Changes

'''Alma mater''':<br>

'''Alma mater''':<br>

Actors Lab (Los Angeles) ​

Actors Lab (Los Angeles) ​

| spouse= Rita Cross​<br>

| spouse=Rita Cross​<br>

'''Children''':<br>

'''Children''':<br>

Two sons, Tony Cross and Randy Cross<br>​

Two sons, Tony Cross and Randy Cross<br>​

==Background==​

==Background==​

Cross was a native of Whitefish in Flathead County in northwestern [[Montana]]. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the [[United States Marine Corps]] and fought against the Empire of [[Japan]] at the Battle of [[Guadalcanal]]. He studied acting through the assistance of the G.I. Bill of Rights at the Actors Lab in [[Hollywood]], [[California]], located next to Schwab's Drug Store, where several film stars were discovered.<ref name=rifle>{{cite web|url=http://www.riflemanconnors.com/dennis_cross.htm|title=''Dennis Cross''|publisher=Riflemanconnors.com|accessdate=February 20, 2009}}</ref>​

Cross was a native of Whitefish in Flathead County in northwestern [[Montana]]. At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the [[United States Marine Corps]] and fought against the Empire of [[Japan]] at the Battle of [[Guadalcanal]]. He studied acting through the assistance of the G.I. Bill of Rights at the Actors Lab in [[Hollywood]], [[California]], located next to Schwab's Drug Store, where several film stars were discovered.<ref name=rifle>{{cite web|url=http://www.riflemanconnors.com/dennis_cross.htm|title=''Dennis Cross''|publisher=Riflemanconnors.com|accessdate=February 20, 2009}}</ref>

 

In the early 1950s, Cross moved to [[New York City]] and appeared in several live television programs and taped [[advertising]] spots.<ref name=rifle/> Cross's first acting role was at the age of twenty-seven as Cadet Rob in the 1952 episode "Constitution Island" of ''The Hallmark Hall of Fame,'' then on [[NBC]].<ref name=imdb/>​

In the early 1950s, Cross moved to [[New York City]] and appeared in several live television programs and taped [[advertising]] spots.<ref name=rifle/> Cross's first acting role was at the age of twenty-seven as Cadet Rob in the 1952 episode "Constitution Island" of ''The Hallmark Hall of Fame,'' then on [[NBC]].<ref name=imdb/>​

 

He performed with silent film star Lillian Gish in the 1953 episode, ''A Trip to the Bountiful," on  NBC's ''Philco Television Playhouse.'' Having worked the night shift in a [[factory]] the day before the shooting of the program, Cross broke his finger, placed it in a splint, but still arrived for the filming. In the episode Cross is shown behind the cage of a bus ticket counter with his finger in the splint selling a ticket to Gish. This particular episode was placed in the archives of the [[Museum of Modern Art]] in New York City.<ref name=rifle/>​

He performed with silent film star Lillian Gish in the 1953 episode, ''A Trip to the Bountiful," on  NBC's ''Philco Television Playhouse.'' Having worked the night shift in a [[factory]] the day before the shooting of the program, Cross broke his finger, placed it in a splint, but still arrived for the filming. In the episode Cross is shown behind the cage of a bus ticket counter with his finger in the splint selling a ticket to Gish. This particular episode was placed in the archives of the [[Museum of Modern Art]] in New York City.<ref name=rifle/>​

 

When Cross returned to California, he starred in 1957 as the Indian Coacoochee in the film ''Naked in the Sun,'' sometimes called ''The Osceola Story, referring to Chief Osceola of the [[Florida]] [[Seminole]] tribe.<ref name=rifle/> Three years later, he was cast to portray Commander Arthur Richards in thirty-three episodes of ''The Blue Angels,'' including "Not for the Moment," "The Sticking Season,'' "Pacific Monteray Story," "Second Best," and "The Blue Leaders," with guest star Ernest Borgnine. The series co-stars included Don Gordon and Ross Elliott]<ref name=imdb/>​

When Cross returned to California, he starred in 1957 as the Indian Coacoochee in the film, ''Naked in the Sun,'' sometimes called ''The Osceola Story, referring to Chief Osceola of the [[Florida]] [[Seminole]] tribe.<ref name=rifle/> Three years later, he was cast to portray Commander Arthur Richards in thirty-three episodes of ''The Blue Angels,'' including "Not for the Moment," "The Sticking Season,'' "Pacific Monteray Story," "Second Best," and "The Blue Leaders," with guest star Ernest Borgnine. The series co-stars included Don Gordon and Ross Elliott.<ref name=imdb/>​

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==Western roles==

==Western roles==

He appeared in a few films: ''The Brass Legend'' (1956) with Hugh O'Brian and Raymond Burr, ''Crime of Passion'' (1957), ''The Over-the-Hill Gang'' (1969) with Walter Brennan, ''80 Steps to Jonah'' (1969), and ''The Bounty Man'' (1972).<ref name=imdb/>​

He appeared in a few films: ''The Brass Legend'' (1956) with Hugh O'Brian and Raymond Burr, ''Crime of Passion'' (1957), ''The Over-the-Hill Gang'' (1969) with Walter Brennan, ''80 Steps to Jonah'' (1969), and ''The Bounty Man'' (1972).<ref name=imdb/>​

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Cross's son, Randy Cross, born in New York City in 1954, is a former professional [[football]] player and sports broadcaster. The Crosses were living in Encino, California, in the 1970s, when he retired from acting and became a vice president of the Doctors Insurance]Company in Santa Monica. He died in Los Angeles at the age of sixty-six.<ref name=imdb/>​

 

Cross and his wife, Rita, had two sons, one of whom, Randy Cross, born in New York City in 1954, is a former professional [[football]] player and sports broadcaster. There are also five Cross daughters.

 

The Crosses were living in Encino, California, in the 1970s, when he retired from acting and became a vice president of the Doctors Insurance]Company in Santa Monica. He died in Los Angeles at the age of sixty-six.<ref name=imdb/>​

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==References==​

==References==​