Robert Fuller, beloved Western actor, advised his son not to hang around actors

Fuller said that surrounding yourself with actors makes for a "dull life."

NBC/Universal

Passing on wisdom to future generations is one of the best parts about getting older. For an actor with such a storied television career, Robert Fuller certainly had a lot of wisdom. He was willing to share that wisdom in an open letter that he wrote to his son, later released in the Associated Press.

In it, Fuller offered his son some sage advice. "Someday you might want to make your living by acting, but still get in plenty of the outdoor life," wrote Fuller in the Associated Press. "In that case, here's some advice for you. I'm giving it to you when you're still too young to argue...Son, don't hang around actors."

As an actor on programs like Wagon Train and Laramie, Fuller was incredibly familiar with actors. He respected them but felt that making your entire life about acting could be too much of a good thing. "You'll find yourself acting all day and talking about it all night," said Fuller. "That makes for dull talk and a dull life."

Of course, Fuller got his big break in Westerns, so it's a no-brainer that he advised his son to do the same, should he pursue acting. However, Fuller advised his son to pursue Westerns not necessarily because of the performance, but because of the people he'd meet.

"Do everything you can to stay in Westerns," wrote Fuller. "There's a good reason for this: You'll have more fun. You'll be working with stuntmen and wranglers, and the fellows who spring into action when the sheriff calls for a posse. Salty, down-to-earth guys who think The Method has something to do with the right way to get on a horse. These fellows get around to the best places; they know where the quail are hiding and the fish are biting. If you don't act like an actor, they might take you along."

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2 Comments

MrsPhilHarris 1 hour ago
Not a big fan of westerns but I think he had a point. I believe would have enjoyed hanging around a bunch cowboys rather than The Method actors. Just my opionion. 🤷‍♀️
MikefromJersey 4 hours ago
Fuller was a darn good actor, I saw him in "1776" at the Paper Mill Playhouse.

I always liked this bit of philosophy from Western star James Drury of "The Virginian".
His grandfather actually was a Western pioneer, and passed down his credo that became
the Drury family motto, and which Drury insisted his Virginian character abide by:

“If it's not true don’t say it. If it's not yours don’t take it and if it’s not right don’t do it.”
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