Edward Faulkner, 'The Green Berets' and 'McLintock!' star, dies at 93

Edward Faulkner, the Kentucky-born actor who became prominent in Hollywood’s golden era of Westerns and adventure films, has passed away at the age of 93.

The late star's daughter, Leslie Wadsworth, confirmed that he died on Aug. 26 of natural causes at a healthcare facility in Vista, California.

He is survived by his daughters Jan, Barbara, and Leslie; his son Edward III; and his grandchildren, Wyatt, Tyler, Brooke, Olivia, and Steven.

Edward Faulkner was married to Barbara, his high school sweetheart, for nearly 60 years before she passed away in 2013. The couple starred in plays in high school and college.

Following his death, his family remembered his "kindness and genuine warmth" in a statement.

“Offscreen, Faulkner never lost his boyhood love of magic, delighting friends and family with sleight-of-hand and illusions throughout his life."

They went on:

"Colleagues and loved ones alike remembered him for his kindness and genuine warmth — qualities that defined him as much as his body of work.”

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Remembering Edward Faulkner: From school plays to riding alongside big-screen giants

Born Filden Edward Faulker II on Leap Day, Feb. 29, 1932, he was the younger of two children of a couple — a building supply owner and a music teacher — from Lexington, Kentucky.

Along with a high school friend, they formed a comedy song-and-dance act at Henry Clay High School. He continued doing school plays while he was attending the University of Virginia and the University of Kentucky.

Edward Faulkner, who stood at 6-foot-3, was a familiar face to audiences of the '60s and '70s. He gained momentum when director Andrew V. McLaglen cast him in several projects.

These undertakings led Faulkner to work with John Wayne several times — where he was often the antagonist — such as in McLintock! (1963), The Green Berets (1968), Hellfighters (1968), The Undefeated (1969), Rio Lobo (1970), and Chisum (1970).

In a 2015 interview, Edward Faulkner reminisced about the olden days and shared with host Rob Word:

“Like yourself, I’ve worn a Stetson long enough. Perhaps a change of hats, maybe a beret.”

He also revealed having played chess with John Wayne many times, and with a laugh, he quipped:

“I occasionally let him win.”

The same humor was evident in a 2019 interview when Edward Faulker mentioned being often the antagonist to Wayne's characters.

“I never won a fight … I was always the bad guy."

Apart from John Wayne, Edward Faulkner also worked with Elvis Presley in G.I. Blues (1960), the silver-screen debut of the "King of Rock and Roll." Both later appeared in Tickle Me (1965).

Faulkner's credentials stretched across Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Bonanza, and The Virginian, among others.