Denver Pyle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Denver Dell Pyle (May 11, 1920 – December 25, 1997) was an American film and television actor. He was known for portraying Briscoe Darling Jr. in several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, and playing Jesse Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard from 1979-85. Pyle was born in Bethune, Colorado on May 11, 1920 to farmer Ben H. Pyle and his wife Maude; His brother, Willis, was an animator known for his work with Walt Disney Animation Studios and UPA. After graduating from high school, Pyle briefly attended Colorado State University, but dropped out to enter show business, moving to Los Angeles in 1940. He worked as a drummer and band member until the United States entered World War II, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Pyle was wounded in action in the Battle of Guadalcanal and received a medical discharge in 1942. Near the end of the war, he served in the United States Merchant Marine. In 1955, Pyle married Marilee Carpenter, a production assistant at 20th Century Fox. They had sons David and Tony. Marilee and Denver divorced in 1970. In 1983, Pyle married Tippie Johnston. That union lasted until his death. Pyle died of lung cancer on Christmas 1997. Memorial services were held January 6, 1998, at First Baptist Church in Waxahachie, Texas. He is buried in an unmarked grave at the Forreston Cemetery in Forreston, Texas. His remains are interred beside those of his second wife's parents, J.T. Johnston and Erin Birch Johnston. CLR
Filmography
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!
as Uncle Jesse Duke
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!
as Uncle Jesse Duke
Father and Scout
as George Rosebrock
Father and Scout
as George Rosebrock
Maverick
as Old Gambler on Riverboat
Maverick
as Old Gambler on Riverboat
Delta Fever
as Walt
Delta Fever
as Walt
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
as Self
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
as Self
Return from Witch Mountain
as Uncle Bene
Return from Witch Mountain
as Uncle Bene
Legend of the Northwest
as Abner
Legend of the Northwest
as Abner
Guardian of the Wilderness
as Galen Clark
Guardian of the Wilderness
as Galen Clark
Welcome to L.A.
as Carl Barber
Welcome to L.A.
as Carl Barber
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln
as Senator Austin
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln
as Senator Austin
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson
as The Indian Agent (McLaughlin)
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson
as The Indian Agent (McLaughlin)
Hawmps!
as Col. Seymour Hawkins
Hawmps!
as Col. Seymour Hawkins
The Adventures of Frontier Fremont
as Old mountain man
The Adventures of Frontier Fremont
as Old mountain man
Winterhawk
as Arkansas
Winterhawk
as Arkansas
The Boy Who Talked to Badgers
as Ben as an Adult
The Boy Who Talked to Badgers
as Ben as an Adult
Death Among Friends
as Morgan
Death Among Friends
as Morgan
Escape to Witch Mountain
as Uncle Bene
Escape to Witch Mountain
as Uncle Bene
Murder or Mercy
as Amos Champion
Murder or Mercy
as Amos Champion
The Legend of Hillbilly John
as Grandpappy John
The Legend of Hillbilly John
as Grandpappy John
Hog Wild
as Dr. Larson
Hog Wild
as Dr. Larson
Cahill: United States Marshal
as Denver
Cahill: United States Marshal
as Denver
Hitched
as Ben Barnstable
Hitched
as Ben Barnstable
Something Big
as Junior Frisbee
Something Big
as Junior Frisbee
Mean Justice
as Tom Rawling
Mean Justice
as Tom Rawling
5 Card Stud
as Sig Evers
5 Card Stud
as Sig Evers
Bandolero!
as Muncie Carter
Bandolero!
as Muncie Carter
Bonnie and Clyde
as Frank Hamer
Bonnie and Clyde
as Frank Hamer
Tammy and the Millionaire
as Grandpa Mordecai Tarleton
Tammy and the Millionaire
as Grandpa Mordecai Tarleton
Welcome to Hard Times
as Alfie - Stage Driver
Welcome to Hard Times
as Alfie - Stage Driver
Incident at Phantom Hill
as 1st Hunter
Incident at Phantom Hill
as 1st Hunter
Gunpoint
as Cap
Gunpoint
as Cap
Mara of the Wilderness
as Kelly
Mara of the Wilderness
as Kelly
The Great Race
as Sheriff
The Great Race
as Sheriff
Shenandoah
as Pastor Bjoerling
Shenandoah
as Pastor Bjoerling
The Rounders
as Bull
The Rounders
as Bull
Cheyenne Autumn
as Sen. Henry (uncredited)
Cheyenne Autumn
as Sen. Henry (uncredited)
Black Like Me
as Man in pick-up truck
Black Like Me
as Man in pick-up truck
Mail Order Bride
as Preacher Pope
Mail Order Bride
as Preacher Pope
Terrified
as Sheriff Dixon
Terrified
as Sheriff Dixon
Geronimo
as Senator Conrad
Geronimo
as Senator Conrad
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
as Amos Carruthers
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
as Amos Carruthers
The Alamo
as Thimblerig (the Gambler)
The Alamo
as Thimblerig (the Gambler)
Home from the Hill
as Mr. Bradley
Home from the Hill
as Mr. Bradley
Cast a Long Shadow
as Preacher Harrison
Cast a Long Shadow
as Preacher Harrison
The Horse Soldiers
as Jackie Jo
The Horse Soldiers
as Jackie Jo
King of the Wild Stallions
as MacGuire's Henchman
King of the Wild Stallions
as MacGuire's Henchman
Good Day for a Hanging
as Deputy Ed Moore
Good Day for a Hanging
as Deputy Ed Moore
The Party Crashers
as Mr. Bickford
The Party Crashers
as Mr. Bickford
Bitter Heritage
as Sam Wheeler
Bitter Heritage
as Sam Wheeler
China Doll
as Col. Wiley
China Doll
as Col. Wiley
The Lonely Man
as Brad, Red Bluff Sheriff
The Lonely Man
as Brad, Red Bluff Sheriff
Destination 60,000
as Mickey Hill
Destination 60,000
as Mickey Hill
Gun Duel in Durango
as Ranger Captain
Gun Duel in Durango
as Ranger Captain
Yaqui Drums
as Lefty Barr
Yaqui Drums
as Lefty Barr
I Killed Wild Bill Hickok
as Jim Bailey
I Killed Wild Bill Hickok
as Jim Bailey
Please Murder Me
as Det. Lt. Bradley
Please Murder Me
as Det. Lt. Bradley
Top Gun
as Hank Spencer (uncredited)
Top Gun
as Hank Spencer (uncredited)
Ten Wanted Men
Ten Wanted Men
Drum Beat
as Fairchild (uncredited)
Drum Beat
as Fairchild (uncredited)
Johnny Guitar
as Posseman (uncredited)
Johnny Guitar
as Posseman (uncredited)
The Boy from Oklahoma
as Bagley
The Boy from Oklahoma
as Bagley
Texas Bad Man
as Tench
Texas Bad Man
as Tench
Topeka
as Jonas Bailey
Topeka
as Jonas Bailey
Column South
as Confederate Spy in Yankee Uniform (uncredited)
Column South
as Confederate Spy in Yankee Uniform (uncredited)
Rebel City
as Greeley
Rebel City
as Greeley
A Perilous Journey
as Bartender
A Perilous Journey
as Bartender
Fort Vengeance
as Rider Warning About Wagon Train (uncredited)
Fort Vengeance
as Rider Warning About Wagon Train (uncredited)
The Maverick
as Bud Karnes
The Maverick
as Bud Karnes
Canyon Ambush
as Tom Carlton-Replaced (credit only)
Canyon Ambush
as Tom Carlton-Replaced (credit only)
Fargo
as Carey
Fargo
as Carey
Desert Passage
as Allen
Desert Passage
as Allen
Man from the Black Hills
as Glenn Hartley
Man from the Black Hills
as Glenn Hartley
Mutiny
as Gunner / Mutineer (uncredited)
Mutiny
as Gunner / Mutineer (uncredited)
Hills of Utah
as Bowie French
Hills of Utah
as Bowie French
Rough Riders of Durango
as Henchman Lacey
Rough Riders of Durango
as Henchman Lacey
The Old Frontier
as Henchman George
The Old Frontier
as Henchman George
Dynamite Pass
as Henchman
Dynamite Pass
as Henchman
Federal Agent at Large
as 'Jumpy' Jordan
Federal Agent at Large
as 'Jumpy' Jordan
Captain China
as Steve
Captain China
as Steve
The Flying Saucer
as Turner
The Flying Saucer
as Turner
The Big Wheel
as Track Intern
The Big Wheel
as Track Intern
Flame of Youth
as Lytz
Flame of Youth
as Lytz
Too Late for Tears
as Young Man at Union Station (uncredited)
Too Late for Tears
as Young Man at Union Station (uncredited)
Rim of the Canyon
as Cash Collins (uncredited)
Rim of the Canyon
as Cash Collins (uncredited)
Hellfire
as Rex
Hellfire
as Rex
Streets of San Francisco
as Ed Quinn
Streets of San Francisco
as Ed Quinn
El Paso
as Vigilante (uncredited)
El Paso
as Vigilante (uncredited)
The Man from Colorado
as Easy Jarrett (uncredited)
The Man from Colorado
as Easy Jarrett (uncredited)
The Man from Colorado
as Easy Jarrett (uncredited)
The Man from Colorado
as Easy Jarrett (uncredited)
Marshal of Amarillo
as The Night Clerk
Marshal of Amarillo
as The Night Clerk
Where the North Begins
as Jim Rockwell
Where the North Begins
as Jim Rockwell
Devil Ship
as Carl
Devil Ship
as Carl
The Guilt of Janet Ames
as Man in Opening Scene (uncredited)
The Guilt of Janet Ames
as Man in Opening Scene (uncredited)