Not Forrest Gump, Forrest Tucker! Quiz

Answer: Indiana

Here's an interesting sidenote - his career included Broadway musicals and he toured in the road company of "The Music Man". The libretto happens to include a paean to another city in Indiana - Gary! Forrest Tucker had a film career spanning over 30 years.

His films included many genres, from major films to less expensive, "campy" B-Movies. His start was in westerns, but included science fiction and comedy. He acted in some of the top movies released in the 1940s and 50s, and starred in a few B movies along the way.

Answer: False

No standing on boxes for this 6 foot 4 inch actor! At 16, he was the MC for a bawdy house, The Gayety, because he lied about his age, but his size made him look older. He was fired, but rehired at 18.

Answer: The Crawling Eye

Telepathic alien creatures hide in the mountain fog and decapitate their victims. Forrest is a UN troubleshooter monitoring radiation levels in the area. Really bad - you gotta love it! Among the best of the B movies, IMHO!

Answer: The Abominable Snowman

Tucker's character, Dr. Tom Friend, travels to the Himalayas to capture a Yeti and present it to the world. After a snowman is shot and killed by a member of the group attempting to prove the existence of the Yeti, strange things start happening, including apparent mind control by the Yeti.

The final scenes of this flick are actually quite tender. Find it, make a big bowl of popcorn, and enjoy!

Answer: Auntie Mame

He played Mame's first husband, Beauregard Burnside, who was lost on their honeymoon in Switzerland. Ms. Russell and Tucker play off each other beautifully in this comedic romp.

The movie was based on the book "Auntie Mame", by Patrick Dennis. Although not a bio, it was inspired by his very real, eccentric aunt,Marion Tanner. The book was also adapted to the stage, AND a Broadway musical, AND a movie musical. The premise of the story is that Patrick Dennis, following the loss of his parents, is taken under the wing of his Auntie Mame, who manages to take a number of people under her wing and her tutelage, opening her generous heart to an oddly loveable cast of characters - all this through madcap romps and parties around the world!

Answer: The Music Man

Phony Professor Harold Hill shows up in River City, Iowa, ready to scam its occupants by claiming he can save the youth of the town from the evils of pool-playing by forming them into a marching band - yes, this is the show with "76 Trombones"!

Robert Preston owned the role on Broadway, but Forrest Tucker toured in the national company for 5 years, and over 2,000 onstage appearances. He also starred in national productions of "Plaza Suite", "Show Boat", and "That Championship Season".

Answer: John Wayne

Wayne received his first Oscar nomination for "Sands of Iwo Jima". Tucker played a member of his rebellious group of recruits who had a score to settle. "Chisum", unfortunately, was not of as high a caliber.

Answer: The Yearling

Cast members included Gregory Peck, June Lockhart, and Claude Jarman, Jr., who was given a special Oscar for Outstanding Child Actor. Forrest's supporting role was as Lem Forrester, a member of a rival family.

The story follows a boy who adopts a fawn after its mother is killed. He is admonished to make sure the fawn doesn't get into their fields and ruin their meager crops. When it does, he ultimately has to kill it.

Answer: F Troop

The multi-talented Tucker lent his skills to several television series. The best-known of these was as Sgt. Morgan O'Rourke in "F Troop", still seen in syndication.

O'Rourke is involved in several shady enterprises at the fictional Fort Courage, Kansas, following the Civil War. The show is heavily laden with verbal and sight gags, slapstick, burlesque - if it can invoke laughter, it was probably used at least once on the series. Numerous actors guest-starred as well, including Vincent Price (as a Count), Milton Berle (as a Hekawi Indian) ("Where the heck are we?"), and Jamie Farr (as a pal of Geronimo).

Ken Berry went on to "Mayberry RFD" the spin-off of the Andy Griffith Show, among others. Larry Storch, who started as a stand-up comic, guest starred on just about every TV series you can name. He also did voice-overs for a number of animated series. (He even guest starred on "The Ghost Busters", which starred - you guessed it! - Forrest Tucker.) Melody Patterson was only 16 at the time she played Wrangler Jane. She has retired from acting, and is involved in running the official "F Troop" website with her husband.

Answer: Marilyn Johnson

Although they were contemporaries, and each married several times, Forrest was never married to either Marilyn Monroe or Elizabeth Taylor. Marilyn Manson, of course, is not of the feminine persuasion.

Marilyn Johnson was an actor in her own right, including appearing in several "Three Stooges" films. She chose working as an Interior Designer, and was responsible for some of the decorating and updating of Pickfair, the former home of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Marilyn passed away from rheumatic heart disease. She and Forrest had been married just over 9 years.