Actor Peter Breck [The Big Valley] 1929-2012 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 02-10-2012, 05:01 PM

Standout in TV Westerns also appeared in dozens of shows like "Maverick," "Black Saddle" and "Branded."

Link

Peter Breck, who played a hot-headed son of California ranch owner Barbara Stanwyck on the 1960s TV Western The Big Valley, died Monday in Vancouver after a long illness. He was 82.

His wife announced his death on the website The Big Valley Writing Desk.

Before the 1965-1969 ABC series, the hark-haired, rugged-looking Breck had worked as a regular on two other TV Westerns: Maverick, as Doc Holliday opposite James Garner, and Black Saddle, on which he played a gunman turned lawyer opposite future Gilligan’s Island actor Russell Johnson.

A native of Haverhill, Mass., and the son of a jazz musician, Breck scored a contract at Warner Bros. and appeared in dozens of shows from the mid-1950s to the early 2000s, including The Virginian, Hawaiian Eye, Perry Mason, Lawman, Branded, Gunsmoke, Fantasy Island, The Fall Guy and John Doe.

His film work included roles in Thunder Road (1958), I Want to Live! (1958), The Beatniks (1960), Portrait of a Mobster (1961), Lad: A Dog (1962), Samuel Fuller’s Shock Corridor (1963) and Benji (1974).

On Big Valley, Breck played Nick Barkley, who lost his temper easily and was often spoiling for a fight. Nick was the brother of the characters played by Richard Long, Charles Briles and Linda Evans and the half-brother to Lee Majors. He stayed close with Stanwyck after the show finished production.

In the mid-1980s, Breck moved to Vancouver, worked in theater and opened an acting school. His wife of 51 years, Diane, wrote on his website that he was suffering from dementia and had been hospitalized since Jan. 10.

duckie · 02-10-2012, 05:13 PM

Sad news, RIP Mr. Breck.

AB · 02-10-2012, 05:28 PM

Rest in peace.

Mr. Television · 02-10-2012, 06:13 PM

He was one of my favorite actors on one of my favorite westerns. I've been watching a lot of the Big Valley lately. I'm so sad to hear this. R.I.P. Peter.

catlover79 · 02-11-2012, 07:35 AM

ponytail · 02-11-2012, 10:01 AM

Peter was my favorite on The Big Valley. I did have a crush on him.

Rest In Peace Mr. Breck.

Goldilocks · 02-11-2012, 01:24 PM

He definitely was a hottie!

RIP.

Flying Dutchman · 05-14-2015, 09:06 AM

I never liked his character of Nick Barkley, because he was so hot headed at times he seemed almost like a trouble maker. But I respected Breck as an actor. R.I.P. Peter Breck.

Coffeecup · 12-17-2017, 07:01 PM

I always feel sad when i heard people die of memory problems. The lingering situation and so hard for loved ones.

02-10-2012, 05:01 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,346	Actor Peter Breck [The Big Valley] 1929-2012 Standout in TV Westerns also appeared in dozens of shows like "Maverick," "Black Saddle" and "Branded." Link Peter Breck, who played a hot-headed son of California ranch owner Barbara Stanwyck on the 1960s TV Western The Big Valley, died Monday in Vancouver after a long illness. He was 82. His wife announced his death on the website The Big Valley Writing Desk. Before the 1965-1969 ABC series, the hark-haired, rugged-looking Breck had worked as a regular on two other TV Westerns: Maverick, as Doc Holliday opposite James Garner, and Black Saddle, on which he played a gunman turned lawyer opposite future Gilligan’s Island actor Russell Johnson. A native of Haverhill, Mass., and the son of a jazz musician, Breck scored a contract at Warner Bros. and appeared in dozens of shows from the mid-1950s to the early 2000s, including The Virginian, Hawaiian Eye, Perry Mason, Lawman, Branded, Gunsmoke, Fantasy Island, The Fall Guy and John Doe. His film work included roles in Thunder Road (1958), I Want to Live! (1958), The Beatniks (1960), Portrait of a Mobster (1961), Lad: A Dog (1962), Samuel Fuller’s Shock Corridor (1963) and Benji (1974). On Big Valley, Breck played Nick Barkley, who lost his temper easily and was often spoiling for a fight. Nick was the brother of the characters played by Richard Long, Charles Briles and Linda Evans and the half-brother to Lee Majors. He stayed close with Stanwyck after the show finished production. In the mid-1980s, Breck moved to Vancouver, worked in theater and opened an acting school. His wife of 51 years, Diane, wrote on his website that he was suffering from dementia and had been hospitalized since Jan. 10.
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02-10-2012, 05:13 PM	#2
duckie Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 13, 2011 Location: south Posts: 1,784	Sad news, RIP Mr. Breck.
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02-10-2012, 06:13 PM	#4
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	He was one of my favorite actors on one of my favorite westerns. I've been watching a lot of the Big Valley lately. I'm so sad to hear this. R.I.P. Peter.
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02-11-2012, 07:35 AM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376
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05-14-2015, 09:06 AM	#8
Flying Dutchman Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2004 Location: New York Posts: 1,266	I never liked his character of Nick Barkley, because he was so hot headed at times he seemed almost like a trouble maker. But I respected Breck as an actor. R.I.P. Peter Breck.
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02-10-2012, 05:28 PM	#3
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,429	Rest in peace.

02-11-2012, 10:01 AM	#6
ponytail Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2004 Location: In Happy, Healthy, Wealthyville Posts: 4,273	Peter was my favorite on The Big Valley. I did have a crush on him. Rest In Peace Mr. Breck.

02-11-2012, 01:24 PM	#7
Goldilocks Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 08, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 693	He definitely was a hottie! RIP.

12-17-2017, 07:01 PM	#9
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,181	I always feel sad when i heard people die of memory problems. The lingering situation and so hard for loved ones.