Posted on 02/10/2012 5:45:02 PM PST by John W
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.
I like that show and still watch it. He was the best part of it.
The Big Valley runs in the afternoons on Me-TV, Memorable Entertainment TV, a retro channel.
When he put on the gloves, look out! RIP
Such a sad day. My brother is near death after suffering a heart attack and massive aneurysm last night, now this. I remember watching the Big Valley with him many times. Growing up with five other brothers and 3 sisters, the boys all wanted to be Nick Barkley...
“I like that show and still watch it. He was the best part of it.”
I liked him a lot. :(
I’m very sorry to hear about your brother. I’ll say a prayer for him. Luckily, you’ll always have the memories of the good times you shared with all your siblings.
That show was a milestone in its time, with two strong women characters, Barbara Stanwyck as the matriarch and Linda Evans as the strong willed daughter.
“Growing up with five other brothers and 3 sisters.”
What a great family. Please accept my good thoughts and prayers for your brother and all of you. My husband left for the Big Valley in the sky not many months ago. He liked that show. You’re right, this is an exceptionally sad time. A lot of good people going home.
"Nick ! Heath ! Jared ! There's a fire in the barn !"
RIP, Mr. Breck.
I’m so sorry. Prayers have been sent for your brother and his loved ones.
Good memories, back when macho wasn't a sin. Thanks, "Nick".
Yes, Nick was the needed bad ass character. My favorite part of the show.
Now, let’s make sure we don’t nominate Jared Barkley (Rick Santorum) - oops, sorry to hijack the thread.....now back to The Big Valley.
My daughter and I loved the show,especially the fact that Audra was always loaning dresses(at Mom’s request) to ladies in trouble——and they always were a perfect fit.
If one of us is going someplace special we still say,”Just borrow a dress from Audra”.
I loved that show...my brothers and I developed what we called the Nick Barkley roll when we were playing war and cowboys and indians.....run from behind cover, roll, and come up shooting!
Seems like he did it every episode...
I just started watching The Big Valley recently, about the time I discovered the “MeTV” retro channel in my area. The original series run was before I was born, and I don’t remember it being in syndication on any of the local tv stations. At any rate, it’s a very good western tv series. I was always a big fan of Barbara Stanwyck anyway. She was, as they used to say in less PC times, “one gutsy dame.”
I love Me-TV and I have learned to appreciate Big Valley and Barbara Stanwyck. As much I loved rerun TV westerns as a young TV addict growing up in the 70s, Big Valley never did much for me.
Me-TV has also gotten to appreciate Hawaii 5-0 a lot more. I love my Perry Mason, Cannon, Kojak, and Rockford reruns even though I have a lot on DVD.
Me-TV is a nod to those fun independent channels that ran old shows and cheesy movies. I miss independent channels. The best one I could get back in the 80s was WHNS - 21.
He certainly had the best character on the show and he sure made the most of it.
R.I.P.
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