'I was one lucky cowgirl': Wife pays tribute to trailblazing Wyatt Earp star Hugh O'Brian following his death at 91

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Trailblazing Life And Legend of Wyatt Earp star Hugh O'Brian has died at the age of 91.

He shot to fame in the 1950s playing the famed lawman in what was hailed as television's first adult Western.

A representative for the actor's youth leadership philanthropic organization HOBY confirmed he died at his Beverly Hills home on Monday morning.

'I was one lucky cowgirl': Virginia Barber paid tribute to her husband Hugh O'Brian (pictured in 2013) after he died on Monday

In a written tribute, his wife Virginia Barber said: 'I said goodbye, early this morning, to my favorite cowboy.

'My 28 years with Hugh have been an amazing, beautiful adventure. I will miss my special man who told me every day that I was beautiful and that he loved me. I was one lucky cowgirl.'

Popular small screen westerns of the day such as The Lone Ranger and Hopalong Cassidy had all been aimed at adolescent boys.

The Life And Legend of Wyatt Earp in contrast was gritty for its time, was based on a real-life Western hero, and features some authentic stories.

Trailblazer: The Life And Legend of Wyatt Earp star died at the age of 91

O'Brian, who became a star due to his role in the show, said: 'If we were doing Westerns with the chase and the fights that last endlessly, and the sheriff's daughter in sunbonnet and calico and the Wanted posters ... we wouldn't reach the audience we reach each week.'

The show was a rival to Gunsmoke, which debuted just a few days after Wyatt Earp and became an even bigger hit.

By 1956-57, both were in the top 20 shows, and in the 1958-59 season, Westerns accounted for an incredible seven out of the top 10 U.S. television series, with Gunsmoke topping the rankings, Wagon Train second and Wyatt Earp coming in at No. 10.

O'Brian's show remained a Top 20 hit until 1960, but was canceled the following year after being supplanted by the avalanche of other adult Westerns.

The show's star continued to work frequently in film, television and theater through the 1990s, though he failed to ever achieve the fame he enjoyed as Wyatt Earp.

Shooting star: Hugh starred in what was hailed as the first adult television western

He starred in the 1970s detective series Search and appeared in such films as In Harm's Way and Ten Little Indians, and reprised his role as Earp in 1994's Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone, a film that combined new footage with colorized scenes from the original black-and-white TV show.

He also had a small but memorable role as the faro dealer in John Wayne's last film, The Shootist, and later noted with pride that it gave him the distinction of being the last bad guy killed by Wayne.

Staying active: Hugh attending the opening night party for the LA Art Show 2013

Late in his career, O'Brian made frequent guest appearances in television series and variety shows and toured in the national companies of Cactus Flower, 1776 and Guys and Dolls.

He originally planned to study law at Yale University, but after actress Ida Lupino saw him in a play at a small Los Angeles theater she cast him in Never Fear, a 1949 film she was directing.

His acting career was launched, and he went on to appear in small parts in such films as The Return of Jesse James, Red Ball Express, Broken Lance and There's No Business Like Show Business.

O'Brian was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1992.

He also made his mark in philanthropy as founder of the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership organization.

In 1959, impressed by the work of Albert Schweitzer, O'Brian made a pilgrimage to the 83-year-old savant's settlement and hospital in central Africa. Although his journey was derided by some critics as a publicity stunt, the actor dismissed the remarks, telling reporters how his life had been changed by the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Shortly after returning home, he founded the youth group. Each year, it brought together promising high school sophomores at sites around the country for leadership seminars. In 1999 O'Brian estimated that HOBY had more than 200,000 graduates from ages 16 to 59. He received numerous awards for his achievement.

Born Hugh Krampe in Rochester, New York, he was educated in Winnetka, Illinois, and left school at 17 to join the Marines, going on to become one of the corps' youngest drill sergeants.

Plucked from obscurity: He was cast in a film after actress Ida Lupino saw him in a play at a small Los Angeles theater

At age 81 he wed 54-year-old Virginia Barber in June 2006 at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park cemetery in what they quipped was a 'wedding to die for.'

The couple dated for years before tying the knot, and enjoyed a honeymoon in England, where they studied philosophy at Oxford University.

He said: 'I think, quite frankly, an active mind is as important as an active body. Fortunately, my lady's a teacher and she puts up with me.'

It was his first marriage, however he had many well publicized romances, most infamously his fling with Princess Soraya, the ex-wife of the Shah of Iran.

 In 1969 he faced a paternity suit in which he was judged to be the father of the 16-year-old son of a Los Angeles photographer. He was ordered to pay $250 monthly support for the boy, whose name was Hugh Krampe Jr.

He said: 'I sure had my share of fun and an awful lot of ladies.'

Friend of the stars: Hugg arriving for dinner at the Beverly Hilton with Ingrid Bergman and her daughter Pia in 1969