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Jan Merlin Obituary
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Linda Barker
July 15, 2022
Best actor ever
Fans of Jan Merlin, Georgianna & Solomon Counterman
January 30, 2021
My husband and I enjoy watching the GRIT Station. We began to notice Jan Merlin in many of the Westerns. We recognized many faces of the western regulars and knew their names. This afternoon I went in search of a name to his face, after watching the Guns of Diablo.
We are very impressed by his success through out his life and sorry to hear of his crossing over. Yet, he’ll never be gone from our lives, as we continue to watch his wonderful legacy of life, films and his unique smile that only belongs to Jan Merlin. May you enjoy the hip-pity, hop pity happiness where even you are.
Pam Towne Yacovetta
December 8, 2020
I just became aware of Jan's passing. My cousin Barbara is his wife and my heart goes out to her and his whole family. My husband, Steven, remembers him in "Tom Corbett Space Cadet" and got a real kick out of the fact my cousin is married to him. Our Love and Prayers to you all
Connie Weber Perkins
April 22, 2020
Sixty years ago, when I was 12, I developed a crush on Cullen Kirby in The Rough Riders. I've been a fan of Mr. Merlin ever since and have recorded many of his performances, which I've watched over and over. I've enjoyed learning about him via the Internet. He must have been a really nice man from what I've read about him. I've had a 25-year pen pal friendship with a woman I met online when we were both bidding on a video of The Rough Riders (turns out she also had a young teenage crush on his Cullen Kirby character). It saddens me to know he passed, but I will always remember him. God bless him and his family.
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Duncan Taylor
January 5, 2020
Mr Merlín was my supervisor while I was working at Burbank Airport. He was a wonderful man. Down to earth and always friendly towards everyone. I remember how much he enjoyed being asked about his acting career especially by the passengers passing through the security check point. May he Rest In Peace.
Dave Kirker
November 6, 2019
Worked in Burbank, and travel for my company Cadam Inc. Going through the baggage check, looked up, and there stood Jan, working at the checking station. Must have been a slow time in his career. Just said "Tom Corbett Space Cadet", he just smiled and said, "A long time ago". This was in the 80's when I was doing a lot of flying. I was born in '39, and can't remember when the program was on, but watched every time it was on. Can't believe I could remember his name, but never forgot the face. Rest in peace Jan.
Virginia Hudson
November 4, 2019
One of the best actors ever! It's been fun accessing his bio for years on the internet and finding him still with us. I wish I could have met him. However, a departed friend of mine, Jean Naquin, was a high school student in Los Angeles when Jan visited the acting class Jean was in to talk about becoming actors. Jean did and thoroughly enjoyed his acting life. I am sorry Jan Merlin has passed away. I was a fan of his. My sympathy to Jan's family. Love.
Jane Abernathy
October 21, 2019
Watching Jan in S5 Ep1 The Case of the Jealous Journalist of Perry Mason ~ Such a fantastic actor. In it he is working with the likes of Denver Pyle, Parley Baer and the rest of the usual suspects. I thought for sure he would be the murderer. But, even tho he wasn't, he still played a scoundrel! Shoot the Moon, Jan. Rest in Peace and Spaceman's Luck.
Joseph K
October 3, 2019
i was a airline employee working at Burbank airport in the early 90s, Mr Merlin worked security at the airport, he always had a smile and seemed happy to answer questions about his acting career. over the years i would see him in a western or on a Bonanza tv show and wonder what became of him. Very sorry to hear of his passing
P. Fredrick Preston
September 30, 2019
Ive always enjoyed his acting, and think he was a real gentleman.
Cecilia Strulato
September 25, 2019
I didn't have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Jan Merlin personally but I always enjoyed his performance especially in the Westerns series. Rest in peace
Chuck Lassen
September 24, 2019
Jan, as "Roger Manning", was a virtual friend to me, a 10 year old fan of "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet." It was a real thrill for me to finally meet him at a Williamsburg Film Festival in 1999. In 2002, he invited me to play the role of "Astro" in a stage re-creation of the Space Cadet radio program, and we did another one in 2006. It was an unforgettable thrill for me to meet and get to know Jan, and stand next to him on stage.
Spaceman's Luck, Jan!
Joel Singer
September 24, 2019
My name is Joel Singer and I saw Jan on Laramie what a great actor he will sorely be missed I wish that nobody would have to pass the way hey I care about his family and I definitely am going to miss Mr. Merlin God bless you all
Rory Coker
September 24, 2019
What a great man Jan was to hang around with. Nearly a lifetime spent in show business meant that he had a huge fund of stories to tell, and he clearly loved to tell them! I will treasure every minute I managed to spend in his company. Not to mention that in addition to being a great character actor--- one of the greatest--- he was also a fine script writer and novelist.
Roger Barn e tt
September 24, 2019
A great Character actor gone to the big round up in the sky sadly missed
Ethel Kaiden
September 24, 2019
I was a little girl when my dad wrote Tom Corbett Space Cadet and I met Jan Merlin and of course Frankie Thomas. I will never forget how kind they were to me when I visited the TV studio with my father. I actually was in touch with him a few years ago when I was writing a book and he gave me advise
Robert Bradford
September 23, 2019
One of my favorite actors. See him all the time in westerns. He was so good at what he did.
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