Bruce Yarnell was born on December 28, 1935, in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Bruce started in show business after being discovered, while in high school, by Edwin Lester, famed impresario of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Company.
Six foot five Yarnell married music teacher/singer Joan Patenaude, however a date is not available.
In 1961, Yarnell was given his own TV series, "Outlaws." Six episodes, with Bruce in the lead as Deputy Marshall Chalk Breeson, were filmed in 1961 and 1962. This series also starred Don Collier, Slim Pickens, and Barton MacLane.
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Bruce debuted on Broadway in Frank Loesser's "The Happiest Girl in the World," shown here with Dran Seitz.
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The great Billy Wilder put Bruce into his big screen 1963 adaptation of "Irma la Douce," playing opposite Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. Yarnell played an uncharacteristic role as a pimp named Hippolyte.
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We all know Bruce from starring in two episodes of "Bonanza," in 1964 and 1965, as Muley Jones. His most distinctive attribute in that role centered around his voice. Every time he would sing, he would break glass, including windows, street lamps, and even crockery.
In 1964, Bruce appeared in "Oklahoma" at the Lincoln Center.
Bruce played Capt. Jet Winslow on "Hogan's Heroes" in 1965.
Bruce appeared as Slag in a full length, 1966 TV movie, "Good Old Days." The movie as an unsold pilot for a proposed sitcom about the comedic adventures of a family of cavemen and women.
Meanwhile, he was a big hit in the 1966 Broadway revival of "Annie Get Your Gun," opposite Ethel Merman. His golden voice, as Frank Butler, was heard on the cast album and in the 1967 TV version of the Lincoln Center production.
Later that same year, Bruce starred in "Carousel."
A rash of Broadway shows followed, opposite Ginger Rogers, Tammy Grimes and Jane Powell. His stage roles included "West Side Story" and "Kiss Me Kate."
Bruce recording "Camelot," with Julie Andrews and John Callum.
Bruce in "Molly Brown."
In his middle thirties, Bruce turned more and more to Grand Opera, making a huge name for himself in such productions as "Aida" and "Girl of the Golden West," at the San Francisco Opera House and abroad.
He was a regular soloist on TV's "Bell Telephone Hour" and at one point, in 1966, played himself, as a singer, in "Christmas Through the Ages," which was shown at Christmas for three seasons.
Bruce's interpretations of Dr. Falke in SFO's "Die Fledermaus."
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and
Sharpless in SFO's "Madama Butterfly." (a sampling)
http://www.operapassion.com/mp3-8833.html
He also produced two solo albums, "House of the Lord" and "Bruce Yarnell Sings."
You may remember a performing team called "Shields and Yarnell." Yes, it is Bruce's sister, Lorene Yarnell Jansson.
In 1973, at the age of 37, his burgeoning career ended in the wreckage of his own plane. Bruce was at the controls of his small-craft private plane when it crashed into the Santa Monica Mountains shortly after taking off from LAX. He was on his way to perform at the San Francisco Opera Company. Both Bruce and two passengers, David and Teri Wirsching, were killed.
His widow began the Bruce Yarnell Scholarship in his name, to award young baritones, and presides as one of the judges.[/color]
