In a career that lasted from 1957 to 2018, Robert H. Walker, Jr. was perhaps best known for playing the psionically gifted Charlie Evans in the Star Trek episode Charlie X, written by the late D. C. Fontana. (Charlie X was the first episode filmed, and the second one broadcast.) He has passed away as of December 5, 2019 of natural causes at the age of 79.
Walker was born April 15, 1940 in New York City, the son of Robert Walker (Strangers on a Train) and Jennifer Jones (The Song of Bernadette). In between he had nearly 80 acting roles, including Easy Rider, Ensign Pulver, Riptide, and Beware! The Blob. He won a Golden Globe in 1964 as Most Promising Newcomer for his role in The Ceremony.
While SCIFI.radio listeners may remember Walker as the young man who inspired Uhura to sing, or Billy the Kid in Time Tunnel and an alien in The Invaders, other Hollywood fans may remember him as David Selznick’s stepson or the star of Ensign Pulver, brilliantly recreating the role originated by Jack Lemmon in Mister Roberts.
He actually did more work in westerns than science fiction: The Big Valley, Bonanza, The War Wagon, Young Billy Young, and the Road West.
He was married three times and had seven children and five grandchildren. We at SCIFI.radio offer our condolences to his family.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
