- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJohn Nicholas Foran
- Height6′ 2¼″ (1.89 m)
- Dick Foran was the matinée idol of the B movies. He started as a band singer and then sang on the radio. He was hired by Warner Brothers as a supporting actor who could croon a tune when called upon. His good looks and good natured personality made him a natural choice for the supporting cast. His first starring role was in the western Treachery Rides the Range (1936) which was Warner Brothers answer to Gene Autry. In the westerns that followed, he would sing the tune while riding the horse or romancing the gal. Whether it was Song of the Saddle (1936) or California Mail (1936), his character name may be different, but 'The Singing Cowboy' tag was always the same. While at Warner's he also played straight dramatic roles, supporting the star. In 1940, Dick headed for Universal where he was, again, in the supporting cast. He worked in serials, Rangers of Fortune (1940); horror, The Mummy's Hand (1940); to comedy, Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942). His signature theme "I'll Remember April" was introduced in Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942). After that, roles were sporadic. He made a half dozen films in the late fifties and did some Television. His last film role was in Donovan's Reef (1963) with his longtime friend John Wayne.
- IMDb mini biography by: Tony Fontana <tony.fontana@spacebbs.com> - American light leading man of musical Westerns and supporting player dramatic films. The son of New Jersey senator Arthur Foran, he attended the Hunn School and Princeton University, where he pursued a degree in geology. He was a splendid athlete and singer and while at Princeton developed an interest in the theatre. After college, he worked aboard freighter, then as a special investigator for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He abruptly quit that job and made his way to Hollywood, where he got work as a band vocalist. This led to small singing roles in films beginning in 1934. After several pictures in which he was billed as Nick Foran, he was signed by Warner Bros. His name was changed to Dick Foran and he began a series of musical Westerns. His strong, pleasant voice and friendly demeanor made him reasonably popular, and he began branching out into (mainly) supporting roles in non-Westerns. He was a very familiar presence in films, particularly at Warners, throughout the 1930s and '40s. In the 1950s, he played frequently on television and continued to make occasional film appearances into the 1960s. He died in 1979.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
- SpousesSusanne Rosser(September 15, 1951 - August 10, 1979) (his death, 1 child)Carole Gallagher(January 1, 1943 - May 18, 1945) (divorced, 1 child)Madeline Ruth Piper(June 6, 1937 - December 19, 1940) (divorced, 2 children)
- ChildrenJohn Michael ForanJames Patrick ForanSean ForanThomas Foran
- ParentsElizabeth Smith FisherArthur Francis Foran Sr.
- Was originally cast as the doomed Larry Talbot in The Wolf Man (1941), but was replaced by Lon Chaney Jr. before filming began.
- In the last decade of his life he worked almost exclusively in television commercials.
- His father was the president of the New Jersey State Senate.
- In August 1940 he tangled physically with two sheriff's deputies who were attempting to arrest him for drunk driving. Foran lost the encounter, then good-naturedly paid his $250 fine and was freed.
- His divorce trial from his first wife in 1940 received considerable publicity and was the source of much gossip.
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