Gilman Rankin

Who was Gilman Rankin?

Gilman Warren Rankin was a Boston-born actor who appeared primarily in television westerns between 1956 and 1975.

Between 1957 and 1959, he had a supporting role as Deputy Charlie Riggs in seven episodes of the series Tombstone Territory. Rankin further guest starred nine times between 1960 and 1975 in various roles on CBS's Gunsmoke with James Arness.

His first western role was as the Reverend Simon Peter Wheedle in the 1956 film Ghost Town, which also starred character actor John Doucette. Other western roles followed: as Jed in the 1956 episode "Patrol" of NBC's Frontier, as Tawanga in the 1957 episode "The Doctor" of ABC's Broken Arrow, as Judge Parnell in the 1957 film Black Patch, and as Cy Conway in the 1957 episode "Death on the Rock" of Rod Cameron's syndicated series, State Trooper.

Rankin guest starred in numerous drama programs, including his first television appearance as Vince in the 1955 episode "Prison Break" of Broderick Crawford's syndicated crime drama Highway Patrol. He appeared twice on CBS's The Millionaire fantasy drama in 1955 and 1957 and as an announcer in the 1957 episode "Blizzard" of NBC's The Loretta Young Show. He also appeared on NBC's Jane Wyman Presents, CBS's Lassie, NBC's Dragnet, CBS's Perry Mason, ABC's The Untouchables, and the syndicated Border Patrol in the 1959 episode "The Logmen".