Wikipedia

Denver Pyle

Denver Dell Pyle(May 11, 1920 – December 25, 1997)[1][2]was an American film and television actor and director. He was well known for a number of TV roles from the 1960s through the 1980s, including his portrayal ofBriscoe Darlingin several episodes ofThe Andy Griffith Show,as Jesse Duke inThe Dukes of Hazzardfrom 1979 to 1985, as Mad Jack in theNBCtelevision seriesThe Life and Times of Grizzly Adams,and as the titular character's father, Buck Webb, inCBS'sThe Doris Day Show.In many of his roles, he portrayed either authority figures, or gruff, demanding father figures, often as comic relief. Perhaps his most memorable film role was that ofTexas RangerFrank Hamerin the movieBonnie and Clyde(1967), as the lawman who relentlessly chased down and finally killed the notorious duo in an ambush.

Denver Pyle
Pyle in 1962
Born
Denver Dell Pyle

(1920-05-11)May 11, 1920
Bethune, Colorado,U.S.
DiedDecember 25, 1997(1997-12-25)(aged 77)
Burbank, California,U.S.
Resting placeForreston Cemetery,Forreston, Texas
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
Years active1947–1997
Known forUncle JesseinThe Dukes of Hazzard
Spouses
Marilee Carpenter
​
​
(m.1955;div.1970)​
Tippie Johnston
​
(m.1983)​
Children2

Early life

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Pyle was born inBethune, Coloradoon May 11, 1920, to farmer Ben H. Pyle and his wife Maude.[3]His brother,Willis,was ananimatorknown for his work withWalt Disney Animation StudiosandUPA.[4][5]After graduating from high school, Pyle briefly attendedColorado State University,but dropped out to enter show business, moving to Los Angeles in 1940.[6]He worked as a drummer and band member until the United States enteredWorld War II.His military service is unclear, and he possibly enlisted in theU.S. NavyorMerchant Marines,or both.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

Career

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After the war, Pyle embarked on his film and television career. He played many bit parts on television series and movies before starring in several movies and on television during the 1950s and '60s.

Limited roles

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Pyle guest-starred 14 times between 1951 and 1953 on thesyndicatedtelevision seriesThe Range RiderwithJock MahoneyandDick Jones,and appeared as an outlaw in a 1951 episode of the television seriesThe Lone Rangertitled "Backtrail," then as a deputy in the episode "The Hooded Men" and returned in episode 71 "The Outcast", episode 166 "Woman in the White Mask" and episode 187 "Cross of Santo Domingo". He also appeared in "Frontier Range", a 1951 episode ofThe Gene Autry Show.

In 1953, Pyle appeared onThe Roy Rogers Show(season two, "Loaded Guns" ) as the wrongly accused killer, ranch hand Tom Larrabee. Also in 1953, Pyle played Emil Hatch in episode 46 ofThe Adventures of Supermanentitled "Beware the Wrecker". He had a part in the 1955Audie MurphyfilmTo Hell and Back,and appeared twice onNBC's 1955–1956 Westernanthology seriesFrontier(in "Mother of the Brave" and in "The Voyage of Captain Castle" ).

Pyle was twice cast onCBS'sThe Public Defenderin the role of George Hansen, and three times on the religious anthology series,CrossroadsonABC.He acted the part of a police detective in the 1956 film noirPlease Murder Me,starringRaymond Burr.

Pyle was cast as Carter in the 1955 episode "Joey's Father" onFury.Three years later, he played an arsonist in the episode "The Fire Watchers" of the same series. In 1956, Pyle appeared as Vance Kiley in the episode called "Quicksand" in the TV Western seriesThe Lone Ranger.That same year, he played "Willie Calhoun", a lovestruck, and soon-to-be murderer, in season 2's "Poor Pearl" onGunsmoke.

He appeared as a professor in the syndicatedMen into Spaceseries' 1959 episode "Moonquake". In an episode ofRipcord,he played a suicidal parachutist. Also in 1959, he returned toGunsmoke,playing the lead character Mike Blocker in the episode "The Bear".

Pyle appeared twice each on the CBS Western seriesMy Friend Flickaand NBC'sThe Restless GunwithJohn Payne.He guest-starred withGrant Withersin the 1959 episode "Tumbleweed Ranger" ofTris Coffin's syndicated Western series26 Men,billed as true stories of theArizona Rangers.He appeared seven times onRichard Boone's CBS WesternHave Gun – Will Travel;his final appearance was on the show in 1960 as the character Croft in "The Puppeteer".

He guest-starred in 1960 in several other Westerns, includingPony Express,The Man from Blackhawk,andTombstone Territory.He was cast as Big Red in the 1959 episode "Woman in the River" of the detective seriesBourbon Street Beat,starringAndrew DugganandRichard Long.He made several appearances as Briscoe Darling, onThe Andy Griffith Show.

Pyle was cast in a number ofWesternmovies byJohn Ford,includingThe Horse SoldierswithWilliam HoldenandThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.He played a Tennessee soldier (called Thimblerig) inJohn Wayne'sThe Alamo(1960). He portrayedSam Houstonin several episodes of CBS'sThe Adventures of Jim Bowie.He guest-starred as a law-enforcement officer in Jim Davis' other syndicated series,Rescue 8,and also appeared in an episode of the ABC sitcom,The Real McCoyswithWalter Brennan.

Pyle was cast in the 1960 episode "Three Wise Men" of ABC'sStagecoach Westas an outlaw who promises to turn himself into the authorities if he can spendChristmaswith his family. About this time, Pyle appeared in the segment "Lawyer in Petticoats" ofWilliam Bendix's 1960 NBC Western seriesOverland TrailwithDoug McClure,and thereafter in 1961 in "Hand of Vengeance" in the syndicated Western seriesTwo Faces West.Pyle was cast as Jed Corrigan in the 1961 episode "The Tramp" of the NBC family drama seriesNational Velvet.

Pyle guest-starred twice on the CBS seriesRoute 66withMartin MilnerandGeorge Maharis,first in 1961 in the episode "The Newborn" and again in 1962 in "A Long Piece of Mischief". He appeared as the father of the doomed family in the dystopian episode "Black Leather Jackets"ofThe Twilight Zone.

In 1963, Pyle guest-starred onThe Dick Van Dyke Showas Uncle George in the episode "Uncle George".

He appeared twice inCheyenne,starringClint Walker.He played Sergeant Tripp in the episode "The Enemy" of theJames ArnessABC seriesHow the West Was Won.Pyle also had guest-starring roles onThe Rifleman.

He also is known for portraying both the suspect and the murder victim on the last originalPerry MasonTV episode, "The Case of the Final Fadeout", in 1966. He was one of 11 actors to hit the Perry Mason trifecta, portraying a victim, a defendant, and the actual murderer (in previous episodes) on the series, which he did in five appearances. Among his other appearances, he played defendant Robert Crane in "The Case of the Deadly Double" in 1958, Tom Quincy in "The Case of the Ominous Outcast" in 1960, Tilden Stuart in "The Case of the Jealous Journalist", Emery Fillmore in "The Case of the Renegade Refugee" (both in 1961), and Frank Honer in "The Case of the Shifty Shoebox" in 1963.

Pyle portrayed Grandpa Tarleton in all 26 episodes ofTammyin the 1965–1966 season. Pyle portrayed the vengefulTexas RangerFrank Hamerin the 1967 movieBonnie and Clyde.He also appeared in an episode ofThe High Chaparralas a general who had lost his son.

In 1968, he appeared as Titus Purcell, patriarch of a family of homesteaders, in the episode "The Price of Tomatoes" in the sitcomGomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.Working for the first time withJim NaborsplayingGomer Pyle,spun-off fromThe Andy Griffith Show,he used a screen persona similar to Briscoe Darling Jr. In 1968, he also directed "The Great Diamond Mines" onDeath Valley Days.

Pyle had a guest-starring role in 1973 onThe Streets of San Francisco.In 1975,Walt Disney Productionsreleased a film based on the novelEscape to Witch Mountain.In this film, Tony and Tia were played byIke EisenmannandKim Richards,Lucas Deranian byDonald Pleasence,and the children's Uncle Bené by Pyle. In 1976, he appeared onBarnaby Jonesin an episode titled "Stalking Horse". He appeared as a mayor residing in the town of Purgatory in the first-season episode ofKung Fu,titled "Ancient Warrior". He also appeared in second-season episode "Crossties" as a doctor. In 1985 (season 9, episode 8), Pyle made a guest appearance onThe Love Boat.

Leading role

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Pyle played the titular role in a theatrical film entitledGuardian of the Wilderness(1976) aboutGalen Clark,the true story of an explorer who persuadedAbraham Lincolnto have theYosemitearea set aside from commercial development, the original forerunner of the Americannational parks system.[12]Clark was prompted by his decision to do all he could to preserve the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias from being destroyed by loggers, along with the surrounding land.[13]Pyle was thetop-billedlead in this theatrical motion picture shot on location.John Dehnerportrayed legendary naturalistJohn MuirandFord Raineyplayed President Lincoln. The movie is also known by its alternate titleMountain Man.

Continuing roles

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One of Pyle's more endearing roles was that of Briscoe Darling Jr., onThe Andy Griffith Show(1960–1966). Pyle played the patriarch of the Darling family, a group of sons (all portrayed byThe Dillards), and one daughter, Charlene, portrayed byMaggie Peterson.He appeared in seven episodes, six written by the comedy-writing team of Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum.

Pyle played the role of Mad Jack in 36 episodes of the NBC seriesThe Life and Times of Grizzly Adams(1977–1978). He played Buck Webb (Doris Day's television series father) during the first two seasons of CBS'sThe Doris Day Show(1968–1970). In real life, Pyle was only two years older than Day. Pyle said in 1968 that he based his acting in that role on his father's personality.[14]

Pyle's best-known and longest-running television role was that ofUncle JesseDuke in the CBS seriesThe Dukes of Hazzard(1979–1985) (146 episodes).

Later years

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In his later life, Pyle played mostly cameo television roles and retired from full-time acting. His last film role was in the 1994 filmMaverick.His last known acting role was as Jesse Duke in the 1997 CBS made-for-television movieThe Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!.[citation needed]

Charitable efforts

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Pyle sponsored Uncle Jesse's Fishing Tournament inLamar County, Texas.[15]In 10 years of operation, the tournament raised more than $160,000 to support children's programs there.[16]First established in 1988, the tournament is still going strong and celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017. It continues to support the children's charities of Lamar County.[17]

Recognition

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Pyle has a star in the Motion Pictures section of theHollywood Walk of Fameat 7083 Hollywood Boulevard. It was dedicated on December 12, 1997.[18]

In 1991, the Texas Senate passed a resolution honoring Pyle and his wife for their work with Special Olympics and the Denver Pyle's Children's Charities.[19]

Oil wealth

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Within a few years of his final episode onThe Andy Griffith Show,"The Darling Fortune", Pyle began investing in oil, buying oil wells thought to be near the end of their working lifetimes cheaply at a time when theprice of oilwas $2.15 per barrel. By 1981, after new technologies allowed the remaining oil to be more economically recovered from the wells and the1973 oil crisistriggered a rise in prices to over $46 a barrel, he was very wealthy, having made much more money from oil than his total earnings in over 30 years as an actor. He said that he continued to work as an actor because "I look at it this way, acting provides the cash flow I need for oil speculation, and besides that I like acting. It's fun."[20]

Personal life

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In 1955, Pyle married Marilee Carpenter, a production assistant at20th Century Fox.They had sons David and Tony. Marilee and Denver divorced in 1970. On November 5, 1983, Pyle married Tippie X. Johnston in Los Angeles County, California. That union lasted until his death.[21]

Death

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Pyle died oflung canceron Christmas Day 1997. Memorial services were held January 6, 1998, at First Baptist Church in Waxahachie, Texas.[16]He is buried in an unmarked grave at the Forreston Cemetery inForreston, Texas.His remains are interred beside those of his second wife's parents, James Thomas Johnston and Erin Maurine (née Birch) Johnston.[22]

Selected filmography

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Selected television

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Year Title Role Notes
1953 Death Valley Days Art Crowley S1E12 "Swamper Ike"
1953 Gunsmoke Hank Shinn S2E38, “Liar From Blackhawk"
1957 Have Gun – Will Travel Clay Sommers Episode "The Colonel and the Lady"

References

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  1. ^"Social Security Death Index".New England Historic Genealogical Society. Archived fromthe originalon July 20, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 4,2010.
  2. ^"Obituary: Denver Pyle".Independent.co.uk.October 22, 2011.
  3. ^Great Character ActorsArchivedDecember 29, 2008, at theWayback Machine,dougmacaulay; accessed March 4, 2017.
  4. ^"Willis Pyle Obituary".The New York Times.June 8, 2016.RetrievedJune 8,2016.
  5. ^Barnes, Mike (June 8, 2016)."Willis Pyle, Famed Animator on 'Pinocchio' and 'Mr. Magoo,' Dies at 101".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJune 28,2016.
  6. ^abDenver Pyle, 77, Best Known For 'Dukes of Hazzard' RoleThe New York TimesviaInternet Archive.Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  7. ^Obituary: Denver PyleThe Independent.Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  8. ^DENVER PYLE, ActorTurner Classic Movies.Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  9. ^Denver PyleHollywood Walk of Fame.Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  10. ^Wiester, Emery."Everybody's Seen Ol' Denver Pyle",The Charlotte News,Charlotte, North Carolina, volume 82, number 22, February 1, 1969, Green Section, page 1C.
  11. ^Kyle, Clason."A Coloradan from Bethune",The Sunday Ledger-Enquirer,Columbus, Georgia, volume 40, number 18, October 5, 1969,Magazinesection, page 14.
  12. ^"Galen Clark - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service)".
  13. ^"Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias"(PDF).National Park Service.
  14. ^"Denver Pyle Chose Acting Over Law".The Times Record.New York, Troy. The Times-Record. September 7, 1968. p. 28.RetrievedJanuary 21,2016– viaNewspapers.
  15. ^"Editorial: A sad farewell to Uncle Jesse".The Paris News.Texas, Paris. The Paris News. January 1, 1998. p. 4.RetrievedJanuary 21,2016– viaNewspapers.
  16. ^ab"Denver Pyle".The Paris News.Texas, Paris. The Paris News. December 31, 1997. p. 16.RetrievedJanuary 21,2016– viaNewspapers.
  17. ^"30th Annual Uncle Jesse's Memorial Big Bass Classic Fishing Tournament".Paris, Texas.eParis Extra. April 15, 2017.
  18. ^"Denver Pyle".Hollywood Walk of Fame.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
  19. ^Johnson, Shawn R. (April 13, 1991)."300 athletes participate in area Olympics".The Paris News.Texas, Paris. The Paris News. p. 1.RetrievedJanuary 21,2016– viaNewspapers.
  20. ^United Press Internationalarchive:https:// upi /Archives/1981/05/09/Scotts-World-Uncle-Jesses-An-Oil-Man/9392358228800/
  21. ^Monica Otayza (December 3, 2021)."Denver Pyle's First Wife Was Close to Him Even after His Second Marriage until He Passed Away".news.amomama.RetrievedMarch 24,2023.
  22. ^"Forreston Cemetery".cemeteries-of-tx.RetrievedMarch 31,2013.
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