"Ty" came from "Typhoon" - a childhood nickname.
After he left show business, he got involved in far-right-wing politics as an ultra-fundamentalist evangelical Christian preacher, railing against Jews and Catholics (calling them "impure Christians"). He formed an organization called the "Arizona Patriots" that stockpiled weapons for what they saw as a coming war with the "unholy" US government. Another of his organizations, an anti-tax group called the "Common Law Institute", issued fiery proclamations against the Internal Revenue Service and other government agencies. The compound where his organizations were headquartered was eventually raided by the FBI and ATF, and a huge load of illegal weapons and ammunition was confiscated.
Attended Texas A and M University in 1955-56 as Ty Hungerford. Appeared in drama club (Aggie Players) production of Eugene O'Neill's "Ah, Wilderness!" et. al.
Daughter with Marlene Schmidt.
Hardin, after graduation from Signal OCS, served as a US Army Officer during the Korean War.
His third wife, Marlene Schmidt, was Miss Universe of 1961.
In July 2005, he appeared as a guest at the Western Film Fair in Charlotte, North Carolina, along with Donna Douglas, Ed Nelson, Elena Verdugo, Richard Anderson, Lorna Gray, Jo Morrow and Henry Darrow.
Is the grandfather of actor Camryn Walling.
Twin sons with Andra Martin: Jeff Orison and 'John Richard Hardin.
Was the original choice of producers to play "Batman" on the 1960's TV show, "Batman" (1966), but had to turn it down because he was filming a Western in Italy.
Wife, Judy McNeill, was a photographer's model in the 1960s appearing in commercials for Maybelline Cosmetics. She also modeled bathing suits for Oleg Cassini and is recognized as an accomplished artist.
With wife, Judy, Ty has 3 stepchildren and 7 grandchildren.