- A devout Catholic, who attended daily mass, Egan didn't marry until he was well into his 30's, an advanced age for the time. He believed marriage was a lifetime commitment and was waiting for the right woman to come along.
- Father of Rich Egan (born March 13, 1969) ; who started and runs Vagrant Records (a successful independent rock label).
- In 1954 Egan was slated to star in the title role of Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner in a television series based on the Timley/Atlas/Marvel Comics superhero. The series never materialized and it is believed that no pilot film was ever made.
- Well known for being a gracious actor, and a favorite among stuntmen. He was deemed an "Honorary Stuntman" by the Stuntmen's Association of America.
- Dated Susan Hayward before he married Patricia Hardy.
- He was good friends with Robert Mitchum.
- His only brother, Willis Egan, was a Jesuit and scholar.
- Richard Burton wanted Richard Egan to play the role of Lieutenant Morris Schaffer in Where Eagles Dare.
- Father of writer/director Maureen Egan.
- Godfather of Tisha Sterling.
- Daughter Patricia M. was born in Los Angeles on December 28, 1959; Daughter Kathleen M. was born in Los Angeles on October 31, 1964; Daughter Coleen M. was born in Los Angeles on May 9, 1966.
- He was already nearly 30 when he began appearing in films.
- He was the only member of the main cast of the TV series "Empire" to return for its second season.
- When Egan returned from WWII, he went back to school to earn a master's degree in theater history from Stanford University, with the help of the G.I. Bill. From there, he went on to teach public speaking at Northwestern University.
- In 1943 he served in the United States Army as a judo and knife fighting instructor during World War II. He served a year in the Philippines and was discharged with the rank of captain.
- Egan was Rod Serling's first choice to narrate The Twilight Zone, because of his distinctive voice. However, contractual issues got in the way, and Serling himself narrated instead, rather than select any actor other than his first choice.
- Egan's career received a boost when a casting director, according to Egan, said "Take off your shirt!", and then cast him in a small role in Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954), as a gladiator who fights Victor Mature.
- While at Northwestern University, he appeared in thirty campus stage productions and was eventually spotted by a Warner Bros talent scout, Solly Bioano, who encouraged him to try Hollywood.
- After beginning his career in 1949, he subsequently won a Golden Globe Award for his performances in the films "The Glory Brigade" (1953) and "The Kid from Left Field" (1953).
- He won a public-speaking competition in 1938 that helped fire his interest in performing.
- Egan was interested in drama and studied it while doing a BA at the University of San Francisco.
- Richard Egan, graduated from St. Ignatius College Preparatory.
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