Royal Edward Dano was born on November 16, 1922, in New York City, to Mary Josephine (O'Connor) and Caleb Edward Dano, a newspaper printer, of mostly Irish descent, as his mother was an immigrant.
He ran away from home at age twelve and lived in various states, including Texas, Florida, and California, striking a deal with his father to continue his education while traveling around the country.
Dano attended New York University and began his performing career as part of the 44th Special Service Provisional Company during World War II.
He soon branched out to the New York stage, making his Broadway debut with a small role in the hit musical "Finian's Rainbow," and was nominated by the New York Critic's Circle as one of the Promising Actors of 1949.
Tall and lean, with a gaunt face, dark hair, a rangy build, and a distinctive deep croaky voice, Dano was usually cast in both movies and TV shows as gloomy and/or sinister characters, often appearing in westerns and working with James Stewart and director Anthony Mann.
Some of his more memorable roles include the Tattered Soldier in "The Red Badge of Courage" (1951),a sickly bookworm bad guy in "Johnny Guitar" (1954),Elijah in "Moby Dick" (1956),Peter in "King of Kings" (1961),a cattle rustler in "The Culpepper Cattle Co." (1972),a coroner in "Electra Glide in Blue" (1973),a profanity-spewing preacher in "Big Bad Mama" (1974),Ten Spot in "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (1976),a weary factory line worker in "Take This Job and Shove It" (1981),a lightning rod salesman in "Something Wicked This Way Comes" (1983),a caterwauling minister who showed up at the doors of newly widowed wives of test pilots, and sang "Eternal Father Strong To Save" in "The Right Stuff" (1983).
He also appeared in numerous TV shows, including "Twin Peaks" (1990),"Amazing Stories" (1985),"CHiPs" (1977),"Quincy, M.E." (1976),"Fantasy Island" (1977),"Little House on the Prairie" (1974),"Kung Fu" (1972),"Ben Casey" (1961),"Planet of the Apes" (1974),"Cannon" (1971),"Playhouse 90" (1956),"Lost in Space" (1965),"Gunsmoke" (1955),"Bonanza" (1959),"Wagon Train" (1957),"The Virginian" (1962),"Hawaii Five-O" (1968),"Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955),"Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958),"Night Gallery" (1969),"Route 66" (1960),"The Rifleman" (1958),and "Rawhide" (1959).
Dano also did the voice of the animatronic Abraham Lincoln for Walt Disney's Hall of Presidents for both Disneyland and Disney World, and portrayed Lincoln on the "Omnibus" (1952) television series.
He is the father of actor Rick Dano and died at age 71 of a heart attack on May 15th, 1994.
