Chill Wills
Birthdate: Jul 18, 1902
Birthplace: Seagoville, Texas, USA
Died: Dec 15, 1978
Colorful character actor of American Westerns. A musician from his youth, he performed from the age of 12 with tent shows, in vaudeville, and with stock companies. While performing in vaudeville in Kansas City, he married ballet dancer Betty Chappelle, with whom he had two children. He formed a musical group, Chill Wills and His Avalon Boys. During an appearance at the Trocadero in Hollywood, they were spotted by an RKO executive, subsequently appearing as a group in several low-budget Westerns. After a prominent appearance with The Avalon Boys as both himself and the bass-singing voice of Stan Laurel in Way Out West (1937), Wills disbanded the group and began a solo career as a usually jovial (but occasionally sinister) character actor, primarily in Westerns. His delightful portrayal of Beekeeper in The Alamo (1960) won him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, but his blatant and embarrassing campaign for the Oscar cost him the award and subjected him to a great deal of humiliation -- and probably cost the film a number of awards as well. His wife died in 1971, and he remarried, to Novadeen Googe, in 1973. He continued to work in films and television, usually in roguishly lovable good-old'-boy parts, up until his death in 1978.
Known For
Chill Wills Movies
actor
Previous (80)
- 2020 |
- 2004 |
- 1977 | Mr. Billionas Col. Clayton T. Winkle
- 1977 | Poco... Little Dog Lostas Big Burt
- 1973 | Guns of a Strangeras Tom Duncan
- 1973 | Pat Garrett & Billy the Kidas Lemuel
- 1971 | The Steagleas Tall-Guy McCoy
- 1970 | The Liberation of L.B. Jonesas Mr. Ike
- 1969 | Big Daddy
- 1966 | Fireball 500as Big Jaw Harris
- 1965 | The Roundersas Jim Ed Love
- 1963 | The Wheeler Dealersas Jay R. Spinelby
- 1963 | McLintock!as Drago
- 1962 | Young Guns of Texasas Preacher Sam Shelby
- 1961 | Gold of the Seven Saintsas Doc Wilson Gates, MD
- 1961 | The Deadly Companionsas Turk
- 1961 | The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Comeas Major Buford
- 1960 | Where the Boys Areas Police Captain
- 1959 | The Sad Horseas Capt Connors
- 1958 | From Hell to Texasas Amos Bradley
- 1957 | Gun Gloryas Preacher
- 1956 | Gun for a Cowardas Loving
- 1956 | Santiagoas Captain 'Sidewheel' Jones
- 1956 | Giantas Uncle Bawley
- 1955 | Kentucky Rifleas Tobias Taylor
- 1955 | Timberjackas Steve Riika
- 1954 | Francis Joins the WACSas Gen. Benjamin Kaye
- 1954 | Hell's Outpostas Kevin Russel
- 1954 | Ricochet Romanceas Tom Williams
- 1953 | City That Never Sleepsas Sgt. Joe
- 1953 | The Man from the Alamoas John Gage
- 1953 | Tumbleweedas Sheriff Murchoree
- 1952 | Bronco Busteras Dan Bream
- 1952 | Ride the Man Downas Ike Adams
- 1951 | Cattle Driveas Dallas
- 1951 | Oh! Susannaas Sergeant Barhydt
- 1951 | The Sea Hornetas Swede
- 1950 | High Lonesomeas Boatwhistle - Ranch Cook
- 1950 | Rock Island Trailas Hogger McCoy
- 1950 | The Sundownersas Sam Beers
- 1950 | Rio Grandeas Dr. Wilkins (regimental surgeon)
- 1949 | Red Canyonas Marshal G.T. Brackton
- 1948 | Family Honeymoonas Fred
- 1948 | Loaded Pistolsas Sheriff Cramer
- 1948 | Northwest Stampedeas Mileaway
- 1948 | The Sainted Sistersas Will Twitchell
- 1948 | The Saxon Charmas Captain Chatham
- 1947 | Heartachesas 'Breezie' Mann
- 1946 | Gallant Bessas Chief Petty Officer
- 1946 | The Harvey Girlsas H.H. Hartsey
- 1946 | The Yearlingas Buck Forrester
- 1946 |
The Harvey Girls
asH.H. Hartsey
On a train trip West to become a mail-order bride, Susan Bradley meets a cheery crew of young women travelling out to open a "Harvey House" restaurant at a remote whistle-stop.
- 1945 | Leave Her to Heavenas Leick Thome
- 1945 | What Next, Corporal Hargrove?as Sgt. Cramp
- 1944 | Barbary Coast Gentas Sheriff Hightower
- 1944 | I'll Be Seeing Youas Swanson
- 1944 | See Here, Private Hargroveas First Sgt. Cramp
- 1944 | Sunday Dinner for a Soldieras Mr. York
- 1944 |
Meet Me in St. Louis
asMr. Neely
Young love and childish fears highlight a year in the life of a turn-of-the-century family.
- 1943 | A Stranger in Townas Charles Craig
- 1942 | Apache Trailas 'Pike' Skelton
- 1942 | Her Cardboard Loveras Judge
- 1942 | Stand by for Actionas Chief Boatswain's Mate Jenks
- 1942 | Tarzan's New York Adventureas Manchester Montford
- 1942 | The Bugle Soundsas Dillon
- 1942 | The Omaha Trailas Henry Hawkins
- 1941 | Belle Starras Blue Duck
- 1941 | Honky Tonkas The Sniper
- 1941 | The Bad Manas 'Red' Giddings
- 1941 | Western Unionas Homer Kettle
- 1940 | Boom Townas Harmony Jones
- 1940 | Sky Murderas Sheriff Beckwith
- 1940 | The Westerneras Southeast
- 1940 | Tugboat Annie Sails Againas Shiftless
- 1939 | Arizona Legionas Whopper Hatch
- 1939 | Racketeers of the Rangeas Whopper Hatch
- 1939 | Timber Stampedeas Whopper Hatch
- 1939 | Trouble in Sundownas Whopper
- 1939 | Allegheny Uprisingas M'Cammon
- 1938 | Lawless Valleyas Deputy Speedy McGow
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