Jack Chaplain being interviewed in 1964

John Lawrence Chaplin, better known as 'Jack' Chaplain, was born to Lawrence Eugene Chaplin (1916-2001) and Lorena June Hillgenberg (1917-1999). Both of his parents were born in Illinois. He had a brother, Gene Chaplin, and a sister, Angel Stevenson-Brawner. He was an actor known for his starring role in the 1965 movie Git! and appearances on the TV shows Bonanza (1959) and Laramie (1959). Jack moved from his hometown in Charlestown Illinois to Hollywood, California to become an actor. By 1960 he had appeared in 28 television roles including appearances on "Wagon Train", "The Defenders", "Laramie", "The Rebel", "Bonanza", and the "General Electric Theatre". Jack explained in a 1965 newspaper article (See Jack Chaplain Stars in Movie) that he added an extra "a" to his name, changing Jack Chaplin to Jack Chaplain, to avoid confusion with members of the Charles Chaplin family. Jack's hometown in Illinois was very proud of their local handsome young man who set out to Hollywood to "make good". His starring role in the 1965 Git! film received praise by the PTA, Motion Picture Association and The Christian Science Monitor - promoting the film as family friendly. In fact, Jack returned to the Mattoon Theatre and Will Rogers Theatre in Charleston Illinois for the premier of the film. See Yes We Are Proud of Jack!! for an article detailing the event and the newspaper's enthusiasm. Jack lived in Charleston Illinois from his birth until 1961. He married Ginger Blakeon March 13th 1964 in Nevada and they later divorced in June of 1967 in Los Angeles. From 1993 until 1994/1995 he lived in La Mirada California, then moved back to Charleston in 1996, until finally returning to California. He lived at 8831 Venice Blvd in Los Angeles California 90034.