Biography

                 of

                 HUGH O'BRIAN
 

                         Hugh O'Brian returned to series television for the 1972-73 season, 
                 following an absence of more than a decade.  During that period, the actor 
                 refused more than 50 TV series;  it wasn't until offered the starring role 
                 in the "Search" (re-titled from "Probe") series, that O'Brian was provoked 
                 to re-enter the TV series scene.

                         When O'Brian signed for the original two-hour pilot, he felt it was the 
                 first projected series that was fresh enough in approach to hold his 
                 interest and enjoyable enough to harness up again for long-term appearances.

                         Too, he would not have to appear in each "Search" episode as "Probe Number 
                 One."  These are Leslie Stevens Productions-Warner Bros. Television 
                 one-hour segments for NBC.  As such, O'Brian stars in half the series, with 
                 Tony Francisoa and Doug McClure appearing as stars of alternate episodes 
                 throughout the season.  With such latitude, O'Brian can also fulfill other 
                 commitments, such as films and his first love, the theatre.

                         To O'Brian, variety is the spice of life, which makes him a diversified 
                 man.  He feels it is important to work in the other fields of show 
                 business, as well as having time to devote to his many philanthropic interests.

                         Born in Rochester, New York, O'Brian's introduction to diversification 
                 came early through his family's subsequent moves to Chicago; Lancaster, 
                 Pennsylvania; Garden City, Long Island and Wilmette, Illinois.  He attended 
                 school in Winnetka, Illinois; Aledo, Illinois; and Booneville, 
                 Mississippi.  In high school, his sports activities were diversified among 
                 football, basketball, wrestling and track, winning letters in all four sports.

                         Another indication of O'Brian's omnipresent interest in diversification 
                 comes in investments of monies he's earned:  he's in stocks and bonds, real 
                 estate, bowling alleys, a building equipment firm, a theatre-in-the-round, 
                 an oil syndicate and his own TV production company for which he plans to 
                 produce TV series and specials.

                         After a semester at the University of Cincinnati, with studies planned 
                 toward a law career, O'Brian at 18, enlisted in the Marine Corps.  He 
                 became the youngest drill instructor in the Corps' history and, during his 
                 four year service, won a coveted Fleet appointment to Annapolis.  He 
                 refused the appointment, intending to enroll at Yale in pre-law.

                         Upon discharge from the Corps, O'Brian came to Los Angeles where he 
                 planned to earn money for his tuition.  As seems to happen too often to 
                 O'Brian for it to be coincidence - he met a group of girls, two of them 
                 interested in film careers - Ruth Roman and Linda Christian, which led him 
                 to a little theatre group.  When a leading man became ill, O'Brian agreed 
                 to substitute.  Originally, he felt the experience might be helpful in his 
                 legal career; he got such good reviews in Somerset Maugham's play "Home and 
                 Beauty," however, that he decided momentarily to by-pass Yale.

                         He became a resident member of a Santa Barbara stock company.  Opting to 
                 resume his formal education, O'Brian enrolled at L.A. City College.  He 
                 worked at a variety of jobs, including some local, live TV shows.  While 
                 selling shirts and ties in a Beverly Hills office building, he attracted 
                 the attention of agent Milo Frank.  Frank took him to Ida Lupino, who set 
                 him to portray a polio victim in "Young Lovers."  This brought him a 
                 long-term contract with Universal - where he appeared in 18 films in three 
                 years.

                         Feeling that he was not progressing and being used only as a utility 
                 actor, he left Universal in March, 1954, to free-lance.  He guest-starred 
                 in numerous TV shows and in such films as "Broken Lance," "No Business Like 
                 Show Business" and "White Feather."

                         Then came the big step forward in his career with his signing to portray 
                 "Wyatt Earp" on TV.  Shortly after the series debuted, it became a 
                 top-rated show and O'Brian a much discussed talent.

                         During the annual six-month hiatus of the "Earp" series, O'Brian 
                 diversified; he did singing appearances on the Ed Sullivan, Dinah shore and 
                 Jackie Gleason shows; he recorded an album of popular songs; he appeared 
                 on-stage on Broadway, in winter and summer stock.

                         Interest provoked in good citizenry after a 1959 visit to the late Dr. 
                 Albert Schweitzer, O'Brian founded the Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation.  Its 
                 purpose is accenting the positive side of American's teenagers.  Young men, 
                 14 to 15 years of age, sophomores in high school are eligible.  The final 
                 selections are made by NASSP. (National Association of Secondary School 
                 Principals) and the NASC (National Association of Student Councils).  The 
                 final selections include one youth from each state and ten foreign 
                 countries and ten from minority groups.  The boys are chosen for their 
                 sense of purpose and understanding of their responsibilities as future 
                 leaders.  The annual week-long seminars are held at a place of political or 
                 scientific interest, most recently at Cape Kennedy.

                         O'Brian was awarded one of the space community's highest honors, the 1972 
                 Freedom Award, sponsored by the National Space Club in association with 
                 NASA.  He received the Award for a variety of space orientated projects, 
                 including the Youth Foundation seminars at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

                         His "Hugh O'Brian Acting Awards Competition" was established in 1964 at 
                 UCLA.  Cash awards totaling $1,800 annually go to the best actor and 
                 actress and the best supporting player in the Theatre Arts Department as 
                 judged by a panel comprising faculty members and film industry 
                 leaders.  These awards, like the Youth Foundation, have been endorsed in 
                 perpetuity by Mr. O'Brian's will.

                         O'Brian also was one of the founders and first and second President of 
                 "The Thalians," a charitable organization which yearly raises hundreds of 
                 thousands of dollars to aid mentally disturbed children.  As California's 
                 chairman of fund-raising for the American Cancer Society, he once raised 
                 more than $4,100,000 in a six-week intensified campaign.  He has been the 
                 National Chairman for the National Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation 
                 since 1969.

                         Space does not permit a listing of all O'Brian's charitable efforts, nor 
                 would his modesty allow it.  It should be noted that he was one of the 
                 first celebrities to do a frontline tour of Vietnam in 1965 at the State 
                 Department's request.  He also donated his services in 1967 in organizing, 
                 staging and directing a touring company of "Guys and Dolls" for the 
                 U.S.O.  He portrayed Sky Masterson in the show which toured Vietnam, 
                 Thailand and Japan for five weeks, doing three and four shows daily for the 
                 troops.

                         President Johnson invited O'Brian to the White House to report on his 
                 Vietnam experiences, and to participate in the President's "Salute to 
                 Congress."  He did a dramatic reading of Thomas Wolfe's "Burning in the 
                 Night,"  before an audience of the First Couple, the Cabinet, the Supreme 
                 Court and the 82nd Congress.

                         O'Brian's Broadway debut came in 1960 as Andy Griffith's replacement in 
                 "Destry Rides Again."  The following year, he did  "First Love," directed 
                 by Alfred Lunt and later, starred as Sky Masterson in "Guys and Dolls" at 
                 City Center.

                         To satisfy his thirst for the legitimate theatre, the actor has toured in 
                 summer and winter stock in such hit plays as "Cactus Flower," "The 
                 Rainmaker," "Hamlet," "Heaven Can Wait," "Mr. Roberts," "The Tender Trap," 
                 "Mourning Becomes Electra," "Two For the Seesaw," and "Picnic."  Early in 
                 1972, O'Brian starred in "A Thousand Clowns," in Chicago, for eight 
                 weeks.  His 1972 filming schedule on "Probe," was arranged so that he could 
                 fulfill a four-week summer stock engagement in "1776."  O'Brian tries to do 
                 one play each year.

                         O'Brian, a bachelor, lives in a sprawling hilltop home over-looking 
                 Beverly Hills with his two dogs, Brut, a white German Shepherd, and Panda, 
                 a small spaniel of questionable lineage.  Diverse as ever, his sports 
                 activities now include sailing, skin-diving, swimming, parachute jumping, 
                 tennis and long-distance bicycling.

                 VITAL STATISTICS

                 Birthplace:     Rochester, New York                             Eyes:   Brown
                 Birthdate:      April 19                                                Hair:   Brown
                 Height: 6'                                              Status: Single
                 Weight: 175 lbs.