Life of Eric Fleming
August 29, 2019
by Debbie Baize
Eric Fleming, born
Edward Heddy, Jr.
At 1:15 p.m. on the
4th of July, 1925 in
Santa Paula, California
In Ventura County.
*Parents*
Edward F. Heddy 28
Fillmore, California
(B. New York State, Oil Worker)
Mildred (Anderson) Heddy 28
Fillmore, California
(B. Minnesota, Housewife*
Physically abused by his father.Parents Divorced* 1935
Eric was 10 years old.
Eric was self supporting since he was 12 years old.
Occupations Eric Held
*Miner
*Ambulance Driver
*Carpenter
*Waiter
*Short Order Cook
*Merchant Seaman⚓
*Longshoreman
*Oil Field Roustabout
*SeaBees⚓WWII Seattle, WA.
*Stage Hand
*"Happy Birthday" (late 40's)
Road Production
*Broadway, "My Three Angels"
*Broadway, "Stalag 17"
*Play, "No Time For Sergeants"
Starring: Andy Griffith
and Don Knotts
* Employed by:
"Paramount Studio"
* "Film & Stage"
(Chicago) & (New York)
* Miltary Training Film 1944
* Broadway Musicals
* "The Flying Tigers" 1951
(Major Dell Conway)
Singing and Dancing
TV Children's Series
* Plain and Fancy" 1955
Broadway Musical
* "Queen of Outer Space" 1956
(with Zsa Zsa Harbor)
* Episode of Bonanza
"Peace Officer"
and a two part episode
"Pursuit" in Bonanza
* "Rawhide" Seven Seasons
Eric 6ft 4in was Best Known
Starred as Ruggedly Handsome
"Gil Favor, Trail Boss"
*"The Glass Bottom Boat" 1966
(with Doris Day)
Romantic Comedy
Eric's Last Appearance
Before his death
* On August 17, 1966
Eric and film crew arrived in
Lima, Peru to begin filming
"High Jungle" cast and crew
Travelled into the Jungle
Northeast of Lima, Peru to the
Tingo Maria area of Peru.
It was there on September 28th,
While filming a scene,
Eric, an excellent swimmer
And surfer drowned when the
dugout canoe he was in capsized in
the swift Current of the
"Huallaga River".
In full view of 20 crew and cast.
members AND Eric's long time
Partner and Fiancee',
Actress Lynne Garber.
His Peruvian co-star survived.
Eric & Lynne were to be married
3 days later, after the end of filming.
Eric Fleming will be remembered, loved and missed by all of his "Rawhide" fans!
We Love You
Eric (Gil Favor)
Edward Heddy, Jr.
At 1:15 p.m. on the
4th of July, 1925 in
Santa Paula, California
In Ventura County.
*Parents*
Edward F. Heddy 28
Fillmore, California
(B. New York State, Oil Worker)
Mildred (Anderson) Heddy 28
Fillmore, California
(B. Minnesota, Housewife*
Physically abused by his father.Parents Divorced* 1935
Eric was 10 years old.
Eric was self supporting since he was 12 years old.
Occupations Eric Held
*Miner
*Ambulance Driver
*Carpenter
*Waiter
*Short Order Cook
*Merchant Seaman⚓
*Longshoreman
*Oil Field Roustabout
*SeaBees⚓WWII Seattle, WA.
*Stage Hand
*"Happy Birthday" (late 40's)
Road Production
*Broadway, "My Three Angels"
*Broadway, "Stalag 17"
*Play, "No Time For Sergeants"
Starring: Andy Griffith
and Don Knotts
* Employed by:
"Paramount Studio"
* "Film & Stage"
(Chicago) & (New York)
* Miltary Training Film 1944
* Broadway Musicals
* "The Flying Tigers" 1951
(Major Dell Conway)
Singing and Dancing
TV Children's Series
* Plain and Fancy" 1955
Broadway Musical
* "Queen of Outer Space" 1956
(with Zsa Zsa Harbor)
* Episode of Bonanza
"Peace Officer"
and a two part episode
"Pursuit" in Bonanza
* "Rawhide" Seven Seasons
Eric 6ft 4in was Best Known
Starred as Ruggedly Handsome
"Gil Favor, Trail Boss"
*"The Glass Bottom Boat" 1966
(with Doris Day)
Romantic Comedy
Eric's Last Appearance
Before his death
* On August 17, 1966
Eric and film crew arrived in
Lima, Peru to begin filming
"High Jungle" cast and crew
Travelled into the Jungle
Northeast of Lima, Peru to the
Tingo Maria area of Peru.
It was there on September 28th,
While filming a scene,
Eric, an excellent swimmer
And surfer drowned when the
dugout canoe he was in capsized in
the swift Current of the
"Huallaga River".
In full view of 20 crew and cast.
members AND Eric's long time
Partner and Fiancee',
Actress Lynne Garber.
His Peruvian co-star survived.
Eric & Lynne were to be married
3 days later, after the end of filming.
Eric Fleming will be remembered, loved and missed by all of his "Rawhide" fans!
We Love You
Eric (Gil Favor)