Bill Elliott

Bill Elliott

Biography: 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.

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: October 16, 1904

Deathday: November 26, 1965

Popularity:

5.995

Known For

Jewel Robbery
Jewel Robbery

1932-07-08

The Arizona Wildcat
The Arizona Wildcat

1927-11-20

Boots and Saddles
Boots and Saddles

1937-10-04

Five and Ten
Five and Ten

1931-06-13

Chain of Evidence
Chain of Evidence

1957-01-06

Calling Homicide
Calling Homicide

1956-09-30

Footsteps in the Night
Footsteps in the Night

1957-04-14

One Hour with You
One Hour with You

1932-03-23

Midnight Mary
Midnight Mary

1933-06-30

Night After Night
Night After Night

1932-10-29

Sudden Danger
Sudden Danger

1955-12-14

The Showdown
The Showdown

1950-08-15

The Murder of Dr. Harrigan
The Murder of Dr. Harrigan

1936-01-11

Michael O'Halloran
Michael O'Halloran

1937-05-15

Letter of Introduction
Letter of Introduction

1938-08-05

Wonder Bar
Wonder Bar

1934-03-31

The Return of Daniel Boone
The Return of Daniel Boone

1941-05-07

The Goose and the Gander
The Goose and the Gander

1935-09-21

The Case of the Velvet Claws
The Case of the Velvet Claws

1936-07-03

The Savage Horde
The Savage Horde

1950-05-22

Marshal of Reno
Marshal of Reno

1944-07-02

Sheriff of Redwood Valley
Sheriff of Redwood Valley

1946-03-29

San Antonio Kid
San Antonio Kid

1944-08-16

Tucson Raiders
Tucson Raiders

1944-05-14

The Girl from 10th Avenue
The Girl from 10th Avenue

1935-06-01

Broadway Scandals
Broadway Scandals

1929-11-10

The Fabulous Texan
The Fabulous Texan

1947-11-09

The Gallant Legion
The Gallant Legion

1948-05-24

Melody for Two
Melody for Two

1937-05-01

The Marshall of Trail City
The Marshall of Trail City

1950-05-10

The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

1938-06-30

The Drop Kick
The Drop Kick

1927-09-25

A Lost Lady
A Lost Lady

1934-09-29

Dr. Socrates
Dr. Socrates

1935-10-19

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

1976-05-01

The Plainsman and the Lady
The Plainsman and the Lady

1946-11-11

Swing It Professor
Swing It Professor

1937-03-13

Roll Along, Cowboy
Roll Along, Cowboy

1937-10-18

Boy of the Streets
Boy of the Streets

1938-01-08

Love Takes Flight
Love Takes Flight

1937-11-05

Polo Joe
Polo Joe

1936-11-04

Overland with Kit Carson
Overland with Kit Carson

1939-07-21

The Man from Tumbleweeds
The Man from Tumbleweeds

1940-05-02

The Private Life of Helen of Troy
The Private Life of Helen of Troy

1927-12-09

Phantom of the Plains
Phantom of the Plains

1945-09-07

The Valley of Vanishing Men
The Valley of Vanishing Men

1942-12-17

Dial Red O
Dial Red O

1955-03-13

The Greeks Had a Word for Them
The Greeks Had a Word for Them

1932-02-03

Bachelor's Affairs
Bachelor's Affairs

1932-06-26

The Lady in the Morgue
The Lady in the Morgue

1938-04-22

The Shamrock Handicap
The Shamrock Handicap

1926-05-02

The Girl Said No
The Girl Said No

1930-03-15

The Homesteaders
The Homesteaders

1953-03-22

The Forty-Niners
The Forty-Niners

1954-07-30

Murder by an Aristocrat
Murder by an Aristocrat

1936-06-13

Lone Texas Ranger
Lone Texas Ranger

1945-05-20

Lord Byron of Broadway
Lord Byron of Broadway

1930-02-28

The Boy Friend
The Boy Friend

1928-11-10

Restless Youth
Restless Youth

1928-11-30

The Return of Wild Bill
The Return of Wild Bill

1940-06-26

Fargo
Fargo

1952-09-07

Part Time Wife
Part Time Wife

1930-11-30

Hellfire
Hellfire

1949-05-29

God's Gift to Women
God's Gift to Women

1931-04-13

Let's Do Things
Let's Do Things

1931-06-06

Registered Nurse
Registered Nurse

1934-04-06

Broadminded
Broadminded

1931-08-01

You Can't Have Everything
You Can't Have Everything

1937-08-02

Traveling Husbands
Traveling Husbands

1931-08-15

Broadway Gondolier
Broadway Gondolier

1935-07-27

Death Valley Manhunt
Death Valley Manhunt

1943-11-25

Hands Across the Rockies
Hands Across the Rockies

1941-06-19

Bordertown Gun Fighters
Bordertown Gun Fighters

1943-07-08

The Right to Live
The Right to Live

1935-01-26

Broadway Hostess
Broadway Hostess

1935-12-07

Sweepstakes
Sweepstakes

1931-07-10

The Great Divide
The Great Divide

1929-09-15

Fugitive in the Sky
Fugitive in the Sky

1936-11-28

Desirable
Desirable

1934-09-08

Sunny
Sunny

1930-11-09

Going Wild
Going Wild

1930-12-21

The Case of the Black Cat
The Case of the Black Cat

1936-10-31

Dangerous
Dangerous

1935-12-25

Personal Maid's Secret
Personal Maid's Secret

1935-10-26

Hidden Valley Outlaws
Hidden Valley Outlaws

1944-04-01

Stage Mother
Stage Mother

1933-09-29

Stars Over Broadway
Stars Over Broadway

1935-11-23

The Big Noise
The Big Noise

1936-06-22

Guns of the Pecos
Guns of the Pecos

1936-12-28

The Public Defender
The Public Defender

1931-08-01

Night Parade
Night Parade

1929-10-27

Born to Love
Born to Love

1931-04-17

Vigilantes of Dodge City
Vigilantes of Dodge City

1944-11-15

The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu
The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu

1930-05-02

King of Hockey
King of Hockey

1936-12-19

The Son of Davy Crockett
The Son of Davy Crockett

1941-07-15

The Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties

1939-10-28

Across the Sierras
Across the Sierras

1941-02-13

Sheriff of Las Vegas
Sheriff of Las Vegas

1944-12-31

While the Patient Slept
While the Patient Slept

1935-03-09

Lady with a Past
Lady with a Past

1932-02-19

Prairie Gunsmoke
Prairie Gunsmoke

1942-07-16

Frontiers of '49
Frontiers of '49

1939-01-19

Midnight Court
Midnight Court

1937-03-06

The Devil's Trail
The Devil's Trail

1942-05-14

The Mummy
The Mummy

1932-12-22

Pioneers of the Frontier
Pioneers of the Frontier

1940-02-14

Traveling Saleslady
Traveling Saleslady

1935-03-28

Man of Iron
Man of Iron

1935-12-21

The Wildcat of Tucson
The Wildcat of Tucson

1940-12-31

Wagon Tracks West
Wagon Tracks West

1943-08-18

Prairie Schooners
Prairie Schooners

1940-09-29

Trailin' West
Trailin' West

1936-09-04

The Secret Bride
The Secret Bride

1934-12-22

The Woman in Red
The Woman in Red

1935-02-16

Handlebars
Handlebars

1933-08-26

Calling Wild Bill Elliott
Calling Wild Bill Elliott

1943-04-30

Moonlight on the Prairie
Moonlight on the Prairie

1935-11-02

The Payoff
The Payoff

1935-01-09

Down the Stretch
Down the Stretch

1936-09-18

In Old Sacramento
In Old Sacramento

1946-05-31

The Little Giant
The Little Giant

1933-05-20

Gold Diggers of 1933
Gold Diggers of 1933

1933-05-27

Waco
Waco

1952-02-24

Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory

1952-05-04

The Maverick
The Maverick

1952-12-14

Wife, Doctor and Nurse
Wife, Doctor and Nurse

1937-09-17

Delicious
Delicious

1931-12-27

A Night at the Ritz
A Night at the Ritz

1935-03-23

Beyond the Sacramento
Beyond the Sacramento

1940-11-11

Bright Lights
Bright Lights

1935-07-27

The Truth About Youth
The Truth About Youth

1930-11-03

Children of Divorce
Children of Divorce

1927-04-25

Vengeance of the West
Vengeance of the West

1942-08-16

The Longhorn
The Longhorn

1951-11-25

Marshal of Laredo
Marshal of Laredo

1945-10-06

Cheyenne Wildcat
Cheyenne Wildcat

1944-09-30

Great Stagecoach Robbery
Great Stagecoach Robbery

1945-02-15

Colorado Pioneers
Colorado Pioneers

1945-11-14

Wagon Wheels Westward
Wagon Wheels Westward

1945-12-21

California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush

1946-02-04

Sun Valley Cyclone
Sun Valley Cyclone

1946-05-10

Conquest of Cheyenne
Conquest of Cheyenne

1946-07-29

The Man from Thunder River
The Man from Thunder River

1943-06-11

North of the Rockies
North of the Rockies

1942-04-02

North from the Lone Star
North from the Lone Star

1941-03-30

Roaring Frontiers
Roaring Frontiers

1941-10-15

The Lone Star Vigilantes
The Lone Star Vigilantes

1942-01-01

She Who Gets Slapped
She Who Gets Slapped

1930-05-15

Bullets for Bandits
Bullets for Bandits

1942-02-12

Overland Mail Robbery
Overland Mail Robbery

1943-11-20

King of Dodge City
King of Dodge City

1941-08-14

Mojave Firebrand
Mojave Firebrand

1944-03-19

Bells of Rosarita
Bells of Rosarita

1945-06-19

The Road to Reno
The Road to Reno

1931-09-25

Wyoming
Wyoming

1947-07-28

Old Los Angeles
Old Los Angeles

1948-04-24

The Last Bandit
The Last Bandit

1949-02-25

Rebel City
Rebel City

1953-05-10

Topeka
Topeka

1953-08-09

Vigilante Terror
Vigilante Terror

1953-11-15

Bitter Creek
Bitter Creek

1954-02-21

Tank Patrol
Tank Patrol

1941-06-16

Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair

1932-03-15

Left Over Ladies
Left Over Ladies

1931-09-30

Working Girls
Working Girls

1931-12-12

Party Husband
Party Husband

1931-06-06

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

1975-08-06

What Men Want
What Men Want

1930-07-12

Murder in the Clouds
Murder in the Clouds

1934-12-15

The Plastic Age
The Plastic Age

1925-12-15

Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday

1933-11-01

It's Showtime
It's Showtime

1976-03-31

The Case of the Howling Dog
The Case of the Howling Dog

1934-09-22

'G' Men
'G' Men

1935-05-04

Page Miss Glory
Page Miss Glory

1935-09-07

The Rich Are Always with Us
The Rich Are Always with Us

1932-05-19

The Keyhole
The Keyhole

1933-03-25

Blonde Crazy
Blonde Crazy

1931-09-16

Scarface
Scarface

1932-04-09

Bullets or Ballots
Bullets or Ballots

1936-06-06

Two Against the World
Two Against the World

1936-07-11

China Clipper
China Clipper

1936-08-11

The Merry Frinks
The Merry Frinks

1934-05-26

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

1925-12-25

Go Into Your Dance
Go Into Your Dance

1935-04-20

Merrily We Go to Hell
Merrily We Go to Hell

1932-06-10

A Successful Calamity
A Successful Calamity

1932-09-17

The Taming of the West
The Taming of the West

1939-12-07

Smarty
Smarty

1934-05-19

Private Detective 62
Private Detective 62

1933-06-10

Napoleon, Jr.
Napoleon, Jr.

1926-11-14

She Couldn't Say No
She Couldn't Say No

1930-02-15

Platinum Blonde
Platinum Blonde

1931-10-31

Cocktail Hour
Cocktail Hour

1933-06-05

Made on Broadway
Made on Broadway

1933-05-19

In Early Arizona
In Early Arizona

1938-11-02

The Law Comes to Texas
The Law Comes to Texas

1939-04-16