Cal Bolder was an American actor and author who played the role of Keel in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Friday’s Child”. He was also known for his roles in films such as Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter, One Spy Too Many, and One of Our Spies Is Missing. He died from cancer in 2005 at the age of 73. In this article, we will explore his life, career, and cause of death in more detail.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Cal Bolder was born as Earl C. Craver on June 14, 1931, in Elkhart, Kansas. He was the middle child of six born to Mabel Mae and Fred Francis Craver. He graduated from Elkhart High School and then attended Wichita State University on a football scholarship. He married his wife Billie in 1954.
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps for the Korean War and served in Korea, where he was awarded the Purple Heart. After his service with the 1st Marine Division, he was posted to the newly reformed 9th Marines at Camp Pendleton.
Police Career and Acting Debut
After leaving the Marines as a corporal, he became a Los Angeles motorcycle policeman. In 1959, he issued a traffic citation to Robert Raison, a Hollywood agent and a friend of fellow agent Henry Willson. Willson was impressed by his 6’4″ height, his 260 pound physique, his 52″ chest and his 32″ waist. He persuaded him to pursue an acting career and changed his name to Cal Bolder; “Cal” for “California” and Bolder for boulder relating to his physique.
He made his first appearances in television series such as Bonanza and Adventures in Paradise and made his film debut in Heller in Pink Tights in 1960. He also injured his back when lifting a small car during the course of his police duties. He was reassigned to a less physically demanding job as a police dispatcher. He applied three times for a disability pension, claiming that his back injury made it impossible for him to perform the regular duties of a police officer. Each time his application was denied by the retirement board and the court.
Film and Television Roles
Bolder appeared in several popular television series such as The Man from U.N.C.L.E., where episodes with his appearances were turned into the feature films One Spy Too Many and One of Our Spies Is Missing. He also played in the episode Friday’s Child on Star Trek: The Original Series, where he portrayed Keel, a Capellan warrior who challenged Kirk for leadership.
He also starred in the 1966 film Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter, where he played Hank Tracy, an outlaw who was turned into a monster by Dr. Maria Frankenstein. The film was part of a double feature with Billy the Kid vs. Dracula and is considered one of the worst films ever made.
He left the screen at the age of 36, after a 1967 appearance on Cimarron Strip and moved with his wife and children to Royal City, a small city in Washington, where he resided until his death.
Writing Career and Death
Bolder also pursued a writing career and published a novel called Last Reunion under his real name E.C. Craver. The novel was based on his experiences as a Marine during the Korean War and was well received by critics and readers.
He died from cancer on January 19, 2005, at the age of 73. He was survived by his wife Billie and their four children. He was buried at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington.
Conclusion
Cal Bolder was an actor who had a remarkable life story. He went from being a football player to a Marine to a policeman to an actor to an author. He played memorable roles in films and television shows such as Star Trek: The Original Series, Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter, and One Spy Too Many. He died from cancer in 2005 and left behind a legacy of courage and creativity.
