Ed Faulkner:
Always in Good Company

       Looking back to the 1960s and early '70s, there was a certain addition to the regular John Wayne "stock company" of players.  Along with the likes of Paul Fix, Hank Worden, Harry Carey, Jr., Ben Johnson and John Agar, the "Duke" managed to find a place for an ex-fighter pilot from Kentucky who was striving for an even higher sense of adventure.  Taking on acting as a profession was a challenge in itself, yet Edward Faulkner flew high and acted with the best of them.

    Although his roles early on consisted of background and bit parts, he was grateful to be working in Hollywood.  "There are no small parts, only small actors," chuckles Faulkner.  But when he played in a movie entitled The Undefeated, the 6'3" actor was a bit out-sized by the the 6'4" of John Wayne, the 6'5" of Rock Hudson, the 6'5" of Merlin Olsen and the 6'7" of director Andrew McLaglen.  Faulkner enjoyed his acting role, but even more, the camaraderie he shared with his co-workers.

    Born and raised in the Bluegrass Country of Lexington, Kentucky, Faulkner was trained as an industrial engineer.  He then earned a degree in business before entering the United States Air Force.  After his stint in the service, he returned to Lexington.  At odds as to where to go from there, he abandoned the idea of pursuing a career in the construction and building supply business that his late father had succeeded in.  Encouraged by a drama coach at the University of Kentucky, he instead decided to aim at a career in acting.  By this time, Faulkner was already married to his wife, Barbara.  Together now for over 45 years, these high school sweethearts had once shared the lead role...................................................