Harry Carey Jr., character actor, dead at 91

Actor Harry Carey, Jr. attends an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences special 50th anniversary screening of "The Searchers" on June 23, 2006, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

/ David Livingston/Getty

Character actor Harry Carey Jr., who starred in "Grermlins" and "Back to the Future Part III," has died in California at the age of 91.

His daughter, Melinda Carey, says he died Thursday of natural causes at a hospice facility in Santa Barbara, Calif.

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Carey's career spanned more than 50 years and included such John Ford films as "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" and "The Searchers." He also appeared in such Westerns as "3 Godfathers" and "Wagon Master."

His memoir, "Company of Heroes: My Life as an Actor in the John Ford Stock Company," was published in 1994.

Carey was the son of silent-film Western star Harry Carey Sr. and actress Olive Carey.

According to the movie website iMDb, Carey was a Navy medical corpsman during WWII, serving in the Pacific Theater. He tried unsuccessfully to launch a singing career before he turned to acting. His first movie was the 1948 John Wayne film, "Red River," in which his father also had a part.

He is survived by his wife, son, two daughters, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

[Marmalute]

Seriously? You news people concern me. You've listed 35 actors / actresses and again just like CNN and HLN you re-run over and over all day and night about Jack Klugman but you leave out Charles Durning who might I remind you was a war HERO !!! What ... push the actors / actresses who served our country off to the side as if they don't matter. You people shame me.
But on topic... God bless you Harry Carey Jr ... enjoy your reunion with John Wayne and all the others who went before you.

[jimatmadison]

I saw a lot of stuff on Charles Durning all over the 'net when he died.

Mr Durning died very close to the time that Jack Klugman did, which overshadowed him a little.

Klugman was, admittedly a bigger star, but Durning was given his due.

A lot of people who knew Durning personally never heard about his D-Day experiences or any of the rest of his WWII exploits and medals. I had an uncle who flew bombers over Germany, and he almost never talked about it because it was just too painful, so I understand that.

Durning's was the highlight performance in Best Little ********** in Texas. His 'Oooh, I love to do the little sidestep' song and dance always makes me smile.

[ttipbc]

"Grermlins"? Really CBS, how could you screw up the name of that movie? RIP, Harry Carey, Jr.

[garyjminter]

Mr. Carey, you gave a lot of happiness to us TV and film fans. I'm glad you lived a long, full life, may you rest in peace.