Person Biography:
Fielden Edward Faulkner II was born on February 29, 1932, in Lexington, Kentucky, to a prominent building supply company owner and a retired piano and music teacher. He was the second of two children, with a sister nearly 19 years older. Faulkner's creative talents emerged early, with a passion for woodworking, mechanical drawing, and magic. By age 11, he was performing magic shows for friends and family, and by 13, he was performing full-fledged magic shows for children's birthday parties and service clubs.
Faulkner's love for performing continued through high school, where he teamed up with a friend to create a vaudeville-like comedy song-and-dance routine, "Faulkner & Seeley--The Sunshine Twins." He attended the University of Kentucky, earning a B.S. degree in Business College and later attended the University of Virginia for two years, majoring in Civil Engineering.
During his college years, Faulkner's acting abilities were further stimulated by leading roles in the University's Guignol Theater. After college, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Air Force and became a single-engine jet fighter pilot. After his Air Force service, he returned to civilian life to manage his family's building supply business, but severe damage caused by former employees led to the company's dissolution.
Faulkner then turned to acting, encouraged by his professor and wife. He moved to Beverly Hills in 1958 and was introduced to Andrew V. McLaglen, who introduced him to Richard Boone. Faulkner's tall stature, horsemanship skills, and knowledge of westerns made him a natural fit for TV westerns, and he quickly landed a role in "Have Gun - Will Travel."
Over the next 18+ years, Faulkner became a journeyman actor, appearing in over 250 TV programs and 30 theatrical films and made-for-TV movies. He worked with prominent actors such as John Wayne, Elvis Presley, James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Dean Martin, and Maureen O'Hara.
In 1975, Faulkner took a sabbatical from acting and entered the business world, joining Sea Containers Inc. He eventually became Director of Sales for the company's leisure division and retired in 1987. Since then, he has occasionally done voice-overs and guest appearances on TV and has been honored at numerous film festivals across the United States.
Faulkner and his wife, Barbara, reside in Palm Desert, California, with their three daughters, a son, and five grandchildren.
