BE
Bill Elliott
Actor
Died November 26, 1965 (61 years)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wild Bill Elliott (October 16, 1904 – November 26, 1965) was an American film actor. He specialized in playing the rugged heroes of B Westerns, particularly the Red Ryder series of films. By 1925, he was getting occasional extra work in films. He took classes at the Pasadena Playhouse and appeared in a few stage roles there. By 1927, he had made his first Western, The Arizona Wildcat, playing his first featured role. Several co-starring roles followed, and he renamed himself Gordon Elliott. But as the studios made the transition to sound films, he slipped back into roles as an extra and bit parts, as in Broadway Scandals, in 1929. For the next eight years, he appeared in over a hundred films for various studios, but almost always in unbilled parts as an extra.
Elliott began to be noticed in some minor B Westerns, enough so that Columbia Pictures offered him the title role in a serial, The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (1938). The serial was so successful, and Elliott so personable, that Columbia promoted him to starring in his own series of Western features, replacing Columbia's number-two cowboy star Robert "Tex" Allen. Henceforth Gordon Elliott would be known as Bill Elliott. Within two years, he was among the Motion Picture Herald's Top Ten Western Stars, where he would remain for the next 15 years.
In 1943, Elliott signed with Republic Pictures, which cast him in a series of Westerns alongside George "Gabby" Hayes. The first of these, Calling Wild Bill Elliott, gave Elliott the name by which he would be best known and by which he would be billed almost exclusively for the rest of his career.
Following several films in which both actor and character shared the name Wild Bill Elliott, he took the role for which he would be best remembered, that of Red Ryder in a series of sixteen movies about the famous comic strip cowboy and his young Indian companion, Little Beaver (played in Elliott's films by Bobby Blake). Elliott played the role for only two years but would forever be associated with it. Elliott's trademark was a pair of six guns worn butt-forward in their holsters.
Elliott's career thrived during and after the Red Ryder films, and he continued making B Westerns into the early 1950s. He also had his own radio show during the late 1940s. His final contract as a Western star was with Monogram Pictures, where budgets declined as the B Western lost its audience to television. When Monogram became Allied Artists Pictures Corporation in 1953, it phased out its Western productions, and Elliott finished out his contract playing a homicide detective in a series of five modern police dramas, his first non-Westerns since 1938.
Elliott retired from films (except for a couple of TV Western pilots which were not picked up). He worked for a time as a spokesman for Viceroy cigarettes and hosted a local TV program in Las Vegas, Nevada, which featured many of his Western films.
Wild Bill Elliott (October 16, 1904 – November 26, 1965) was an American film actor. He specialized in playing the rugged heroes of B Westerns, particularly the Red Ryder series of films. By 1925, he was getting occasional extra work in films. He took classes at the Pasadena Playhouse and appeared in a few stage roles there. By 1927, he had made his first Western, The Arizona Wildcat, playing his first featured role. Several co-starring roles followed, and he renamed himself Gordon Elliott. But as the studios made the transition to sound films, he slipped back into roles as an extra and bit parts, as in Broadway Scandals, in 1929. For the next eight years, he appeared in over a hundred films for various studios, but almost always in unbilled parts as an extra.
Elliott began to be noticed in some minor B Westerns, enough so that Columbia Pictures offered him the title role in a serial, The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (1938). The serial was so successful, and Elliott so personable, that Columbia promoted him to starring in his own series of Western features, replacing Columbia's number-two cowboy star Robert "Tex" Allen. Henceforth Gordon Elliott would be known as Bill Elliott. Within two years, he was among the Motion Picture Herald's Top Ten Western Stars, where he would remain for the next 15 years.
In 1943, Elliott signed with Republic Pictures, which cast him in a series of Westerns alongside George "Gabby" Hayes. The first of these, Calling Wild Bill Elliott, gave Elliott the name by which he would be best known and by which he would be billed almost exclusively for the rest of his career.
Following several films in which both actor and character shared the name Wild Bill Elliott, he took the role for which he would be best remembered, that of Red Ryder in a series of sixteen movies about the famous comic strip cowboy and his young Indian companion, Little Beaver (played in Elliott's films by Bobby Blake). Elliott played the role for only two years but would forever be associated with it. Elliott's trademark was a pair of six guns worn butt-forward in their holsters.
Elliott's career thrived during and after the Red Ryder films, and he continued making B Westerns into the early 1950s. He also had his own radio show during the late 1940s. His final contract as a Western star was with Monogram Pictures, where budgets declined as the B Western lost its audience to television. When Monogram became Allied Artists Pictures Corporation in 1953, it phased out its Western productions, and Elliott finished out his contract playing a homicide detective in a series of five modern police dramas, his first non-Westerns since 1938.
Elliott retired from films (except for a couple of TV Western pilots which were not picked up). He worked for a time as a spokesman for Viceroy cigarettes and hosted a local TV program in Las Vegas, Nevada, which featured many of his Western films.
Filmography
| 1979 | The Wild West · as Cast |
| 1976 | Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch · as (archive Footage) |
| 1968 | Adam-12 (TV Series) · as Officer Grant |
| 1957 | Footsteps in the Night · as Andy Doyle |
| 1957 | Chain of Evidence · as Andy Doyle |
| 1956 | Calling Homicide · as Andy Doyle |
| 1955 | Sudden Danger · as Andy Doyle |
| 1955 | Dial Red O · as Andy Flynn / Andy Doyle |
| 1954 | The Forty-Niners · as Sam Nelson |
| 1954 | Bitter Creek · as Clay Tyndall (as Wild Bill Elliott) |
| 1953 | Vigilante Terror · as Tack Hamlin |
| 1953 | Topeka · as Jim Levering |
| 1953 | The Homesteaders · as Mace Corbin |
| 1952 | Fargo · as Bill Martin |
| 1952 | Kansas Territory · as Joe Daniels (as Wild Bill Elliott) |
| 1952 | Waco · as Matt Boone (as Wild Bill Elliott) |
| 1951 | The Longhorn · as Jim Kirk |
| 1950 | The Showdown · as Shadrach Jones |
| 1950 | The Savage Horde · as Ringo |
| 1949 | Hellfire · as Zeb Smith |
| 1949 | The Last Bandit · as Frank Norris / Frank Plummer (as William Elliott) |
| 1948 | The Gallant Legion · as Gary Conway |
| 1948 | Old Los Angeles · as Bill Stockton (as William Elliott) |
| 1947 | The Fabulous Texan · as Josie Allen |
| 1947 | Wyoming · as Charles Alderson |
| 1946 | Plainsman and the Lady · as Sam Colton |
| 1946 | Conquest of Cheyenne · as Red Ryder |
| 1946 | In Old Sacramento · as Johnny Barrett / Spanish Jack |
| 1946 | Sheriff of Redwood Valley · as Red Ryder (as Wild Bill Elliott) |
| 1946 | California Gold Rush · as Red Ryder |
| 1945 | Wagon Wheels Westward · as Red Ryder (as Wild Bill Elliott) |
| 1945 | Colorado Pioneers · as Red Ryder (as Wild Bill Elliott) |
| 1945 | Marshal of Laredo · as Red Ryder |
| 1945 | Texas Manhunt · as Red Ryder (as Wild Bill Elliott) |
| 1945 | Bells of Rosarita · as Wild Bill Elliott |
| 1945 | Lone Texas Ranger · as Red Ryder |
| 1945 | Great Stagecoach Robbery · as Red Ryder |
| 1944 | Vigilantes of Dodge City · as Red Ryder |
| 1944 | Cheyenne Wildcat · as Red Ryder (as Wild Bill Elliott) |
| 1944 | The San Antonio Kid · as Red Ryder (as Wild Bill Elliott) |
| 1944 | Marshal of Reno · as Red Ryder |
| 1944 | Tucson Raiders · as Red Ryder |
| 1944 | Mojave Firebrand · as Wild Bill Elliott (as Wild Bill Elliott) |
| 1943 | Death Valley Manhunt · as Marshal Wild Bill Elliott (as Wild Bill Elliott) |
| 1943 | Bordertown Gun Fighters · as Wild Bill Elliott |
| 1943 | Calling Wild Bill Elliott · as Wild Bill Elliott |
| 1942 | The Valley of Vanishing Men · as Wild Bill Tolliver |
| 1941 | The Son of Davy Crockett · as Dave Crockett |
| 1941 | Hands Across the Rockies · as 'wild' Bill Hickok |
| 1941 | Tank Patrol · as Bluey |
| 1941 | The Return of Daniel Boone · as Wild Bill Boone |
| 1941 | Across the Sierras · as 'wild' Bill Hickok |
| 1940 | Beyond the Sacramento · as 'wild' Bill Hickok |
| 1940 | Prairie Schooners · as 'wild' Bill Hickok |
| 1940 | The Return of Wild Bill · as Wild Bill Saunders |
| 1940 | The Man from Tumbleweeds · as Wild Bill Saunders |
| 1939 | Taming of the West · as Wild Bill Saunders |
| 1939 | The Roaring Twenties · as Bootlegger (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Letter of Introduction · as Backgammon Man (uncredited) |
| 1938 | The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok · as 'wild' Bill Hickok |
| 1938 | The Devil's Party · as James Brewster |
| 1938 | The Lady in the Morgue · as Chauncey Courtland |
| 1938 | Tarzan's Revenge · as Riverboat Captain |
| 1937 | Boy of the Streets · as Dr. Allan |
| 1937 | Love Takes Flight · as Bill Parker |
| 1937 | Roll Along, Cowboy · as Odie Fenton |
| 1937 | Boots and Saddles · as Jim Neale |
| 1937 | Wife, Doctor and Nurse · as Bruce Thomas |
| 1937 | San Quentin · as Joe Maloney |
| 1937 | You Can't Have Everything · as Lulu's Bathing Companion (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Melody for Two · as Walter Wilson |
| 1937 | Swing It Professor · as Randall |
| 1937 | Midnight Court · as City Attorney Seabrook |
| 1936 | Guns of the Pecos · as Wellman, A Dude |
| 1936 | King of Hockey · as 2nd Radio Announcer |
| 1936 | Polo Joe · as Don Trumbeau |
| 1936 | Fugitive in the Sky · as Ramon Duval |
| 1936 | The Case of the Black Cat · as Sam Laxter |
| 1936 | Down the Stretch · as Robert Bates |
| 1936 | Trailin' West · as Jefferson Duane |
| 1936 | China Clipper · as Pilot (uncredited) |
| 1936 | The Case of the Velvet Claws · as Carl Griffin |
| 1936 | Public Enemy's Wife · as Reporter |
| 1936 | The Big Noise · as Sharp, Board Of Directors Member (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Murder by an Aristocrat · as Dave Thatcher (as Gordon Elliott) |
| 1936 | Bullets or Ballots · as Hunter - Bank Worker (uncredited) |
| 1936 | The Golden Arrow · as Reporter |
| 1936 | The Singing Kid · as Announcer |
| 1936 | The Walking Dead · as First American Radio Announcer |
| 1936 | The Story of Louis Pasteur · as Reporter |
| 1936 | Ceiling Zero · as Transportation Agent |
| 1936 | The Murder of Dr. Harrigan · as Kenneth Martin |
| 1936 | Two Against the World · as News Commentator (uncredited) |
| 1935 | |
| 1935 | Man of Iron · as Charlie Fagan |
| 1935 | Broadway Hostess · as Playboy In 'playboy Of Paree' Number (uncredited) |
| 1935 | Stars Over Broadway · as Minor Role |
| 1935 | I Found Stella Parish · as Reporter |
| 1935 | The Payoff · as Maxine's Casino Escort (uncredited) |
| 1935 | Moonlight on the Prairie · as Jeff Holt |
| 1935 | Personal Maid's Secret · as Warren Sherrill |
| 1935 | Dr. Socrates · as Tom Collins - Greer's Associate |
| 1935 | I Live for Love · as Minor Role |
| 1935 | The Goose and the Gander · as Teddy |
| 1935 | Page Miss Glory · as Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1935 | Going Highbrow · as Post Reporter |
| 1935 | Broadway Gondolier · as Reporter |
| 1935 | Bright Lights · as Backstage Actor |
| 1935 | Front Page Woman · as Pale Reporter |
| 1935 | Alibi Ike · as Fan In The Stands |
| 1935 | The Girl from 10th Avenue · as James, Clerk At College Club |
| 1935 | 'G' Men · as Bootlegger Who Gives Eddie The Bottle Outside The Club (uncredited) |
| 1935 | Go Into Your Dance · as Jackson's Secretary / Dorothy's Dance Partner |
| 1935 | Reckless · as Undetermined Secondary Role |
| 1935 | Traveling Saleslady · as Freddie |
| 1935 | A Night at the Ritz · as Vincent's Assistant (uncredited) |
| 1935 | Gold Diggers of 1935 · as Martin - The Clerk |
| 1935 | While the Patient Slept · as Bank Teller (uncredited) |
| 1935 | Living on Velvet · as Husband Kissing Wife |
| 1935 | The Woman in Red · as Stuart Wyatt |
| 1935 | Devil Dogs of the Air · as Instructor |
| 1935 | The Right to Live · as Wedding Guest |
| 1934 | The Secret Bride · as Governor's Secretary (uncredited) |
| 1934 | Murder in the Clouds · as Lt. Saunders |
| 1934 | I Am a Thief · as Auctioneer's Assistant |
| 1934 | The Firebird · as Gigolo |
| 1934 | 6 Day Bike Rider · as Race Reporter In Box |
| 1934 | A Lost Lady · as Polo Match Spectator (uncredited) |
| 1934 | The Case of the Howling Dog · as Reporter In Courtroom (uncredited) |
| 1934 | Desirable · as Party Guest |
| 1934 | Housewife · as Clerk |
| 1934 | Friends of Mr. Sweeney · as Young Man |
| 1934 | Here Comes the Navy · as Uss Arizona Officer |
| 1934 | Midnight Alibi · as Birthday Party Guest |
| 1934 | Dr. Monica · as Rutherford |
| 1934 | Hollywood Party · as Party Guest |
| 1934 | Twenty Million Sweethearts · as 3rd Man In Brass Rail |
| 1934 | The Merry Frinks · as Dancer (uncredited) |
| 1934 | Smarty · as Nightclub Patron (uncredited) |
| 1934 | Merry Wives of Reno · as Train Passenger |
| 1934 | Upperworld · as Photographer |
| 1934 | A Modern Hero · as Bridge Player |
| 1934 | Registered Nurse · as Male Nurse |
| 1934 | Wonder Bar · as Norman (uncredited) |
| 1934 | Success at Any Price · as Minor Role |
| 1933 | Dancing Lady · as Cafe Patron |
| 1933 | Only Yesterday · as New Year's Eve Reveler (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Stage Mother · as Audience Member / Dexter's Party Guest |
| 1933 | Brief Moment · as Nightclub Patron |
| 1933 | The Masquerader · as Party Guest |
| 1933 | Midnight Mary · as Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Private Detective 62 · as Man At Roulette Table (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Cocktail Hour · as Party Guest |
| 1933 | Gold Diggers of 1933 · as Night Club Patron (uncredited) |
| 1933 | The Little Giant · as Guest At Polly's Party (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Made on Broadway · as Night Club Patron |
| 1933 | The Keyhole · as Partygoer (uncredited) |
| 1933 | From Hell to Heaven · as Railbird |
| 1933 | Luxury Liner · as Man On Phone |
| 1932 | Silver Dollar · as Election Party Guest |
| 1932 | The Mummy · as Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Night After Night · as Escort (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Hat Check Girl · as A Party Guest |
| 1932 | A Successful Calamity · as Polo Player (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Two Against the World · as Guest At Victor's Party |
| 1932 | Crooner · as Nightclub Dance Patron |
| 1932 | Jewel Robbery · as Policeman Following Blonde (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Week-End Marriage · as Birthday Party Guest |
| 1932 | Merrily We Go to Hell · as Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1932 | The Rich Are Always with Us · as Gambler (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Two Kinds of Women · as Nightclub Dance Extra |
| 1932 | Scarface · as Man Outside Theatre (uncredited) |
| 1932 | -But the Flesh Is Weak · as Party Guest |
| 1932 | One Hour with You · as Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Vanity Fair · as Bit Role |
| 1932 | Lady with a Past · as Alex Brown (uncredited) |
| 1932 | The Greeks Had a Word for Them · as Wedding Guest (uncredited) |
| 1932 | The Final Edition · as Reporter |
| 1932 | Forbidden · as Reporter |
| 1931 | Delicious · as Larry's Friend |
| 1931 | Peach O'Reno · as Courtroom Spectator |
| 1931 | Good Sport · as Party Guest |
| 1931 | Working Girls · as Dance Extra / Lobby Extra |
| 1931 | West of Broadway · as Nightclub Patron |
| 1931 | Consolation Marriage · as Dog Show Attendee |
| 1931 | Blonde Crazy · as Nightclub Patron (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Convicted · as Shipboard Passenger |
| 1931 | Platinum Blonde · as Ann's Beau (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Expensive Women · as Party Guest |
| 1931 | Palmy Days · as Party Guest |
| 1931 | Left Over Ladies · as Escort (uncredited) |
| 1931 | The Road to Reno · as Party Boy |
| 1931 | Smart Woman · as Reporter On Ship |
| 1931 | Traveling Husbands · as Hotel Dining Room Guest |
| 1931 | The Woman Between · as Party Guest |
| 1931 | The Public Defender · as Country Club Guest |
| 1931 | Broadminded · as Hotel Guest On Veranda |
| 1931 | The Magnificent Lie · as Cafe Customer |
| 1931 | Sweepstakes · as Night Club Patron |
| 1931 | Five and Ten · as Wedding Guest (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Party Husband · as Wedding Party Guest |
| 1931 | City Streets · as Nightclub Patron |
| 1931 | Born to Love · as Hotel Dancer (uncredited) |
| 1931 | God's Gift to Women · as Minor Role (uncredited) |
| 1930 | Reaching for the Moon · as Ship's Party Guest |
| 1930 | Part Time Wife · as Golfer (uncredited) |
| 1930 | Going Wild · as Physical Exam Onlooker |
| 1930 | Expensive Kisses · as Nightclub Patron |
| 1930 | Sunny · as One Of Tom's War Buddies |
| 1930 | The Truth About Youth · as Nightclub Patron (uncredited) |
| 1930 | East Is West · as Cast |
| 1930 | What Men Want · as Party Boy |
| 1930 | Born Reckless · as Customer At Beretti's |
| 1930 | The Cuckoos · as Party Guest |
| 1930 | A Notorious Affair · as Sir Thomas' Party Guest |
| 1930 | |
| 1930 | Big Boy · as Race Fan Wearing Straw Hat |
| 1930 | The Girl Said No · as Wedding Guest |
| 1930 | Lord Byron of Broadway · as Party-Goer |
| 1929 | Night Parade · as Party Guest |
| 1929 | The Great Divide · as Ruth's Friend (uncredited) |
| 1928 | Beyond London Lights · as Colin Drummond |
| 1927 | Her Wild Oat · as Hotel Guest |
| 1927 | The Private Life of Helen of Troy · as Telemachus |
| 1927 | The Drop Kick · as Aggressive Student At Dance |
| 1927 | Children of Divorce · as Party Guest (uncredited) |
| 1926 | The Shamrock Handicap · as Well-Wishing Villager |
| 1925 | Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ · as Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited) |
| 1925 | The Plastic Age · as Athlete (uncredited) |