later that same year, Dack Rambo landed the role of Jeff Sonnett on The Guns of Will Sonnett and co-starred in the short-lived Gunsmoke spin-off Dirty Sally, with Jeanette Nolan. During the 1970s and 1980s, he made guest appearances on Marcus Welby, M.D., House Calls, Wonder Woman, The Rookies, Charlie's Angels, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Hotel and Murder, She Wrote. He played Steve Jacobi on All My Children in the early 1980s. He also acted the lead role in Sword of Justice, which lasted for 10 installments in 1978–79. Rambo may be best remembered on television for playing Jack Ewing in 51 episodes of the soap opera Dallas from 1985 to 1987. Rambo also played Wesley Harper on the 1984 short-lived TV series soap opera Paper Dolls.

Rambo promoted a line of men's underwear trademarked in 1987 as "Under Ware by dack rambo" [sic].[5][6] While working on Another World, Rambo learned that he was infected with HIV in August 1991. He quit the series shortly thereafter and retired from acting. Rambo then made his HIV infection and his bisexuality public, revealing that he had been in relationships with both men and women since his 20s.[3]

Personal life

For most of his life, Rambo was closeted about his bisexuality.[7] He later said he had been bisexual for most of his life, and had a "spicy" sex life that never included safe sex.[7]

Rambo learned he was HIV-positive on August 30, 1991, while preparing to tape scenes for Another World. After finishing work, he told the producers that he had HIV and that he wished to leave the show. He never returned to acting.[7] Rambo issued a press release on October 1, 1991, publicly disclosing his seroconversion status.[8] His announcement came just three weeks after actor Brad Davis died of AIDS,[8] and a month before basketball star Magic Johnson announced he was suffering from HIV.[7]

Rambo came out as bisexual in an interview with The Washington Post on November 25, 1991.[7]

The actor admitted in November 1991 that he had an addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs for several years. His time on Dallas was not a happy one, and his addiction significantly worsened after he left the show. He entered the Betty Ford Center for treatment in the summer of 1991, and became sober. Rambo denied he had ever been an intravenous drug user.[7]

Death

Dack Rambo died on March 21, 1994, at the age of 52 of complications from AIDS.[9]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1962–1963 The Loretta Young Show Peter Massey 26 episodes
1965 Never Too Young Tim 16 episodes
1966 The Virginian wesley hedges Saison 05 Episode 10: "High Stakes"
1967 Iron Horse Lieutenant Shelby Episode: "Sister Death"
Credited as Norman Rambo
1967–1969 The Guns of Will Sonnett Jeff Sonnett 50 episodes
1970 Which Way to the Front? Terry Love
1970–1971 Gunsmoke Cyrus Pike 3 episodes
1971 The Man and the City Holland Jr. Episode: "Disaster on Turner Street"
1971 Cannon Bryan Gibson Episode: "Stone, Cold Dead"
1973 Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law Don Episode: "Sweet Harvest"
1974 Dirty Sally Cyrus Pike 13 episodes
1974 Nightmare Honeymoon David Webb
1974 Hit Lady Doug Reynolds TV movie
1975 Marcus Welby, M.D. Episodes: "Dark Fury" (Parts 1 & 2)
1975 The Rookies Tommy Locke Episode: "Angel"
1977 Good Against Evil Andy Stuart TV movie
1977 Wonder Woman Andros Episodes: " Mind Stealers from Outer Space" (Parts 1 & 2)
1977 Tabitha Ted Episode: "Tabitha's Triangle"
1978 A Double Life Jack Cole TV movie
1978–1979 Sword of Justice Jack Cole 10 episodes
1978–1986 Fantasy Island Captain Timothy Black / Carl Wagner / Mike O'Brien / Captain Rawlins / Prince Peter d'Anatoli 6 episodes
1979–1986 The Love Boat Boyd Hughes / Alan Marciano / Peter Welch 3 episodes
1980 Waikiki Ronnie Television movie
1980 Charlie's Angels Steve Episode: "Angel in Hiding"
1981 House Calls Episode: "All About Adam"
1981 Rich and Famous Kent Uncredited
1982–1983 All My Children Steve Jacobi 7 episodes
1983–1987 Hotel Various 3 episodes
1984 The Mississippi Episode: "Wheels of Justice"
1984 No Man's Land Connell TV movie
1984 Paper Dolls Wesley Harper 13 episodes
1984–1990 Murder, She Wrote Various 3 episodes
1985–1987 Dallas Jack Ewing 51 episodes
1987 Shades of Love: Lilac Dream Matt Direct-to-video release
1988 Lonely Knights Brad Moore TV movie
1988 Hunter Deputy D.A. Jason Leffler Episode: "Presumed Guilty"
1989 The Spring Andy
1989 Highway to Heaven Larry Nichols Episode: "The Source"
1990 Murder, She Wrote Arnold Alternative title: "Fixer Upper"
1990 Ultra Warrior Kenner Alternative title: Welcome to Oblivion
1990 River of Diamonds John Tregard
1990–1991 Another World Grant Harrison 14 episodes, (final appearance)

References

  1. ↑ According to California Birth Index, 1905-1995 at ancestry.com
  2. ↑ Profile, FamilyTreeLegends.com. Accessed May 16, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Lipton, Michael A. (1992-05-11). "Dack Rambo's Brave New World". People. 37 (18).
  4. ↑ "Dack Rambo dead". Variety. March 22, 1994. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
  5. ↑ "Trademark: Under Ware by dack rambo". Trademark.Justia.com. Justia.com. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  6. ↑ "The Photo Gallery Three". Dack Rambo Memorial Tribute Photo Galleris. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hall, Carla (November 25, 1991). "Dack Rambo, In Another World". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Soaper Dack Rambo Says He Tested Positive for HIV". Orlando Sentinel. October 2, 1991. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  9. ↑ "A Bold Last Act". People. 41 (12). April 4, 1994.
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