Bill Elliott
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.
Filmography
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
as (archive footage)
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
as (archive footage)
It's Showtime
as Self (archive footage)
It's Showtime
as Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
Footsteps in the Night
as Andy Doyle
Footsteps in the Night
as Andy Doyle
Chain of Evidence
as Andy Doyle
Chain of Evidence
as Andy Doyle
Calling Homicide
as Andy Doyle
Calling Homicide
as Andy Doyle
Sudden Danger
as Andy Doyle
Sudden Danger
as Andy Doyle
Dial Red O
as Andy Flynn / Andy Doyle
Dial Red O
as Andy Flynn / Andy Doyle
The Forty-Niners
as Sam Nelson
The Forty-Niners
as Sam Nelson
Bitter Creek
as Clay Tyndall
Bitter Creek
as Clay Tyndall
Vigilante Terror
as Tack Hamlin
Vigilante Terror
as Tack Hamlin
Topeka
as Jim Levering
Topeka
as Jim Levering
Rebel City
as Frank Graham
Rebel City
as Frank Graham
The Homesteaders
as Mace Corbin
The Homesteaders
as Mace Corbin
The Maverick
as Pete Devlin
The Maverick
as Pete Devlin
Fargo
as Bill Martin
Fargo
as Bill Martin
Kansas Territory
as Joe Daniels
Kansas Territory
as Joe Daniels
Waco
as Matt Boone
Waco
as Matt Boone
The Longhorn
as Jim Kirk
The Longhorn
as Jim Kirk
The Showdown
as Shadrach Jones
The Showdown
as Shadrach Jones
The Savage Horde
as Ringo
The Savage Horde
as Ringo
The Marshall of Trail City
as Wild Bill Elliott
The Marshall of Trail City
as Wild Bill Elliott
Hellfire
as Zeb Smith
Hellfire
as Zeb Smith
The Last Bandit
as Frank Norris / Frank Plummer
The Last Bandit
as Frank Norris / Frank Plummer
The Gallant Legion
as Gary Conway
The Gallant Legion
as Gary Conway
Old Los Angeles
as Bill Stockton
Old Los Angeles
as Bill Stockton
The Fabulous Texan
as Josie Allen
The Fabulous Texan
as Josie Allen
Wyoming
as Charles Alderson
Wyoming
as Charles Alderson
The Plainsman and the Lady
as Sam Colton
The Plainsman and the Lady
as Sam Colton
Conquest of Cheyenne
as Red Ryder
Conquest of Cheyenne
as Red Ryder
In Old Sacramento
as Johnny Barrett / Spanish Jack
In Old Sacramento
as Johnny Barrett / Spanish Jack
Sun Valley Cyclone
as Red Ryder
Sun Valley Cyclone
as Red Ryder
Sheriff of Redwood Valley
as Red Ryder
Sheriff of Redwood Valley
as Red Ryder
California Gold Rush
as Red Ryder
California Gold Rush
as Red Ryder
Wagon Wheels Westward
as Red Ryder
Wagon Wheels Westward
as Red Ryder
Colorado Pioneers
as Red Ryder
Colorado Pioneers
as Red Ryder
Phantom of the Plains
as Red Ryder
Phantom of the Plains
as Red Ryder
Bells of Rosarita
as Wild Bill Elliott
Bells of Rosarita
as Wild Bill Elliott
Lone Texas Ranger
as Red Ryder
Lone Texas Ranger
as Red Ryder
Great Stagecoach Robbery
as Red Ryder
Great Stagecoach Robbery
as Red Ryder
Vigilantes of Dodge City
as Red Ryder
Vigilantes of Dodge City
as Red Ryder
Cheyenne Wildcat
as Red Ryder
Cheyenne Wildcat
as Red Ryder
San Antonio Kid
as Red Ryder
San Antonio Kid
as Red Ryder
Marshal of Reno
as Red Ryder
Marshal of Reno
as Red Ryder
Tucson Raiders
as Red Ryder
Tucson Raiders
as Red Ryder
Hidden Valley Outlaws
as Bill Elliott
Hidden Valley Outlaws
as Bill Elliott
Mojave Firebrand
as Wild Bill Elliott
Mojave Firebrand
as Wild Bill Elliott
Overland Mail Robbery
as Wild Bill Elliott
Overland Mail Robbery
as Wild Bill Elliott
Bordertown Gun Fighters
as Wild Bill Elliott
Bordertown Gun Fighters
as Wild Bill Elliott
The Valley of Vanishing Men
as Wild Bill Tolliver
The Valley of Vanishing Men
as Wild Bill Tolliver
Vengeance of the West
as Joaquin Murietta aka The Black Shadow
Vengeance of the West
as Joaquin Murietta aka The Black Shadow
Prairie Gunsmoke
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
Prairie Gunsmoke
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
The Devil's Trail
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
The Devil's Trail
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
Bullets for Bandits
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok / Prince Katey
Bullets for Bandits
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok / Prince Katey
The Lone Star Vigilantes
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
The Lone Star Vigilantes
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
The Son of Davy Crockett
as Dave Crockett
The Son of Davy Crockett
as Dave Crockett
Across the Sierras
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
Across the Sierras
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
The Wildcat of Tucson
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
The Wildcat of Tucson
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
Beyond the Sacramento
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
Beyond the Sacramento
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
The Man from Tumbleweeds
as Wild Bill Saunders
The Man from Tumbleweeds
as Wild Bill Saunders
Pioneers of the Frontier
as Wild Bill Saunders
Pioneers of the Frontier
as Wild Bill Saunders
The Roaring Twenties
as Bootlegger (uncredited)
The Roaring Twenties
as Bootlegger (uncredited)
Overland with Kit Carson
as Kit Carson
Overland with Kit Carson
as Kit Carson
Lone Star Pioneers
as Pat Barret
Lone Star Pioneers
as Pat Barret
Frontiers of '49
as John Freeman
Frontiers of '49
as John Freeman
In Early Arizona
as Whit Gordon
In Early Arizona
as Whit Gordon
Letter of Introduction
as Backgammon Man (uncredited)
Letter of Introduction
as Backgammon Man (uncredited)
The Lady in the Morgue
as Chauncey Courtland
The Lady in the Morgue
as Chauncey Courtland
Boy of the Streets
as Dr. Allan
Boy of the Streets
as Dr. Allan
Love Takes Flight
as Bill Parker
Love Takes Flight
as Bill Parker
Boots and Saddles
as Jim Neale
Boots and Saddles
as Jim Neale
Wife, Doctor and Nurse
as Bruce Thomas
Wife, Doctor and Nurse
as Bruce Thomas
You Can't Have Everything
as Lulu's Bathing Companion (uncredited)
You Can't Have Everything
as Lulu's Bathing Companion (uncredited)
Michael O'Halloran
as Little Lord Fauntleroy (uncredited)
Michael O'Halloran
as Little Lord Fauntleroy (uncredited)
Guns of the Pecos
as Wellman, a Dude
Guns of the Pecos
as Wellman, a Dude
Dangerous
Dangerous
Stars Over Broadway
as Minor Role
Stars Over Broadway
as Minor Role
Moonlight on the Prairie
as Jeff Holt
Moonlight on the Prairie
as Jeff Holt
Dr. Socrates
as Tom Collins - Greer's Associate
Dr. Socrates
as Tom Collins - Greer's Associate
Page Miss Glory
as Reporter (uncredited)
Page Miss Glory
as Reporter (uncredited)
The Girl from 10th Avenue
as James, Clerk at College Club
The Girl from 10th Avenue
as James, Clerk at College Club
'G' Men
as Bootlegger Who Gives Eddie the Bottle Outside the Club (uncredited)
'G' Men
as Bootlegger Who Gives Eddie the Bottle Outside the Club (uncredited)
A Night at the Ritz
as Vincent's Assistant (uncredited)
A Night at the Ritz
as Vincent's Assistant (uncredited)
A Lost Lady
as Polo Match Spectator (uncredited)
A Lost Lady
as Polo Match Spectator (uncredited)
Desirable
as Party Guest
Desirable
as Party Guest
Smarty
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Smarty
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Stage Mother
as Audience Member / Dexter's Party Guest (uncredited)
Stage Mother
as Audience Member / Dexter's Party Guest (uncredited)
Private Detective 62
as Man at Roulette Table (Uncredited)
Private Detective 62
as Man at Roulette Table (Uncredited)
Cocktail Hour
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Cocktail Hour
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Little Giant
as Guest at Polly's Party (uncredited)
The Little Giant
as Guest at Polly's Party (uncredited)
The Mummy
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Mummy
as Party Guest (uncredited)
A Successful Calamity
as Polo Player (uncredited)
A Successful Calamity
as Polo Player (uncredited)
Scarface
as Man Outside Theatre (uncredited)
Scarface
as Man Outside Theatre (uncredited)
Vanity Fair
as Bit Role
Vanity Fair
as Bit Role
Working Girls
as Dance Extra / Lobby Extra (uncredited)
Working Girls
as Dance Extra / Lobby Extra (uncredited)
West of Broadway
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
West of Broadway
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Broadminded
as Hotel Guest on Veranda
Broadminded
as Hotel Guest on Veranda
Let's Do Things
as Music Store Customer (uncredited)
Let's Do Things
as Music Store Customer (uncredited)
Born to Love
as Hotel Dancer (uncredited)
Born to Love
as Hotel Dancer (uncredited)
What Men Want
as Party Boy
What Men Want
as Party Boy
Double Cross Roads
as Party Guest
Double Cross Roads
as Party Guest
The Girl Said No
as Wedding Guest
The Girl Said No
as Wedding Guest
Night Parade
as Party Guest
Night Parade
as Party Guest
The Boy Friend
as Gordon Elliot
The Boy Friend
as Gordon Elliot
The Private Life of Helen of Troy
as Telemachus
The Private Life of Helen of Troy
as Telemachus
The Arizona Wildcat
as Roy Schyler
The Arizona Wildcat
as Roy Schyler
Children of Divorce
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Children of Divorce
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Plastic Age
as Athlete (uncredited)
The Plastic Age
as Athlete (uncredited)