Rick Vallin, a reliable "B" character actor, was born in Russia in 1919 to Nedja Yatsenko, an aspiring ballerina. He arrived in America at a young age and began his career in the entertainment industry by doing stock productions and radio work. Vallin's breakthrough role came in 1942 when he received his first co-star billing in the film "The Panther's Claw" alongside Sidney Blackmer.
He went on to appear in numerous films, including "Secrets of a Co-Ed," "Smart Guy," "Secrets of a Sorority Girl," and "Two Blondes and a Redhead." Vallin also played Indian roles in the serial "Perils of the Royal Mounted" and the feature-length film "King of the Stallions."
Despite his success, Vallin found it difficult to move up to "A" movies due to his association with low-budget films. He continued to appear in minor roles, including the "Bowery Boys" comedies and the "Charlie Chan" mystery "Dangerous Money."
In the late 1940s, Vallin's credits began to dwindle, and he found himself relegated to minor roles. He continued to work at Columbia Studios, appearing in the "Jungle Jim" series and serials such as "The Sea Hound" and "Batman and Robin."
Vallin's career slowed down in the 1960s, and he developed a drug problem. He retired in 1967 and made a few guest appearances on TV shows before his death in 1977 at the age of 57.
