Actor. He was an All-American football halfback while attending the University of Alabama, when he graduated and signed to a contract with MGM Studios in 1926. He made his big screen debut in "Slide Kelly, Slide" (1927), followed by "Bugle Call" (1927). After appearing in over thirty films mostly westerns, he left MGM in 1933 and signed on with Supreme Pictures still making westerns and later with Universal where he made a whole series of short reel westerns. In 1943, he went over to Monogram Pictures, where he made over 60 westerns. From 1943 to 1953, he was a cowboy hero to millions of young children and consistently was among the top ten money-makers in B western film era. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1957, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame 1969, The Rose Bowl Hall of Fame 2000, The State of Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame 2004, World Gunspinning Hall of Fame 2003, received The Golden Boot Award 2004 and the Oklahoma Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum's Hall of Fame 2008. He died at age 70 from a cardiac condition in Woodland Hills, California.
Actor. He was an All-American football halfback while attending the University of Alabama, when he graduated and signed to a contract with MGM Studios in 1926. He made his big screen debut in "Slide Kelly, Slide" (1927), followed by "Bugle Call" (1927). After appearing in over thirty films mostly westerns, he left MGM in 1933 and signed on with Supreme Pictures still making westerns and later with Universal where he made a whole series of short reel westerns. In 1943, he went over to Monogram Pictures, where he made over 60 westerns. From 1943 to 1953, he was a cowboy hero to millions of young children and consistently was among the top ten money-makers in B western film era. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1957, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame 1969, The Rose Bowl Hall of Fame 2000, The State of Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame 2004, World Gunspinning Hall of Fame 2003, received The Golden Boot Award 2004 and the Oklahoma Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum's Hall of Fame 2008. He died at age 70 from a cardiac condition in Woodland Hills, California.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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