LOS ANGELES, Oct. 2, 2008
Mr. Clean Actor Dead At 92
House Peters Jr. Appeared In Cowboy Movies And "Always Played The Heavy," His Son Says
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House Peters Jr., left, is seen in this 1951 file photo with his father, silent screen star House Peters, during the shooting of the Gene Autry film "The Old West". Peters Jr. died at the age of 92. (AP Photo, File)
Peters died of pneumonia at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Hospital in Los Angeles, said his son, Jon Peters.
The elder Peters' most memorable role came as Mr. Clean - a muscular man with a bald head, a hoop earring and a no-nonsense attitude toward dirt and grime. From the late 1950s and into the early 1960s, Peters Jr. helped advertise the famous household cleaner with the trademark jingle, "Mr. Clean, Mr. Clean."
Peters Jr. played many supporting roles through his career, including working with Roy Rogers and Gene Autry on their television shows. He also appeared in "Perry Mason," "Gunsmoke," "The Twilight Zone" and "Lassie."
"He always played the heavy," Jon Peters said, referring to his father's customary roles as a villain or brawny character. "Even though he wasn't happy about being cast in those roles, he worked really hard at it."
His father's acting career spanned 1935-1967, according to his Web site. He also wrote an autobiography, "Another Side of Hollywood," in which he describes growing up the son of an actress and silent film actor in Beverly Hills. His father, Robert House Peters Sr., has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Peters Jr. was never a leading man, but played many character parts in cowboy movies and won a Golden Boot Award in 2000 for his lifetime contributions to the western genre, his son said.
Peters Jr. was born Jan. 12, 1916, in New Rochelle, N.Y., as Robert House Peters Jr. His son said Peters Jr. studied drama in high school and became inspired to pursue an acting career.
He also is survived by his wife, Lucy Pickett, a daughter, another son and four grandchildren.
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- His death is a pity!!!!
But we think he had a happy life!!!
********T A L L M E E T.C O M********* - Reply to this comment
- What tragedy? The man was 92. He had a long life and by the sounds of it, he successfully raised a family and led a productive career. A timely death is no tragedy.
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- why is it everytime something tragic happens all the yahoos come out for negative attention? are you that hard up that a negative comment is better than none at all? You must be some desperate person to want that kind of attention. you need to grow up and get a life. stick to the story
this sad first Newman and now him. - Reply to this comment
- You people and your comments are pathetic....
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- As usual, the republicant''s are waaaaaaay off the topic. How unusual!!! Idiots!!
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- what a bunch of clowns
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