Acting
Bill Elliott
EN, NL cinema · 207 credits
Born
16 October 1904
Died
26 November 1965 (aged 61)
Birthplace
Pattonsburg, Missouri, USA
Also known as Wild Bill Elliott · Gordon Nance · Gordon Eliott · 'Wild' Bill Elliot · Gordon Elliott · William 'Wild Bill' Elliott
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
Filmography
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
as (archive footage)
It's Showtime
as Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
Chain of Evidence
as Andy Doyle
Footsteps in the Night
as Andy Doyle
Calling Homicide
as Andy Doyle
Sudden Danger
as Andy Doyle
Dial Red O
as Andy Flynn / Andy Doyle
The Forty-Niners
as Sam Nelson
Bitter Creek
as Clay Tyndall
The Homesteaders
as Mace Corbin
Rebel City
as Frank Graham
Topeka
as Jim Levering
Vigilante Terror
as Tack Hamlin
Fargo
as Bill Martin
Kansas Territory
as Joe Daniels
Waco
as Matt Boone
The Maverick
as Pete Devlin
The Longhorn
as Jim Kirk
The Showdown
as Shadrach Jones
The Savage Horde
as Ringo
The Marshall of Trail City
as Wild Bill Elliott
Hellfire
as Zeb Smith
The Last Bandit
as Frank Norris / Frank Plummer
The Gallant Legion
as Gary Conway
Old Los Angeles
as Bill Stockton
The Fabulous Texan
as Josie Allen
Wyoming
as Charles Alderson
Sheriff of Redwood Valley
as Red Ryder
The Plainsman and the Lady
as Sam Colton
In Old Sacramento
as Johnny Barrett / Spanish Jack
Sun Valley Cyclone
as Red Ryder
California Gold Rush
as Red Ryder
Conquest of Cheyenne
as Red Ryder
Phantom of the Plains
as Red Ryder
Lone Texas Ranger
as Red Ryder
Great Stagecoach Robbery
as Red Ryder
Marshal of Laredo
as Red Ryder
Colorado Pioneers
as Red Ryder
Wagon Wheels Westward
as Red Ryder
Bells of Rosarita
as Wild Bill Elliott
Marshal of Reno
as Red Ryder
San Antonio Kid
as Red Ryder
Tucson Raiders
as Red Ryder
Hidden Valley Outlaws
as Bill Elliott
Vigilantes of Dodge City
as Red Ryder
Sheriff of Las Vegas
as Red Ryder
Cheyenne Wildcat
as Red Ryder
Mojave Firebrand
as Wild Bill Elliott
Death Valley Manhunt
as Wild Bill Elliott
Bordertown Gun Fighters
as Wild Bill Elliott
Wagon Tracks West
as Wild Bill Elliott
Calling Wild Bill Elliott
as Wild Bill Elliott
The Man from Thunder River
as Wild Bill Elliott
Overland Mail Robbery
as Wild Bill Elliott
The Valley of Vanishing Men
as Wild Bill Tolliver
Prairie Gunsmoke
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
The Devil's Trail
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
Vengeance of the West
as Joaquin Murietta aka The Black Shadow
North of the Rockies
as Sergeant Bill Cameron
The Lone Star Vigilantes
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
Bullets for Bandits
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok / Prince Katey
The Return of Daniel Boone
as Wild Bill Boone
Hands Across the Rockies
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
The Son of Davy Crockett
as Dave Crockett
Across the Sierras
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
Roaring Frontiers
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
North from the Lone Star
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
King of Dodge City
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
The Man from Tumbleweeds
as Wild Bill Saunders
The Return of Wild Bill
as Wild Bill Saunders
Pioneers of the Frontier
as Wild Bill Saunders
The Wildcat of Tucson
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
Prairie Schooners
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
Beyond the Sacramento
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
Overland with Kit Carson
as Kit Carson
The Roaring Twenties
as Bootlegger (uncredited)
Frontiers of '49
as John Freeman
Taming of the West
as Wild Bill Saunders
The Law Comes to Texas
as John Haynes
Lone Star Pioneers
as Pat Barret
Letter of Introduction
as Backgammon Man (uncredited)
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
as 'Wild' Bill Hickok
Boy of the Streets
as Dr. Allan
The Lady in the Morgue
as Chauncey Courtland
In Early Arizona
as Whit Gordon
Boots and Saddles
as Jim Neale
Michael O'Halloran
as Little Lord Fauntleroy (uncredited)
Melody for Two
as Walter Wilson
Roll Along, Cowboy
as Odie Fenton
Love Takes Flight
as Bill Parker
You Can't Have Everything
as Lulu's Bathing Companion (uncredited)
Midnight Court
as City Attorney Seabrook
Wife, Doctor and Nurse
as Bruce Thomas
Speed to Spare
as Steve Fellows
The Murder of Dr. Harrigan
as Kenneth Martin
The Case of the Velvet Claws
as Carl Griffin
Polo Joe
as Don Trumbeau
Murder by an Aristocrat
as Dave Thatcher
Fugitive in the Sky
as Ramon Duval
The Case of the Black Cat
as Sam Laxter
The Big Noise
as Sharp, Board of Directors Member (uncredited)
Guns of the Pecos
as Wellman, a Dude
King of Hockey
as 2nd Radio Announcer
Trailin' West
as Jefferson Duane
Down the Stretch
as Robert Bates
Bullets or Ballots
as Hunter - Bank Worker (uncredited)
Two Against the World
as News Commentator (uncredited)
China Clipper
as Pilot (uncredited)
Romance in the Air
as Announcer
The Girl from 10th Avenue
as James, Clerk at College Club
Dr. Socrates
as Tom Collins - Greer's Associate
Broadway Gondolier
as Reporter
The Right to Live
as Wedding Guest
Broadway Hostess
as Playboy in 'Playboy of Paree' Number (uncredited)
Personal Maid's Secret
as Warren Sherrill
Stars Over Broadway
as Minor Role
While the Patient Slept
as Bank Teller (uncredited)
Traveling Saleslady
as Freddie
Man of Iron
as Charlie Fagan
The Woman in Red
as Stuart Wyatt
Moonlight on the Prairie
as Jeff Holt
The Payoff
as Maxine's Casino Escort (uncredited)
A Night at the Ritz
as Vincent's Assistant (uncredited)
Bright Lights
as Backstage Actor
'G' Men
as Bootlegger Who Gives Eddie the Bottle Outside the Club (uncredited)
Page Miss Glory
as Reporter (uncredited)
Go Into Your Dance
as Jackson's Secretary / Dorothy's Dance Partner
Wonder Bar
as Norman (uncredited)
A Lost Lady
as Polo Match Spectator (uncredited)
Registered Nurse
as Male Nurse
Desirable
as Party Guest
The Secret Bride
as Governor's Secretary (uncredited)
Murder in the Clouds
as Lt. Saunders (uncredited)
The Case of the Howling Dog
as Reporter in Courtroom (uncredited)
The Merry Frinks
as Dancer (uncredited)
Smarty
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Upperworld
as Police Photographer (uncredited)
Midnight Mary
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Stage Mother
as Audience Member / Dexter's Party Guest (uncredited)
Handlebars
as Bicyclist (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933
as Night Club Patron (uncredited)
The Little Giant
as Guest at Polly's Party (uncredited)
Only Yesterday
as New Year's Eve Reveler (Uncredited)
The Keyhole
as Partygoer (uncredited)
Private Detective 62
as Man at Roulette Table (Uncredited)
Cocktail Hour
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Made on Broadway
as Night Club Patron
Jewel Robbery
as Policeman Following Blonde (uncredited)
One Hour with You
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Night After Night
as Escort (uncredited)
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Bachelor's Affairs
as Ship's Passenger / Dance Extra (uncredited)
Lady with a Past
as Alex Brown (Uncredited)
The Mummy
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Vanity Fair
as Bit Role
The Rich Are Always with Us
as Gambler (uncredited)
Scarface
as Man Outside Theatre (uncredited)
Merrily We Go to Hell
as Party Guest (uncredited)
A Successful Calamity
as Polo Player (uncredited)
Five and Ten
as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
God's Gift to Women
as Minor Role (uncredited)
Let's Do Things
as Music Store Customer (uncredited)
Broadminded
as Hotel Guest on Veranda
Traveling Husbands
as Hotel Dining Room Guest
Sweepstakes
as Night Club Patron
The Public Defender
as Country Club Guest
Born to Love
as Hotel Dancer (uncredited)
Delicious
as Larry's Friend
The Road to Reno
as Party Boy
Left Over Ladies
as Escort (uncredited)
Working Girls
as Dance Extra / Lobby Extra (uncredited)
Party Husband
as Wedding Party Guest
Blonde Crazy
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Platinum Blonde
as Ann's Beau (uncredited)
West of Broadway
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
The Girl Said No
as Wedding Guest
Lord Byron of Broadway
as Party-Goer
Part Time Wife
as Golfer (uncredited)
Sunny
as One of Tom's War Buddies
Going Wild
as Physical Exam Onlooker
The Truth About Youth
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
She Who Gets Slapped
as Poker Player
What Men Want
as Party Boy
She Couldn't Say No
as Gangster
Born Reckless
as Customer at Beretti's
Double Cross Roads
as Party Guest
Broadway Scandals
as George Halloway
The Great Divide
as Ruth's Friend (uncredited)
Night Parade
as Party Guest
The Boy Friend
as Gordon Elliot
Restless Youth
as George Baxter
Beyond London Lights
as Colin Drummond
The Arizona Wildcat
as Roy Schyler
The Drop Kick
as Aggressive Student at Dance
The Private Life of Helen of Troy
as Telemachus
Children of Divorce
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Shamrock Handicap
as Well-Wishing Villager
Napoleon, Jr.
1926
Napoleon, Jr.
as Flora's Father
The Plastic Age
as Athlete (uncredited)
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
as Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)