About Royal Dano
Royal Dano, 71, American actor (The Outlaw Josey Wales, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, The Right Stuff), heart attack.
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60 Seconds Life Story
American character actor Royal Dano built a remarkable career defined by his versatility across westerns,
Royal Dano
d. 1994
60 Seconds: Royal Dano's Life Story
A brief overview of the career of American actor Royal Dano, known for his work in westerns and as the voice of Abraham Lincoln.
Transcript
American character actor Royal Dano built a remarkable career defined by his versatility across westerns, mystery films, and iconic voice work. Born in New York in 1922, Dano served as a sergeant during World War II before launching a forty-six year acting career. He gained early acclaim for his intense stage performances and unforgettable film roles, often playing cowboys or villains. Audiences widely recognize his voice as the Audio-Animatronic Abraham Lincoln, a role he originated for the 1964 New York World's Fair. He remained a constant presence on television, frequently appearing on the series Gunsmoke throughout his career. Dano balanced his professional life with his family, raising two sons with his wife Peggy Ranck. Royal Dano passed away in Santa Monica on May 15, 1994, at the age of seventy-one.
Play the illustrated life story above, or read the full biography on this page.
Visual credits: Royal Library, Copenhagen (Public domain) · No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims). (CC BY-SA 2.5) · A digital photograph taken by myself. (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Lincoln Audio-Animatronic (CC BY 2.0) · Ceos_Stock / Pixabay (Pixabay Content License) · Uploaded from ru.wikipedia; description page is/was here. (Public domain) · digitallibrary.usc.edu (Public domain)
An illustrated presentation assembled inside the archive from the approved script and the credited images: narration, scene transitions and captions. Caption timing is estimated from the narration.
Narrated illustration. Images are sourced and credited; they are not presented as authenticated photographs.
Full Biography
|Royal Edward Dano Sr. (November 16, 1922 – May 15, 1994) was an American actor whose career spanned 46 years. He is perhaps best known for playing cowboys, villains, and Abraham Lincoln. Dano also provided the voice of the Audio-Animatronic Lincoln for Walt Disney's Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction at the 1964 New York World's Fair (brought to Disneyland in 1965), as well as Lincoln's voice at the "Hall of Presidents" attraction at Disney's Magic Kingdom in 1971.
Early life
Dano was born in New York City on November 16, 1922, the eldest of three siblings born to Mary Josephine (née O'Connor), an Irish immigrant, and Caleb Edward Dano, a printer for newspapers. In World War II he entertained troops as a sergeant in the 44th Special Service Provisional Company.
Career
Dano appeared as McSnoyd the leprechaun in the stage show Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley, based on the comic strip by Crockett Johnson. McSnoyd appears to the audience only as a blinking light on a large mushroom, so only his voice is heard. However, at the conclusion of the show Dano joined the rest of the cast, wearing a leprechaun costume.
Dano is remembered for his supporting roles in a number of 1950s western and mystery films. The chance for the breakout role of a lifetime escaped him in the theatrical release of The Red Badge of Courage. Dano, cast as The Tattered Man, delivered such a disturbing performance in his death scene, according to director John Huston, that the initial test audience left the theater in droves, i.e., "I've never seen so many people get up and leave the theater ... they liked no part of it." The death scene was lent a human touch by Dano, and in 1951, war-weary Americans rejected it (Huston: "... [the audience rejection] was a pretty sickening event."). Red Badge was immediately recut, and the death scene was removed. It is long believed, and as early as Huston commenting in an interview in 1972, the scene has been lost ("I doubt very much, whether the scene still exists.").
He often worked with Anthony Mann and James Stewart. Over the years, Dano made many television appearances, often in bizarre, macabre roles. Dano was also a frequent guest star on Gunsmoke, with a total of thirteen appearances.
Dano was the voice of Abraham Lincoln for Walt Disney's Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction, first presented at the 1964 New York World's Fair. Disney personally selected Dano, because he felt the actor came closest to the historical descriptions of Lincoln's voice. Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln was moved to Disneyland in 1965, and Dano's vocals continued to be a part of the attraction until 2001. In 1971, his voice was also used for a revised Lincoln speech in the new "Hall of Presidents" attraction at Magic Kingdom in Florida, which ran to 1993.
In 2009, Dano's vocals were returned to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln at Disneyland in an updated version of the show.
Personal life and death
Dano was married to Peggy Ranck and together they had two sons, Rick and Royal Jr. (1946–1994). Through his son Rick, he is the grandfather of actor Hutch Dano.
He died of pulmonary fibrosis on May 15, 1994, in Santa Monica, California.
Selected filmography
- Undercover Girl (1950) as The Moocher
- Under the Gun (1951) as Sam Nugent
- The Red Badge of Courage (1951) as The Tattered Soldier
- Flame of Araby (1951) as Basra
- Bend of the River (1952) as Long Tom
- Carrie (1952) as Captain (uncredited)
- Johnny Guitar (1954) as Corey
- The Far Country (1954) as Luke
- The Trouble with Harry (1955) as Deputy Sheriff Calvin Wiggs
- Gunsmoke (1955-1971, TV Series) as Henry Mather / Watney / Gideon Hale / Jessup / Jefferson Dooley / Rory Luken / Lambert Haggen / Praylie / Bender / Seth Tandy / Obie Tater
- Tribute to a Bad Man (1956) as Abe
- Moby Dick (1956) as 'Elijah'
- Santiago (1956) as Lobo
- Tension at Table Rock (1956) as Harry Jameson
- Crime of Passion (1957) as Police Captain Charlie Alidos
- All Mine to Give (1957) as Howard Tyler
- Father Knows Best (1957, TV Series) as Sageman
- Trooper Hook (1957) as Mr. Trude, Stage Driver
- Man in the Shadow (1957) as Aiken Clay
- The Millionaire (1957, TV Series) as Hap Connolly
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1957) (Season 2 Episode 17: "My Brother, Richard") as Martin Ross
- The Restless Gun (1957) (Episode "Cheyenne Express") as Wilbur English
- Saddle the Wind (1958) as Clay Ellison
- Handle with Care (1958) as Al Lees
- Man of the West (1958) as Trout
- Never Steal Anything Small (1959) as Words Cannon
- These Thousand Hills (1959) as Ike Carmichael
- The Boy and the Bridge (1959) as Evangelist
- Face of Fire (1959) as Jake Winter
- Wanted Dead or Alive (1959, TV Series) as Charlie Wright
- Hound-Dog Man (1959) as Fiddling Tom Waller
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1960) (Season 5 Episode 33: "Party Line") as Mr. Atkins
- Route 66 (1961, TV Series, episode "Most Vanquished, Most Victorious") as Doctor
- Wagon Train (1959-1963, TV Series) as John Bouchette / Boone Caulder
- The Rifleman (1959-1962, TV Series) as Reverend Jamison / Able 'Abe' Lincoln / Aaron Wingate / Jonas Epps / Frank Blandon
- The Rebel (ABC-TV, 1959–1961, TV Series) as Ben Crowe / Amos Cooper
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960) as Sheriff Harlan
- Cimarron (1960) as Ike Howes (photographer)
- Have Gun – Will Travel (1960) as Curley Ashburne
- Tate (1960) Pilot Episode
- Tales of Wells Fargo (1960-1962, TV Series) as Robert Mapes / Cole Younger
- Posse from Hell (1961) as Uncle Billy
- King of Kings (1961) as Peter
- Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (animated TV special) (1962, TV Movie) as Marley's Ghost (voice)
- Rawhide (1962-1965, TV Series) as Sam Wentworth / Mr. Teisner / Jeb Newton / Monty Fox
- The Virginian (1962-1966, TV Series) as Uncle Dell Benton / Daniels / Faraway McPhail / Dan Molder
- Bonanza (NBC-TV, 1962–1967, TV Series) as Matt Jeffers / Hank Penn / Jason Ganther
- The Dakotas (ABC, 1963, TV Series) as Reverend Walter Wyman
- Savage Sam (1963) as Pack Underwood (uncredited)
- Mr. Novak (NBC-TV, 1963, TV Series) as Mr. Metcalfe
- The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (ABC-TV, 1964, TV Series) as James Weston
- 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) as Carey
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1964, TV Series) (Season 3 Episode 2: "Change of Address") as Mr. Miley
- The Fugitive (1964, TV Series, episode "When the Bough Breaks") as Preacher
- Death Valley Days (1965-1970, TV Series) as Andrew Bonney / Hannibal McCall / Aaron Winters / Henderson Lewelling
- Lost in Space (1966, TV Series, episode: 27, "The Lost Civilization") as Major Domo
- Gunpoint (1966) as Ode
- Daniel Boone (NBC-TV, 1966–1967, TV Series) as John Maddox / Matty Brenner
- The Big Valley (1966-1969, TV Series) as Ezra / The Vet / Jesse Bleeck / Rufus Morton
- Welcome to Hard Times (1967) as John Bear
- The Last Challenge (1967) as Pretty Horse
- Day of the Evil Gun (1968) as Dr. Eli Prather
- If He Hollers, Let Him Go! (1968) as Carl Blair
- Death of a Gunfighter (1969) as Arch Brandt
- The Undefeated (1969) as Major Sanders, CSA (one-armed major)
- Hawaii Five-O (1970, TV Series) as Hody Linquist
- Run, Simon, Run (1970, TV Movie) as Sheriff Tacksberry
- Skin Game (1971) as John Brown (abolitionist)
- The Culpepper Cattle Co. (1972) as Cattle Rustler
- The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid (1972) as Gustavson
- Moon of the Wolf (1972, TV Movie) as Tom Sr.
- Emergency! (1972-1976, TV Series) as Sam / Hallucinating Man
- Kung Fu (1973, TV Series) as Henry Skowrin
- Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies (1973) as Jake
- Messiah of Evil (1973) as Joseph Lang
- Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973) as MacDonald, hermit who sells Cahill the mule
- Electra Glide in Blue (1973) as Coroner
- Planet of the Apes (1974, TV Series) as Farrow
- Big Bad Mama (1974) as Reverend Johnson
- Adam-12 (1975, TV Series) as Walter Covey
- The Wild Party (1975) as Tex
- Huckleberry Finn (1975, TV Movie) as Mark Twain
- Capone (1975) as Anton J. Cermak
- The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) as Ten Spot
- Drum (1976) as Zeke Montgomery
- The Killer Inside Me (1976) as Father
- Hughes and Harlow: Angels in Hell (1977) as Will Hays
- Bad Georgia Road (1977) as Arthur Pennyrich
- Quincy, M.E. (1977, TV Series) as Dr. Williams / Holsang
- The One Man Jury (1978) as Bartender
- In Search of Historic Jesus (1979, Documentary) as Prophet #1
- The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang (1979, TV Movie) as Pa Dalton
- Little House on the Prairie (1979-1981, TV Series) as Mr. Hector Webb / Harold
- Take This Job and Shove It (1981) as Beeber
- Hammett (1982) as Pops
- Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983) as Tom Fury
- The Right Stuff (1983) as Minister
- Teachers (1984) as Ditto Stiles
- Cocaine Wars (1985) as Bailey
- Amazing Stories (1986, TV Series) as Elmer Quick / Salvation Army Officer
- Red Headed Stranger (1986) as Larn Claver
- House II: The Second Story (1987) as Gramps
- Date with an Angel (1987) as Treating Doctor in Hospital (uncredited)
- Once Upon a Texas Train (1988, TV Movie) as Nitro Jones
- Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988) as Farmer Gene Green
- Ghoulies II (1988) as Uncle Ned
- Spaced Invaders (1990) — Wrenchmuller
- Twin Peaks (1990) as Judge Clinton Sternwood
- The Dark Half (1993) as Digger Holt (final film role)
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Dano
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Royal Dano's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the date of Royal Edward Dano Sr.'s birth?
- A.October 20, 1920
- B.December 12, 1925
- C.November 16, 1922correct
- D.May 15, 1994
Royal Edward Dano Sr. was born on November 16, 1922.
Source: Early life section
2.Who was the mother of Royal Edward Dano Sr.?
- A.Caleb Edward Dano
- B.Hutch Dano
- C.Peggy Ranck
- D.Mary Josephine O'Connorcorrect
Royal Dano was the eldest of three siblings born to Mary Josephine O'Connor and Caleb Edward Dano.
Source: Early life section
3.During which conflict did Royal Edward Dano Sr. serve as a sergeant?
- A.World War I
- B.World War IIcorrect
- C.The Korean War
- D.The Vietnam War
During World War II, Royal Dano entertained troops as a sergeant in the 44th Special Service Provisional Company.
Source: Early life section
4.In the stage show Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley, what character did Royal Edward Dano Sr. play?
- A.McSnoyd the leprechauncorrect
- B.Barnaby
- C.Mr. O'Malley
- D.A mushroom
Royal Dano appeared as McSnoyd the leprechaun in the stage show Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley.
Source: Career section
5.Which role did Royal Edward Dano Sr. play in the film The Red Badge of Courage?
- A.A Confederate soldier
- B.A Union General
- C.The lead soldier
- D.The Tattered Mancorrect
Royal Dano was cast as The Tattered Man in the theatrical release of The Red Badge of Courage.
Source: Career section
6.Why was the death scene of The Tattered Man removed from the final cut of The Red Badge of Courage?
- A.The test audience left the theater during the scenecorrect
- B.The film was too short
- C.The actors forgot their lines
- D.The director disliked the scene
The initial test audience left the theater because they were disturbed by the death scene performed by Royal Dano.
Source: Career section
7.Who selected Royal Edward Dano Sr. to provide the voice for the Audio-Animatronic Lincoln?
- A.Peggy Ranck
- B.John Huston
- C.Crockett Johnson
- D.Walt Disneycorrect
Walt Disney personally selected Royal Dano to provide the voice for the Audio-Animatronic Lincoln for the 1964 World's Fair.
Source: Career section
8.In what year did the 'Hall of Presidents' attraction featuring Royal Edward Dano Sr.'s voice open?
- A.1964
- B.1971correct
- C.1994
- D.1965
In 1971, Royal Dano's voice was used for a revised Lincoln speech in the Hall of Presidents attraction.
Source: Career section
9.Who was Royal Edward Dano Sr. married to?
- A.Mary Josephine
- B.Caleb Edward
- C.Peggy Ranckcorrect
- D.Rick Dano
Royal Dano was married to Peggy Ranck and they had two sons.
Source: Personal life and death section
10.Who is the grandson of Royal Edward Dano Sr.?
- A.Caleb Dano
- B.Rick Dano
- C.Hutch Danocorrect
- D.Royal Jr. Dano
Through his son Rick, Royal Dano is the grandfather of actor Hutch Dano.
Source: Personal life and death section
11.What was the cause of death for Royal Edward Dano Sr.?
- A.Cancer
- B.Pulmonary fibrosiscorrect
- C.Heart attack
- D.Pneumonia
Royal Dano died of pulmonary fibrosis on May 15, 1994.
Source: Personal life and death section
12.Where did Royal Edward Dano Sr. pass away?
- A.Albany, Georgia
- B.New York City
- C.Disneyland
- D.Santa Monica, Californiacorrect
Royal Dano died in Santa Monica, California, on May 15, 1994.
Source: Personal life and death section
13.What attraction in 2009 returned to using the vocals of Royal Edward Dano Sr.?
- A.Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley
- B.The Right Stuff exhibition
- C.Great Moments with Mr. Lincolncorrect
- D.Hall of Presidents
In 2009, Royal Dano's vocals were returned to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln in an updated version of the show.
Source: Career section
14.How long was the career of Royal Edward Dano Sr.?
- A.50 years
- B.40 years
- C.46 yearscorrect
- D.71 years
Royal Dano was an American actor whose career spanned 46 years.
Source: Introduction
15.Which of these is explicitly mentioned as a type of character Royal Edward Dano Sr. was known for playing?
- A.Villainscorrect
- B.Detectives
- C.Scientists
- D.Doctors
Royal Dano is known for playing cowboys, villains, and Abraham Lincoln.
Source: Introduction
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