Biography

John Wilder was born on May 28, 1936 in Tacoma, Washington. He is a writer, producer, and director known for Centennial (1978), The Yellow Rose (1983), Spenser: For Hire (1985), Norman Rockwell's Breaking Home Ties (1987), Return to Lonesome Dove (1993), The Feast of All Saints (2001)., Norman Rockwell's A Way Back Home (2013).
- IMDb mini biography by: John Wilder

Legally changed his name from John McGovern to John Wilder in 1958.

He abandoned acting in the early 1960s. Retraining as a screenwriter and producer, he went on to study at the Santa Monica City College, later transferring to the University of California. He has worked as a professor at Westmont College since 2019.

For four years, he starred on the Red Ryder radio series as Little Beaver. He made over 2500 broadcasts during the 1940s and early 1950s.

Performed as a tap dancer from the age of four.

Son of Merrill John McGaurn (1910-1988) and Sally May Bonney (1913-2003). His father changed his last name to McGovern in the 1940s.