Bill Elliott
Born
October 16, 1904
Died
November 26, 1965 (61 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Pattonsburg, Missouri, USA
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.
Known For
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
(archive footage)
1976
It's Showtime
Self (archive footage)
1976
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
1975
Adam-12
Officer Grant · (4 episodes)
1968
Footsteps in the Night
Andy Doyle
1957
Chain of Evidence
Andy Doyle
1957
Calling Homicide
Andy Doyle
1956
Sudden Danger
Andy Doyle
1955
Dial Red O
Andy Flynn / Andy Doyle
1955
The Forty-Niners
Sam Nelson
1954
Bitter Creek
Clay Tyndall (as Wild Bill Elliott)
1954
Vigilante Terror
Tack Hamlin
1953
Topeka
Jim Levering
1953
Rebel City
Frank Graham
1953
The Homesteaders
Mace Corbin
1953
The Maverick
Pete Devlin
1952
Fargo
Bill Martin
1952
Kansas Territory
Joe Daniels (as Wild Bill Elliott)
1952
Waco
Matt Boone (as Wild Bill Elliott)
1952
The Longhorn
Jim Kirk
1951
The Showdown
Shadrach Jones
1950
The Savage Horde
Ringo
1950
The Marshall of Trail City
Wild Bill Elliott
1950
Hellfire
Zeb Smith
1949
The Last Bandit
Frank Norris / Frank Plummer (as William Elliott)
1949
The Gallant Legion
Gary Conway
1948
Old Los Angeles
Bill Stockton (as William Elliott)
1948
The Fabulous Texan
Josie Allen
1947
Wyoming
Charles Alderson
1947
The Plainsman and the Lady
Sam Colton
1946
Conquest of Cheyenne
Red Ryder
1946
In Old Sacramento
Johnny Barrett / Spanish Jack
1946
Sun Valley Cyclone
Red Ryder
1946
Sheriff of Redwood Valley
Red Ryder (as Wild Bill Elliott)
1946
California Gold Rush
Red Ryder
1946
Wagon Wheels Westward
Red Ryder (as Wild Bill Elliott)
1945
Colorado Pioneers
Red Ryder (as Wild Bill Elliott)
1945
Marshal of Laredo
Red Ryder
1945
Phantom of the Plains
Red Ryder (as Wild Bill Elliott)
1945
Bells of Rosarita
Wild Bill Elliott
1945
Lone Texas Ranger
Red Ryder
1945
Great Stagecoach Robbery
Red Ryder
1945
Sheriff of Las Vegas
Red Ryder (as Wild Bill Elliott)
1944
Vigilantes of Dodge City
Red Ryder
1944
Cheyenne Wildcat
Red Ryder (as Wild Bill Elliott)
1944
San Antonio Kid
Red Ryder (as Wild Bill Elliott)
1944
Marshal of Reno
Red Ryder
1944
Tucson Raiders
Red Ryder
1944
Hidden Valley Outlaws
Bill Elliott
1944
Mojave Firebrand
Wild Bill Elliott (as Wild Bill Elliott)
1944
Death Valley Manhunt
Marshal Wild Bill Elliott (as Wild Bill Elliott)
1943
Overland Mail Robbery
Wild Bill Elliott
1943
Wagon Tracks West
Wild Bill Elliott
1943
Bordertown Gun Fighters
Wild Bill Elliott
1943
The Man from Thunder River
Wild Bill Elliott
1943
Calling Wild Bill Elliott
Wild Bill Elliott
1943
The Valley of Vanishing Men
Wild Bill Tolliver
1942
Vengeance of the West
Joaquin Murietta aka The Black Shadow
1942
Prairie Gunsmoke
'Wild' Bill Hickok
1942
The Devil's Trail
'Wild' Bill Hickok
1942
North of the Rockies
Sergeant Bill Cameron
1942
Bullets for Bandits
'Wild' Bill Hickok / Prince Katey
1942
The Lone Star Vigilantes
'Wild' Bill Hickok
1942
Roaring Frontiers
'Wild' Bill Hickok
1941
King of Dodge City
'Wild' Bill Hickok
1941
The Son of Davy Crockett
Dave Crockett
1941
Hands Across the Rockies
'Wild' Bill Hickok
1941
Tank Patrol
Bluey
1941
The Return of Daniel Boone
Wild Bill Boone
1941
North from the Lone Star
'Wild' Bill Hickok
1941
Across the Sierras
'Wild' Bill Hickok
1941
The Wildcat of Tucson
'Wild' Bill Hickok
1940
Beyond the Sacramento
'Wild' Bill Hickok
1940
Prairie Schooners
'Wild' Bill Hickok
1940
The Return of Wild Bill
Wild Bill Saunders
1940
The Man from Tumbleweeds
Wild Bill Saunders
1940
Pioneers of the Frontier
Wild Bill Saunders
1940
The Taming of the West
Wild Bill Saunders
1939
The Roaring Twenties
Bootlegger (uncredited)
1939
Overland with Kit Carson
Kit Carson
1939
The Law Comes to Texas
John Haynes
1939
Frontiers of '49
John Freeman
1939
In Early Arizona
Whit Gordon
1938
Letter of Introduction
Backgammon Man (uncredited)
1938
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
'Wild' Bill Hickok
1938
The Lady in the Morgue
Chauncey Courtland
1938
Boy of the Streets
Dr. Allan
1938
Love Takes Flight
Bill Parker
1937
Roll Along, Cowboy
Odie Fenton
1937
Boots and Saddles
Jim Neale
1937
Wife, Doctor and Nurse
Bruce Thomas
1937
You Can't Have Everything
Lulu's Bathing Companion (uncredited)
1937
Michael O'Halloran
Little Lord Fauntleroy (uncredited)
1937
Melody for Two
Walter Wilson
1937
Swing It Professor
Randall
1937
Midnight Court
City Attorney Seabrook
1937
Guns of the Pecos
Wellman, a Dude
1936
King of Hockey
2nd Radio Announcer
1936
Fugitive in the Sky
Ramon Duval
1936
Polo Joe
Don Trumbeau
1936
The Case of the Black Cat
Sam Laxter
1936
Down the Stretch
Robert Bates
1936
Trailin' West
Jefferson Duane
1936
China Clipper
Pilot (uncredited)
1936
Two Against the World
News Commentator (uncredited)
1936
The Case of the Velvet Claws
Carl Griffin
1936
The Big Noise
Sharp, Board of Directors Member (uncredited)
1936
Murder by an Aristocrat
Dave Thatcher (as Gordon Elliott)
1936
Bullets or Ballots
Hunter - Bank Worker (uncredited)
1936
Romance in the Air
Announcer
1936
The Murder of Dr. Harrigan
Kenneth Martin
1936
Dangerous
1935
Man of Iron
Charlie Fagan
1935
Broadway Hostess
Playboy in 'Playboy of Paree' Number (uncredited)
1935
Stars Over Broadway
Minor Role
1935
Moonlight on the Prairie
Jeff Holt
1935
Personal Maid's Secret
Warren Sherrill
1935
Dr. Socrates
Tom Collins - Greer's Associate
1935
The Goose and the Gander
Teddy
1935
Page Miss Glory
Reporter (uncredited)
1935
Broadway Gondolier
Reporter
1935
Bright Lights
Backstage Actor
1935
The Girl from 10th Avenue
James, Clerk at College Club
1935
'G' Men
Bootlegger Who Gives Eddie the Bottle Outside the Club (uncredited)
1935
Go Into Your Dance
Jackson's Secretary / Dorothy's Dance Partner
1935
Traveling Saleslady
Freddie
1935
A Night at the Ritz
Vincent's Assistant (uncredited)
1935
While the Patient Slept
Bank Teller (uncredited)
1935
The Woman in Red
Stuart Wyatt
1935
The Right to Live
Wedding Guest
1935
The Payoff
Maxine's Casino Escort (uncredited)
1935
The Secret Bride
Governor's Secretary (uncredited)
1934
Murder in the Clouds
Lt. Saunders
1934
A Lost Lady
Polo Match Spectator (uncredited)
1934
The Case of the Howling Dog
Reporter in Courtroom (uncredited)
1934
Desirable
Party Guest
1934
The Merry Frinks
Dancer (uncredited)
1934
Smarty
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1934
Registered Nurse
Male Nurse
1934
Wonder Bar
Norman (uncredited)
1934
Only Yesterday
New Year's Eve Reveler (Uncredited)
1933
Stage Mother
Audience Member / Dexter's Party Guest (uncredited)
1933
Handlebars
Bicyclist (uncredited)
1933
Midnight Mary
Party Guest (uncredited)
1933
Private Detective 62
Man at Roulette Table (Uncredited)
1933
Cocktail Hour
Party Guest (uncredited)
1933
Gold Diggers of 1933
Night Club Patron (uncredited)
1933
The Little Giant
Guest at Polly's Party (uncredited)
1933
Made on Broadway
Night Club Patron
1933
The Keyhole
Partygoer (uncredited)
1933
The Mummy
Party Guest (uncredited)
1932
Night After Night
Escort (uncredited)
1932
A Successful Calamity
Polo Player (uncredited)
1932
Jewel Robbery
Policeman Following Blonde (uncredited)
1932
Bachelor's Affairs
Ship's Passenger / Dance Extra (uncredited)
1932
Merrily We Go to Hell
Party Guest (uncredited)
1932
The Rich Are Always with Us
Gambler (uncredited)
1932
Scarface
Man Outside Theatre (uncredited)
1932
One Hour with You
Party Guest (uncredited)
1932
Vanity Fair
Bit Role
1932
Lady with a Past
Alex Brown (Uncredited)
1932
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
1932
Delicious
Larry's Friend
1931
Working Girls
Dance Extra / Lobby Extra (uncredited)
1931
West of Broadway
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1931
Platinum Blonde
Ann's Beau (uncredited)
1931
Left Over Ladies
Escort (uncredited)
1931
The Road to Reno
Party Boy
1931
Blonde Crazy
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1931
Traveling Husbands
Hotel Dining Room Guest
1931
Broadminded
Hotel Guest on Veranda
1931
The Public Defender
Country Club Guest
1931
Sweepstakes
Night Club Patron
1931
Five and Ten
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
1931
Let's Do Things
Music Store Customer (uncredited)
1931
Party Husband
Wedding Party Guest
1931
Born to Love
Hotel Dancer (uncredited)
1931
God's Gift to Women
Minor Role (uncredited)
1931
Going Wild
Physical Exam Onlooker
1930
Part Time Wife
Golfer (uncredited)
1930
Sunny
One of Tom's War Buddies
1930
The Truth About Youth
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1930
What Men Want
Party Boy
1930
She Who Gets Slapped
Poker Player
1930
Born Reckless
Customer at Beretti's
1930
The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu
1930
Double Cross Roads
Party Guest
1930
The Girl Said No
Wedding Guest
1930
Lord Byron of Broadway
Party-Goer
1930
She Couldn't Say No
Gangster
1930
Broadway Scandals
George Halloway
1929
Night Parade
Party Guest
1929
The Great Divide
Ruth's Friend (uncredited)
1929
Restless Youth
George Baxter
1928
The Boy Friend
Gordon Elliot
1928
The Private Life of Helen of Troy
Telemachus
1927
The Arizona Wildcat
Roy Schyler (as Gordon Elliott)
1927
The Drop Kick
Aggressive Student at Dance
1927
Children of Divorce
Party Guest (uncredited)
1927
Napoleon, Jr.
Flora's Father
1926
The Shamrock Handicap
Well-Wishing Villager
1926
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
1925
The Plastic Age
Athlete (uncredited)
1925