Career
Between 1957 and 1959, he had a supporting role as Deputy Charlie Riggs in seven episodes of the series Tombstone Territory. Rankin further guest starred nine times between 1960 and 1975 in various roles on Columbia Broadcasting System"s Gunsmoke with James Arness. His first western role was as the Reverend Simon Peter Wheedle in the 1956 film Ghost Town, which also starred character actor John Doucette.
Other western roles followed: as Jed in the 1956 episode "Patrol" of National Broadcasting Company"s Frontier, as Tawanga in the 1957 episode "The Doctor" of American Broadcasting Company"s Broken Arrow, as Judge Parnell in the 1957 film Black Patch, and as Cy Conway in the 1957 episode "Death on the Rock" of Rod Cameron"s syndicated series, State Trooper.
Rankin guest starred in numerous drama programs, including his first television appearance as Vince in the 1955 episode "Prison Break" of Broderick Crawford"s syndicated crime drama Highway Patrol. He appeared twice on Columbia Broadcasting System"s The Millionaire fantasy drama in 1955 and 1957 and as an announcer in the 1957 episode "Blizzard" of National Broadcasting Company"s The Loretta Young Show.
He also appeared on National Broadcasting Company"s Jane Wyman Presents, Columbia Broadcasting System"s Lassie, National Broadcasting Company"s Dragnet, Columbia Broadcasting System"s Perry Mason, American Broadcasting Company"s The Untouchables, and the syndicated Border Patrol in the 1959 episode "The Logmen". Other western roles included that of a foreman in the episode "Tom Horn" of Dale Robertson"s then National Broadcasting Company series Tales of Wells Fargo and twice on National Broadcasting Company"s Laramie in 1959 episodes "Stage Stop" and "The General Must Die", in which he appears briefly as Union Army General William Tecumseh Sherman.
Rankin also appeared on Richard Boone"s Columbia Broadcasting System western Have Gun - Will Travel, and the short-lived National Broadcasting Company Overland Trail series in the episode "Daughter of the Sioux".
He appeared as Tully in the 1960 episode "Disaster at Gold Hill" of American Broadcasting Company"s The Alaskans. He portrayed the character Thornlee in the 1960 episode "Incident at Tupelo" of American Broadcasting Company"s The Manitoba From Blackhawk. In 1960-1961, he appeared on Columbia Broadcasting System"s The Texan, starring Rory Calhoun, and National Broadcasting Company"s Riverboat, with Darren McGavin.
Rankin"s later appearances were on National Broadcasting Company"s Grindl and Empire (1963), American Broadcasting Company"s The Long, Hot Summer (1965), the film Midnight Cowboy (1969), Raymond Burr"s National Broadcasting Company series, Ironside (1971), and as Henry Cottle in the 1974 episode "The Graduation" of Columbia Broadcasting System"s The Waltons.
Rankin"s final appearance was as a bus driver in the 1976 film Assault on Precinct 13. Rankin died at the age of eighty-two in Huntington Beach, California.
