Claude Akins, at an imposing 6ft 1 (185.4 cm), was an American character actor whose towering stature amplified his rugged, authoritative screen presence in film and television.
His height made him ideal for tough-guy roles, including the sheriff in The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, the menacing convict in The Defiant Ones, and key parts in Rio Bravo, Inherit the Wind, and Battle for the Planet of the Apes.
Akins' commanding physicality contributed to a prolific career across stage, screen, and TV, embodying larger-than-life characters with effortless intensity.