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Ben Johnson Biography (1918-1996)

Born June 13, 1918, in Foraker (one source spells name Foracre), OK; died April 8, 1996, in Mesa, AZ; son of Ben (a rancher) and Ollie Susan (Workman) Johnson; married Carol Jones, August 31, 1941 (died, 1994).

Gender

Male

Occupation

actor, acting double, director, stuntman, animal wrangler

Birth Details

June 13, 1918

Foraker, Oklahoma, United States

Death Details

April 8, 1996

Mesa, Arizona, United States

Famous Works

• Credits;Film Appearances
• Double for Tom Tyler, Riders of the Rio Grande, Republic, 1943.
• Border Town Gunfighters, 1943.
• Nevada, RKO, 1944.
• Hack driver, Naughty Nineties, Universal, 1945.
• Double for Fred MacMurray, Smoky, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1946.
• Posse member, Badman's Territory, RKO, 1946.
• Double for Bill Elliott, Wyoming, Republic, 1947.
• Double for Bill Elliott, The Gallant Legion, Republic, 1948.
• Double for John Wayne, Fort Apache (also known as War Party), RKO, 1948.
• Posse member, The Three Godfathers (also known as 3 Godfathers), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1948.
• Gregg Johnson, Mighty Joe Young (also known as Mr. Joe Young of Africa),Argosy, 1949.
• Sergeant Tyree, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, RKO, 1949.
• Travis Blue, Wagonmaster (also known as Wagon Master), RKO, 1950.
• Travis Tyree, Rio Grande (also known as Rio Bravo and Rio Bravo, Rio Grande Command), Republic, 1950.
• Ben Shelby, Fort Defiance, United Artists, 1951.
• Dan Light, Wild Stallion, Monogram, 1952.
• Chris Calloway, Shane, Paramount, 1953.
• Simba (also known as Simga--Mark of Mau Mau!), Lippert, 1955.
• Frank Mason, Rebel in Town, United Artists, 1956.
• Fargo, War Drums, United Artists, 1957.
• Montana Buriss, Slim Carter, Universal, 1957.
• Captain Thomas "Tomahawk" Thompson, Fort Bowie, United Artists, 1958.
• George Bradley, Ten Who Dared, Buena Vista, 1960.
• Bob Amory, One-Eyed Jacks, Paramount, 1961.
• Jim, Tomboy and the Champ, Universal, 1961.
• Trooper Plumtree, Cheyenne Autumn, Warner Bros., 1964.
• Sergeant Chillum, Major Dundee, Columbia, 1965.
• Jeff Harter, The Rare Breed, Universal, 1966.
• Alex, Will Penny, Paramount, 1967.
• Dave Bliss, Hang 'em High, United Artists, 1968.
• Tector Gorch, The Wild Bunch, Warner Bros., 1969.
• Short Grub, The Undefeated, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1969.
• James Pepper, Chisum, Warner Bros., 1970.
• Jesse Bookbinder, Something Big, National General, 1971.
• Sam the Lion, The Last Picture Show, Columbia, 1971.
• Spinner, The Bull of the West (also known as Hot Lead), 1971.
• Boland, Corky (also known as Lookin' Good), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1972.
• Buck Roan, Junior Bonner, Cinerama, 1972.
• Jack Benyon, The Getaway, National General, 1972.
• Sheriff "Mean John" Simpson, Kid Blue, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1973.
• Melvin H. Purvis, Dillinger, American International Pictures, 1973.
• Will Jesse, The Train Robbers, Warner Bros., 1973.
• Captain Harland Tanner, The Sugarland Express, Universal, 1974.
• Pop, Bite the Bullet, Columbia, 1975.
• Martin Hollinger, Hustle, Paramount, 1975.
• Nathan Pearce, Breakheart Pass, United Artists, 1976.
• Faraday Hollis, The Greatest, Columbia, 1977.
• Captain J. D. "Lone Wolf" Morales, The Town That Dreaded Sundown, American International Pictures, 1977.
• John Colter, Gray Eagle, American International Pictures, 1977.
• Felix Austin, The Swarm, Warner Bros., 1978.
• Sheriff John Strong, The Hunter, Paramount, 1980.
• Carne, Terror Train (also known as Train of Terror), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1980.
• Sam Gorch, Soggy Bottom U.S.A. (also known as Swamp Rats), Gaylord, 1981.
• Sam Bellows, Ruckus (also known as The Loner and Ruckus in Madoc County),New World, 1981.
• Cole Collins, Tex, Buena Vista, 1982.
• Jack Mason, Red Dawn, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1984.
• Burly Cocks, Champions, Embassy, 1984.
• Six-finger Jake, Cherry 2000, Orion, 1985.
• Trespasses (also known as Finding Katie and Omen of Evil), {New Zealand and the United States}, 1987.
• Mr. Burck Sr., Let's Get Harry (also known as The Rescue), TriStar/DelphiIV&V, 1987.
• Sheriff, Dark before Dawn, PSM Entertainment, 1988.
• Eli Hix, Back to Back, Concorde/Vertex, 1990.
• Jessie Dalton, My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, Samuel Goldwyn, 1991.
• Geronimo Bill, Radio Flyer, Columbia, 1992.
• Warren Oates: Across the Border (documentary), 1993.
• Hank Murphy, Angels in the Outfield (also known as Angels), Buena Vista,1994.
• The Legend of O. B. Taggert, Northern Arts Entertainment, 1995.
• Arthur Cotton, The Evening Star, Paramount, 1996.
• Himself, Ben Johnson: Third Cowboy on the Right (documentary), FBN, 1996.
• Credits;Film Work
• Horse wrangler, The Outlaw, RKO, 1943.
• Stuntperson, Fort Apache (also known as War Party), RKO, 1948.
• Director, The Last Ride (short), 1989.
• Credits;Television Appearances; Series
• Sleeve, The Monroes, ABC, 1966-67.
• Credits;Television Appearances; Miniseries
• Jim Bridger, Dream West, CBS, 1986.
• Credits;Television Appearances; Movies
• Holly Gibson, Runaway!, ABC, 1973.
• Dwayne Birdsong, Blood Sport (also known as Poetry in Motion), ABC, 1973.
• Amos Fletcher, Locusts, ABC, 1974.
• Sheriff Donald McKew, The Savage Bees, NBC, 1976.
• Cap Roundtree, The Sacketts, NBC, 1979.
• Doc George P. Bogardus, Wild Times, syndicated, 1980.
• Black Jack Traven, The Shadow Riders (also known as Louis L'Amour's The Shadow Riders), CBS, 1982.
• Bill Ward, Wild Horses, CBS, 1985.
• Vern Whitman, Stranger on My Land, ABC, 1988.
• John Laurienti, The Chase, 1991.
• Bronc Evans, Bonanza: The Return, NBC, 1993.
• Bronc Evans, Bonanza: Under Attack, NBC, 1995.
• Big Man, Ruby Jean and Joe, Showtime, 1996.
• Credits;Television Appearances; Episodic
• Tex Barton, "Top Gun," Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, ABC, 1958.
• Sheriff, "And the Desert Shall Bloom," Alfred Hitchcock Presents, CBS, 1958.
• Billy Pardee, "Hour After Dawn," Laramie, NBC, 1960.
• John Anderson, "A Head of Hair," Have Gun Will Travel, CBS, 1960.
• Sam Crabbe, "The Race," Have Gun Will Travel, CBS, 1961.
• "Like a Motherless Child," Route 66, CBS, 1961.
• "Point of Honor," Stoney Burke, ABC, 1962.
• Del McNabb, "A Long Piece of Mischief," Route 66, CBS, 1962.
• Stan, "The Gamble," Bonanza, NBC, 1962.
• John Bartlett, "The Fifth Bullet," Have Gun Will Travel, CBS, 1962.
• Spinner, "Duel at Shiloh," The Virginian, NBC, 1963.
• Ben Crown, "Quint-Cident," Gunsmoke, CBS, 1963.
• "The Case of the Reckless Rock Hound," Perry Mason, CBS, 1964.
• "Dangerous Road," The Virginian, NBC, 1965.
• Burt Wade, "March from Camp Tyler," Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater, NBC, 1965.
• Bill Latigo, "McCord's Way," Branded, NBC, 1966.
• Vern Morland, "Quaker Girl," Gunsmoke, CBS, 1966.
• Hogan, "Johnny Moon," The Virginian, NBC, 1967.
• Jed Cooper, "A Vision of Blindness," The Virginian, NBC, 1968.
• Will Parker, "Ride a Northbound Horse," Wonderful World of Disney, NBC, 1969.
• Samuel Bellis, "The Deserter," Bonanza, NBC, 1969.
• Kelly James, "Top Hand," Bonanza, NBC, 1971.
• Hannon, "Drago," Gunsmoke, CBS, 1971.
• Guest, The Red Fisher Show, 1979.
• Credits;Television Appearances; Specials
• Jess Taylor, The Red Pony, NBC, 1973.
• Will Parker, "Ride a Northbound Horse," WonderWorks, PBS, 1987.
• "Legends of the American West," Time Machine with Jack Perkins, Arts andEntertainment, 1992.
• Credits;Radio Appearances; Episodic
• Appeared as a guest on a program on KIKK (Houston, TX), c. 1976.

Further Reference

Periodicals:

• Entertainment Weekly, April 19, 1996, p. 17.
• People Weekly, April 22, 1996, p. 103.
• Time, April 22, 1996, p. 33.