Doug McClure! What I Learned from My Father! with filmmaker Tané McClure! AWOW

Doug McClure was very proud of his daughter, Tané. The Actress/Writer/Singer/Filmmaker works on both sides of the camera and has won numerous awards for her work in the business of show. Her Father starred as “Trampas” in the long-running western hit, THE VIRGINIAN, and was a fixture on the Universal Studios lot. Before THE VIRGINIAN, Doug, a native of Glendale, California, had starred in several other series at the studio, including OVERLAND TRAIL with William Bendix, and the detective series CHECKMATE.
Doug’s precocious daughter Tane grew up on the backlot, using it as a playground while her Father worked. She even appeared as an orphan with her Father in the episode “Small Paradise” on THE VIRGINIAN. As a recording artist, she had a Top 40 single, “Holding On,” and wrote and performed three songs for a little film called THE TERMINATOR. As a writer-producer-director, Tane has won numerous awards for her films, including a National Journalism Award for the documentary, “Love Betty White: The Betty White Story.” Her recent directorial effort, “Séance Games- METAXU,” has already received over 30 honors.
Tane joined producer Rob Word at The Autry on November 14, 2023, to reminisce about her filmmaking adventures and what she learned from her Father.
For more stories about Doug McClure, click on this link to watch “BARBARA LUNA goes gaga for DOUG McCLURE!” It’s a fun episode of A WORD ON WESTERNS with his ex-wife.
• BarBara Luna marries D...
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[@hiramnoone]

Seems like anyone who ever worked with Doug says the same thing about him. What you saw on screen is what you got... an amiable, good natured guy impossible to dislike, and wonderful actor who was the very heart of The Virginian's success.

[@miahky]

Great show

[@kurtkensson2059]

My favorite TV Western theme song.

[@nicfewer8393]

Yes, some actors I've met and others I've read about have all said "A lovely man to work with", "A great guy to work with" "A joy to work with" and told how he took care of them, making sure they were safe, and on two occasions saved the lives of fellow actors, Diane Roter on The Virginian when her horse ran out of control and Peter Gilmore from drowning while filming Warlords of Atlantis.

[@kenhurley4441]

Rob Word, "A Word on Westerns" all time award winning interviewer!

[@AWordonWesterns]

Yippee! Thanks, ken.

[@welles2002]

Doug McClure another legend from my Childhood Trampas Forever !!!!

[@edwardabrams4972]

The best Western on TV of all time the Virginian! 🙌👏👊

[@verawyatt3595]

So nice to hear from Ms. McClure and the closeness/love she had with her father. She seemed a bit nervous, but it was a good nervous 😊. I wish her much luck in making "Return to Shiloh". One I will definitely watch. Thank you for another great conversation. 👍

[@AWordonWesterns]

Thank you for your comment, vera.

[@williamclifford9757]

Absolutely, hung out a couple of times with Mr.McClure at Flora’s in Monterey in the mid- seventies- solid person .. Followed him from the beginning with William Bendix ..❤️

[@SMtWalkerS]

Doug McClure produced a beautiful, talented daughter. I always loved him, because he was SO good-looking and he had a relaxed, "bemused at everything" way, which really went along with his cowboy roles. But he played SO many roles, lots of sci-fi, like going to the center of the earth and fighting humanoids of the deep. Last night, I just chanced to watch an old unsold pilot, in which he's a detective working for a judge played by Bette Davis. He was good in every role, and he looked fine doing it!

[@EugBaseball]

My Coworker, named Jd, said he knew Doug as his bartender from the Hogsbreath I believe. I was starstruck when I was told this because I was huge fan of McClure, mostly from his 70s adventure movies. I later watched most of the Virginian shows as well. I never knew he had such a lovely daughter. Congrats ma'am on your new movie, Doug would be so proud of your life lived I am sure. Yessssss, for well on THAT new 'Shiloh" movie too, honoring your Father.

[@mikebuleti8548]

Thanks Rob, Doug was one of a kind as was the show !!!

[@robertdurocher4764]

I always liked Doug McClure. Nice interview.

[@ginnywalker184]

What a great interview. Doug McClure was, and will always be, one of my favorite actors and cowboys. He was such a natural on a horse and he was so perfect in his role as Trampas. He was such an integral part of making The Virginian the great success it was and continues to be. I seems anyone who has ever mentioned Doug McClure has good words for our beloved Trampas. I think it would so wonderful if there was a documentary about Doug McClure. He was a treasure and is loved so much. Thank you for sharing this wonderful interview. I always look forward to these interviews.

[@gregdavis19]

Tané is so bubbly, and not to mention very pretty. Good interview, Rob. There are so many of us that look forward to WoW every Sunday morning it’s such a treat, and a great way to start the week. Thanks!

[@AWordonWesterns]

Thanks. Have a good week, greg!

[@tomchaput1206]

What an incredible woman! I love her enthusiasm for everything she did and is doing...

[@arlineabdalian8974]

Many thanks, Rob, RJ and Team AWOW, for another interesting interview. I always enjoyed Doug McClure's film and TV performances, and Tane McClure is just as engaging. Many thanks again. Best of health to you all, your families and friends.

[@AWordonWesterns]

Thanks, Arline. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@ericcrawford3453]

Excellent, thanks Rob I Man Doug McClure daughter was & is stunning really had that Heather Thomas look with respect. Thanks again has always looking forward to your Sunday .on shows.

[@wesmcgee1648]

A lovely lady with a great insight into Doug.

[@AWordonWesterns]

We agree! Thanks, wes

[@laurence1643]

Doug was a really nice guy and good man .

[@desertfox3860]

Great interview Rob! Thanks for sharing!

[@Madmanmarque]

Lovely interview. Nothing against James Drury but my favorite episodes of The Virginian always were Mr. McClure's. It looked like he was that character, charismatic, yet down to earth.

[@paulkitt-er9dr]

Talented lady is the spitting image of Doug. I was watching a tv movie just today shirts/skins which Doug was great in.

[@lpheitman]

Great interview Rob! Multi-skilled talent.Really appreciated the stories involving her father.😀

[@TRIChuckles]

I always liked Doug McClure. But as others have said every time you hear anyone speak of him, it's just Great things. So nice to see.

[@FilbinCreekPhil]

I started revisiting the Virginian years ago and remembered Doug, Started enjoying it again so much i went online to see what Doug was up to these days. I quickly saw he had passed and it broke my heart,,,affected me for days. I was so glad to see James was still with us and even got an autographed picture from him. I love Doug McClure.

[@grahamhill6340]

Super-animated and charming with it, TANE McCLURE is a sheer delight having been a HOLLYWOOD brat growing up on the old Universal backlot with her Dad... DOUG McCLURE was always very likeable, and the fond memories that Tane has playing on the sets of THE VIRGINIAN and having a lot of fun is af ar cry from what her Dad and all the cast and crew had to go through with the gruelling assembly-line schedule that MCA-Universal was infamous for... THE VIRGINIAN always had two main film units going, rotating James Drury, Lee J. Cobb, Doug McClure and others with the stories, and often would have three or four units, and remember they'd have to share the same western sets with other Universal produced shows like WAGON TRAIN and LAREDO. For me, Doug's best performance in THE VIRGINIAN was in season 1 with guest star Steve Cochran in an episode called "West." Later whilst still under his Universal contract he had a good part in SHENANDOAH. I worked very briefly on THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT back in England in 1974, at Shepperton Studios and he was the main star, but didn't get to talk to him then... But five years later after moving to California, I was fortunate have a few minutes with him whilst working on THE REBELS, he wasn't looking his best, but I did get a smile from him talking about his experiences in Britain. Tane can be rightly proud of her Dad, and she has Rob told us done so very well in the business on her own... her mother was Faye Brash the first of Doug's five wives, so handling all that drama Tane has had to be blessed with a great amount of both self confidence and humor. Today's WOW has gotten me interested in her work, and I'm certainly not alone in saying that!

[@kathleenkeifer4262]

I watch the Virginian three times a day once in the morning and two of them back to back in the afternoon, I have been doing this for 2 to 3 years and I never get tired of seeing Doug McClure

[@KyleCowden]

Doug McClure was one of my favorites and I was thrilled at the time to meet him. As a young man (8 or 9) when I met some of my favorites at Frontier City in OKC, I was a little intimidated. Not so with him. He was so genuinely glad to shake hands and hi easy smile made you feel like you met a friend, not a "star".

[@nicfewer8393]

Yes, he never acted the big star, endearing him to fellow actors and fans alike. .

[@Rangersly]

I grew up with Doug McClure. I must admit that I didn't watch The Virginian, but it seems that, at one point or another, he was a guest in every good tv shows I liked to watch (just look up his IMDB credits from the 50's and 60's). And to be appearing in so many tv shows sounds like he was the kind of actor that people liked to work with. You hear only good things about him, how he was such a nice guys. Above all, I remember him as the incarnation of the Edgar Rice Burrough adventurer in low budget but so much fun movies like The Land That Time Forgot, At The Earth's Core, The People That Time Forgot. Special effects were not that great back then, so you needed a lead with great charisma that looked like a hero to make it believable. And Doug McClure certainly was all that.

[@tod3msn]

Tane Cain had been married to Jon Cain of Journey who co-wrote the massive hit single "Faithfully." Tane is a delightfully positive and nice woman.

[@michaelcollins237]

ROB THANK U FOR THIS.... ALSO THANK U FOR SAYING BS TO PEOPLE TRYING TO ERASE WESTERN HISTORY

[@AndyTempleman-ot6lu]

Rob, your interviews are always informative and produced and directed so well. Love the pictures.

[@AWordonWesterns]

Thanks, Andy.

[@joelcopeland3018]

Trampas was always my favorite character on the Virginian...

[@macmccollum6064]

Interesting film history.

[@richardhowe5583]

I am a 70 year old Man and from the deep South and Doug McClure was one of my favorite actors.. that is a very nice and beautiful girl and talented.. I'm glad I do not live in California because when she threw the dishwasher out the window she would be hitting me in face😮😊😊

[@US_Joe]

Good one - thanx Rob. 👍

[@judithgray7968]

😊😅😮😢🎉😂❤

[@danhuttinger5040]

Great interview very interesting I watch the Virginian almost every day and Doug McClure really is a big part of the series. Thank You.

[@lsavell01]

Loved this interview with Tane' McClure. Her father, Doug McClure, has always been one of my favorite actors. I really loved him in "Shenandoah", and of course, "The Virginian". Tane' had wonderful & amusing stories. Doug has an awesome daughter! ❤

[@Richmart1955]

❤ It was nice to learn that Doug McClure (having never met him) was as wonderful as he appeared on screen. Thank you for another great interview ❤

[@carolm3768]

Nice interview Rob! Always interested in the family's perspectives of these charasmatic Western heroes! Quite accomplished herself..Doug seems to have had a great parental influence, as well! Thanks Rob..just love your intro music..makes me feel like I live in the old West. Best to you! Cheers!

[@AWordonWesterns]

Thanks, carol. I'll let Karel know you like his music. I do too!

[@davidschlecht3016]

One of the great actors of yesteryear. Its good to still see him in the reruns of the Virginian.

[@AWordonWesterns]

It sure is, David. Thanks.

[@RyanCarroll-rx3od]

Great interview Rob although you didn’t get to speak much lol Doug McClure is on my list of people that I wished could have been interviewed by AWOW along with RG Armstrong and big bill smith God bless

[@AWordonWesterns]

I wish I could have, too, Ryan. Thanks.

[@joansmith1195]

Tane, we also miss your Dad. He was so likable and handsome.

[@nazirite11]

Thank you for the interview with T McClure. , Doug is one of my favorite western actors. Great interview 👍

[@BrianRidgway-u5g]

This was a fine interview. Surprised how much she sounds like her dad. I am happy to hear of her success and look forward to watching more from her AND her dad. God bless the McClures!

[@jeffreyoldham55]

Great interview with an accomplished & talented woman who just happens to be insanely beautiful. BTW...I watched "The Old Way" last night, and was pleasantly surprised. Clint really held his own with Nick Cage throughout the film. I was impressed with the dialog and the acting.

[@tarnsand440]

I would've pronounced Tané's name Ta-nay. She does look like her Dad❤

[@williambilyeu9801]

Great interview, Rob! Such an accomplished and beautiful woman. I was a bit of a fan of Doug McClure. I watched him in other shows than "The Virginian." I saw most of the films based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs books that were not Tarzan, but I think that my favorite was the remake of "Beau Geste" in the 1960s. He did a good job with Guy Stockwell though I prefer the old black and white version. 😊👍👍

[@Trampus002]

I had a huge crush on him, one of many I’m sure. Not surprised at all he was a good Father. His daughter was so blessed. Great interview.

[@terryhurlburt9113]

Fascinating woman! A really fun interview and such a talent! Thank you, rob!

[@robertpayne9009]

Thanks!

[@AWordonWesterns]

And thank YOU, robert.

[@warrentuckwell2032]

Loved his westerns

[@CarlEvans-t6h]

Doug McClure was always a favorite of mine. I especially loved him in: The Enemy Below, Shenandoah which also had Patric Wayne and The Land That Time Forgot. His talent as well as Vic Morrow's talents were wasted in: Humanoids From the Deep. Not because of anything bad on their parts, but it was a gross movie. Did you know the same opening battle scenes in: Shenandoah, was also used in Raintree County and How the West Was Won. I believe that some of it was also used in: Undefeated at the beginning.

[@AWordonWesterns]

Those clips have gotten lots of reuse, user. Thanks.

[@CarlEvans-t6h]

@@AWordonWesterns Thank you Sir. Also, you The Alamo pictures will be on their way soon. I've not forgotten. Almost forgot, just watched your Father's Day special from 2 years ago. excellent as always and really enlightening and is easy way to learn some movie making terms. Thank you.

[@gregpolutanovich1774]

Loved that t.v movie Escape of the Birdmen,,, with Doug and Chuck Connors

[@prycerobertson4695]

Tane McClure is smokin' hot.

[@kevinbarry3548]

The whole package, beauty, brains, talent and charm.

[@colinamor]

Ever noticed how good western movies and Tv shows are almost timeless. They don't seem to age like many of non western stuff. John Wayne, James Stewart, Kirk Douglas, Gary Cooper, Henry Fonda, and the rest of immortals big screen and small .All off these actors will be remembered long after the poor efforts made today. Thanks for giving mad western fanatic these slices of history. Thanks Ms McLure for this peise of history.

[@Waynegilchrist-r2h]

Well Rob, looks like you still "making the girls cry" after all these years, who knew? 😊 Tane resembles her dad in her facial features and that winning smile lije he had. He had a warm screen presence that made you like. Looks like I will have to screen some of her work. I remember her from some of those clips but I wouldn't have put it together that she was Doug McClure's daughter. Thank you again Rob.

[@terriselph4100]

When Tane, age five, was on the Virginian, it was obvious Doug McClure was her father. She was the spitting image of him.

[@dianarockwell6256]

Doug McClure was one of my first celebrity crushes as a very young child along with little Joe from Bonanza. He also did a guest shot on my all-time favorite series from the 90s scarecrow Mrs. King he played a washed up actor who became a serial killer, which was really against type for him, but he was just so good in it. And I know Bruce boxleightner probably had worked with him Many times. It was good to see him in something other than a western.

[@PhilippinesFarmLife]

I understand how she feels about her father. I would give everything I have to sit in the same room with my father.

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

Loved him in The Land that Time Forgot and At the Earth`s Core in the 70`s

[@AWordonWesterns]

I've done an interview with Kevin Connor, the director of Doug's Burrough's adventures and will be posting our conversation soon. Thanks, Wayne

[@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf]

Great mate cheers@@AWordonWesterns

[@mernarodway7301]

👍❤❤❤

[@evancortez2]

Doug McClure has always been one of my favorite actors - my favorite Doug McClure movie is a TV movie he did in 1967 called "The Longest Hundred Miles" where he played an American soldier in the Philippines in WWII who escapes the Bataan Death March and has to journey 100 miles with a priest (played by Ricardo Montalban) and a bunch of orphans to catch the last plane out of the country, all the while being chased by the Japanese. That movie was filmed entirely in the Philippines, where I am from, and for that reason Doug McClure has always had a special place in my heart. I wonder if Tane remembers this movie and if she went to the Philippines with her Dad? I guess she would have been around 8 year old then.

[@philwebb3]

Another Great Interview

[@johnpeddicord4932]

Thanks for sharing, Rob

[@fenwaypark1725]

If I’m not mistaken, Barbara Lunas interview with you Rob, she mentioned how Doug could do voices and would get on the phone and screw with executives and such. Don’t tell me I’m wrong haha.

[@AWordonWesterns]

Right you are. I even included a link to that interview in my Description for this episode.

[@nicfewer8393]

Yes, at the Memphis Film Festival in 2011, when I met Luna, she said during a Virginian discussion panel how Doug used to ring up the top man at Universal Lew Wasserman, pretending to be Burt Lancaster! (He was good at impressions) And as Rob says in his interview with Luna, Lew once said to Doug "You helped build this studio, Dougie". I've been a fan of Doug since I saw him in Checkmate over 60 years ago, I never met him, but got a nice letter and signed photo from him and I am glad to be friends with his family, including Tané, since meeting them at his induction into the Hall of Great Western Performers in Oklahoma City ten years ago,I was one of the people who campaigned for it

[@efhs1970]

rob, great episode! Thanks for sharing!💫

[@jerryknorr679]

Thanks for sharing this Rob

[@jaxwest6703]

As much as I liked the Verginian I really watched it to see Doug McClure. We all miss him.

[@sallycutts8226]

My sister had doctor when she broke her shoulder who’s name was Trampus When he left the room I asked if his parents used to watch The Virginian and he said yes and I like it when people know about my name. It was fun🎠

[@mjemigh3304]

Ya' know what's weird? I vaguely remember being booked for a convention with one of the other acts being Tane Cain. I don't think I saw her show, and I certainly didn't know who she was. So, this was pretty cool on that level, besides being another good interview. Obviously a very talented and driven woman. Thanks, Rob! -MJ

[@JMVideos7676]

Just like Barbara Luna once said when she was a guest on A Word On Westerns, "everybody loved Dougy"

[@AWordonWesterns]

Thanks, JM. She war right, too!

[@buzzard6410]

Man, that interview was WAY too short. Please bring her back for more!

[@davidhileman8251]

Tane McClure's life and career has certainly been amazing and anything but boring! As beloved as Doug McClure was, Tane's own story might make an even better biopic one of these days.

[@AceMoonshot]

Séance Games - Metaxu gets added to the watchlist...

[@jimshelton1]

I kind of sort of "met" Mr. McClure in either 1982 or 83 at the after party of the Dewey Weber Longboard Classic in Redondo Beach, CA. He appeared in Gidget (1959), but really surfed too.

[@AWordonWesterns]

Very cool, Jim. Thanks.

[@captwinkie141]

"met" is a good word on westerns

[@jimshelton1]

@@captwinkie141 It's hard to explain in writing, I'd need to diagram it out. A one in a million circumstance, but there definitely was a meeting of minds. I was able to determine it was May or June of1982.

[@captwinkie141]

sounds awesome~ he would have returned from filming a movie in Japan around then. wasn't sure how long he surfed, but he apparently dug the scene if he's in redondo in his md-40s. pretty cool that you met him- or even just saw him out somewhere. lucky guy in my book!

[@AH-yu2pi]

Watched

[@gregpolutanovich1774]

Shenandoah was always a favorite!

[@AWordonWesterns]

McLaglen’s best, IMO.

[@carloscordeiro9337]

Entrevista o ator Mark Slade de Chaparral

[@chipdouglas9729]

Doug McClure died at age 59, which is way to young of Lung Cancer. Please put down those cigarettes people. We lost to many people from smoking

[@AWordonWesterns]

Thanks, chip!

[@kyleismylove23]

I really enjoyed Doug in “The Lively Set” with James Darren and Pamela Tiffin.Check it out

[@65boogerbutt]

Came across this and thought the host was Charlie Sheen made up to look older with a Better Call Saul hairstyle! lol

[@AWordonWesterns]

I get that all the time, bb. I am older and cut my own hair. Guess I'd better call Saul for a trim. Thanks.

[@65boogerbutt]

😂@@AWordonWesterns

[@Baskerville22]

How old is Rob Word ?

[@AWordonWesterns]

Well, Baskerville, it's no secret. I'm a (still) spry 76 years old.

[@Baskerville22]

@@AWordonWesterns You look decades younger, Rob. I hope it's not a "Picture of Dorian Gray" scenario playing out here.