Wesley Eure

American actor, singer, author, producer, director, charity fundraiser, and lecturer

Wesley Eure (born Wesley Eure Loper; August 17, 1951) is an American actor, singer, author, producer, director and educator. He is best known for appearing as Michael Horton on the American soap opera Days of Our Lives from 1974 to 1981, during which he also starred on the popular children's television series Land of the Lost as Will Marshall. He later hosted the popular children's game show Finders Keepers in 1987 and 1988, and co created the children's educational television show Dragon Tales in 1999. He has also published several books, produced plays and been an organizer and fundraiser for several charities.

Eure was born Wesley Eure Loper in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on August 17, 1951. His father left the family when he was two years old, He spent his senior year of high school in Las Vegas. Hired more for his ability to make the cast and crew laugh than his acting skill, Eure worked with a dialect coach to get rid of his deep Southern accent. When that series was not picked up due to the 1973 writers' strike, He also starred as Will Marshall in Sid and Marty Krofft's children's adventure series, Land of the Lost from 1974 to 1976, filming this show and Days of Our Lives simultaneously. (The gold chain he wore on the show was a gift from his then lover.) and as an evil man who is eaten by snakes in Jennifer. While filming Jennifer, Eure claims he had a difficult time working with the various snakes on the set, including the large boa constrictor that features in the climax. He later appeared in Hanna Barbera's 1979 comedy C. H. O. M. P. S., which also starred Valerie Bertinelli, Red Buttons, Jim Backus, Hermione Baddeley, and Conrad Bain. Eure and Land of the Lost co star Kathy Coleman filmed cameo appearances for the 2009 film Land of the Lost starring Will Ferrell, but were edited out of the final cut. He appeared in the 2014 independent thriller film, Sins of our Youth as Chief Police Kaplan.

Whenever his acting career seemed stalled, Eure continued to sing. He became friends with Shaun Cassidy and Leif Garrett, and some of his music was produced by Bobby Sherman,

Eure has starred on the stage in shows like Bus Stop, Butterflies Are Free, Love Sex and the IRS, as well as the musicals I Love My Wife and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. His company Games at Sea created, produced and directed on board entertainment for cruise ships such as Crystal Cruises and Celebrity Cruise Line. For several years, Eure's Blues Brothers 2000 live stage show appeared at Universal Studios Hollywood. He co produced a Stephen Schwartz musical titled Snapshots. the Desert AIDS Project benefit and raising funds and assisting with Project Angel Food, which feeds homebound AIDS patients.

While working on Days of our Lives, Eure supported his mother as she attended law school in her 50s. After graduating at the top of her class, she became his personal manager and attorney. Eure was the travel editor for Palm Springs Life magazine, writing a bi monthly travel column. In the 1970s, Eure met and had a relationship with actor Richard Chamberlain.