Will Hutchins, celebrated for his role as a gentle cowboy lawman in the TV western 'Sugarfoot,' passed away at 94 due to respiratory failure. Hutchins portrayed Tom Brewster, a character who preferred cherry soda over whiskey and often resolved conflicts with humor rather than violence, embodying a wholesome persona that matched his own farm-fed good looks. As television trends shifted in the 1960s, his career waned, leading him to roles in short-lived comedies and a few films, including two with Elvis Presley. Facing personal and financial setbacks, Hutchins later reinvented himself as a traveling clown, performing internationally and drawing on serious acting techniques to enhance his comedic acts. He retired in 1996, leaving behind a legacy of a career that fluctuated with the changing tides of the entertainment industry and personal perseverance marked by reinvention and resilience.

Will Hutchins starred as Tom Brewster in 'Sugarfoot,' a TV western that ran from 1957 to 1961, during a time when westerns dominated television ratings. His character was an Eastern law student turned sheriff, known for his aversion to violence and preference for sarsaparilla with cherry, embodying a comedic and gentle persona.

Despite the wholesome and comedic nature of 'Sugarfoot,' Hutchins' career faced challenges as TV trends changed in the 1960s, leading him to roles in the short-lived comedies 'Hey, Landlord' and 'Blondie,' as well as film appearances in Elvis Presley vehicles like 'Spinout' and 'Clambake.'

After the decline of his Hollywood career, Hutchins experienced personal and financial difficulties, including a business manager embezzling his savings and a girlfriend leaving with his Porsche and signed Elvis picture. These setbacks pushed him to explore a new career path.

In 1973, Hutchins embraced a new role as a clown, performing for $50 a week and traveling extensively, including stints in Australia, Sri Lanka, and England. He applied serious acting techniques to his clown performances, drawing inspiration from icons like Chaplin and Keaton.

Hutchins was born Marshall Lowell Hutchason in Los Angeles in 1930, served as a corporal during the Korean War, and studied at UCLA with help from the G.I. Bill. His stage name was given by Bill Orr of Warner Brothers, who found his birth name too long for show business.

Throughout his life, Hutchins reflected on the fleeting nature of fame, writing essays for 'Western Clippings' about the rise and fall of the TV cowboy era. He retired in 1996, spending his later years in Glen Head, Long Island, where he was known for his cowboy hat and porch-sitting.

Hutchins married twice, first to Chris Burnett, with whom he had a daughter, Jennifer, and later to Barbara Torres. His personal and professional life was a testament to his adaptability and enduring charm, despite the ups and downs of his career.