Ben Johnson (actor) : biography
He portrayed the character Cap Roundtree in the 1979 miniseries The Sacketts.
He also co-starred in 1994 version of Angels in the Outfield.
He also continued ranching during the entire time, operating a horse-breeding ranch in Sylmar, California. In addition, he sponsored the Ben Johnson Pro Celebrity Team Roping and Penning competition, held in Oklahoma City, the proceeds of which are donated to both the Children’s Medical Research Inc., and to the Children’s Hospital of Oklahoma.
Filmography
Film | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1943 | 3 Godfathers | Posse Man #1 | |
1949 | Mighty Joe Young | Gregg | |
1949 | She Wore a Yellow Ribbon | Sgt. Tyree | |
1950 | Rio Grande | Trooper Tyree | |
1950 | Wagon Master | Travis Blue | |
1953 | Shane | Chris Calloway | |
1961 | One-Eyed Jacks | Bob Emory | |
1964 | Cheyenne Autumn | ||
1965 | Major Dundee | Sergeant Chillum | |
1968 | Hang ‘Em High | Marshal Dave Bliss | |
1969 | The Wild Bunch | Tector Gorch | |
1971 | The Last Picture Show | Sam The Lion | |
1972 | The Getaway | Jack Beynon | |
1972 | Junior Bonner | Buck Roan | |
1973 | Dillinger | Melvin Purvis | |
1975 | Bite the Bullet | Mister | |
1975 | Breakheart Pass | Pearce | |
1980 | ‘Soggy Bottom U. S. A. | Sheriff Isum Gorch | |
1984 | Red Dawn | Mr. Jack Mason | |
1987 | Cherry 2000 | Six-Fingered Jake |
Death and legacy
Johnson continued to work almost steadily until his death from a heart attack at the age of 77. On April 8, 1996, the veteran actor collapsed while visiting his 96 year-old mother Ollie, at Leisure World in Mesa, Arizona, the suburban Phoenix retirement community where they both lived.
Johnson’s mother Ollie Susan Workmon Johnson-Rider (surname from 2nd husband Fredie Fay Rider -d.1970), died a few years after her famed actor son, on October 16, 2000. Ollie Rider was 101.
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Johnson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7083 Hollywood Blvd. In 1982, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. In 1996 Tom Thurman made a documentary film about Johnson’s life, titled Ben Johnson: Third Cowboy on the Right, written by Thurman and Tom Marksbury.
The Ben Johnson Memorial Steer Roping and the International Roundup Cavalcade, the world’s largest amateur rodeo are held annually in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.May, Jon D. Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. "Pawhuska". Retrieved Februar 16, 2013.
Personal life
Johnson was born in Foraker, Oklahoma, on the Osage Indian Reservation, of Irish and Cherokee ancestry,Thurman, Tom. – . – IMDbErickson, Hal. – . – Allmovie the son of Ollie Susan (née Workmon) and Ben Johnson, Sr., Osage County, Oklahoma USGenWeb Project hosted by Rootsweb.com His father was a rancher in Osage County and also a rodeo champion. As a young man, Johnson was a ranch hand and travelled with his father on the rodeo circuit. He was a star in rodeo before becoming involved in the movies. He was the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Team Roping World Champion in 1953.http://www.prorodeo.com/champions.aspx?xu=50 After winning the title, he discovered that, after travel and expenses, he broke even for the year. Johnson was inducted into the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1973.
Johnson married Carol Elaine Jones in 1941, and they were married for 53 years until her death on March 27, 1994. The couple had no children. Carol Jones was the daughter of noted Hollywood horse wrangler Clarence "Fat" Jones.
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