Actor Harry Carey Jr., member of John Ford stock company, dead at 91

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SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Harry Carey Jr., a staple in big-screen westerns such as "The Searchers" and "Three Godfathers," has died at a hospice facility in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Carey Jr. was a frequent collaborator of actor John Wayne and filmmakers John Ford and Howard Hawks.

The character actor's daughter, Melinda, told Variety Friday he died of natural causes the day before. He was 91.

Among his 90-plus film credits are "Monkey Business," "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "Rio Bravo," "Wagon Master," "Red River," "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," "Mister Roberts," "Gremlins" and "Back to the Future Part III." He appeared in the TV shows "Have Gun -- Will Travel," "The Legend of Jesse James," "Wagon Train," "Gray Ghost," "Whispering Smith," "Tombstone Territory," "The Rounders," "Bonanza" and "Gunsmoke," as well.

The son of western movie icon Harry Carey Sr. and actress Olive Carey also penned his memoir, "Company of Heroes: My Life as an Actor in the John Ford Stock Company," which was published in 1994.