When did Randolph Scott die? Tell me something about his family.
—Barry B., North Dakota
Randolph Scott, one of the biggest Western stars, died from heart disease in March 1987 at age 89. He had been ill for several years and died in his sleep at his Bel Air, Calif., home. With his quiet but powerful and fearless demeanor, the handsome, lanky actor epitomized Western heroes. He emerged as a leading man in the 1930s with such films as The Last of the Mohicans, Jesse James, and High, Wide and Handsome. He starred in nearly 30 Westerns, including Santa Fe, Fort Worth, Man in the Saddle, and Sugarfoot, and also appeared in musicals such as Roberta and Follow the Fleet, both starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. His last film was Ride the High Country in 1962. Born in Orange County, Va., he graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of North Carolina. He lied about his age to enlist in World War I. After the war, he joined the Pasadena Playhouse and landed his first role in The Far Call in 1929. At the time of his death, he had been married to former actress Patricia Stillman for 43 years. The couple had a son, Christopher Scott, a daughter, Sandra Scott Tyler, and three grandchildren.