Basic Information About Denver Pyle
Category | Celebrities βΊ Actors |
---|---|
Professions | Actor, Television Director, Drummer, Sailor, Voice Actor |
Net worth | $5,000,000 |
Date of birth | 1920-05-11 |
Place of birth | Bethune |
Date of death | 1997-12-25 (aged 77) |
Nationality | United States of America |
Spouse | 5 November - Tippie Xan Johnston (Β 1983 - 25 DecemberΒ 1997)Β (his death) 8 August - Marilee Lenore Carpenter (Β 1955 - 1970)Β (divorced)Β (2 children) |
Gender | Male |
Height | 6 ft (1.85 m) |
Social Media | βοΈ Wikipedia βοΈ IMDb |
Famous Network of Actors with Similar Net Worth
What Movie Awards did Denver Pyle win?
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Denver Pyle roles
Movie / Series | Role |
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The Alamo | Thimblerig (the Gambler) |
Bonnie and Clyde | Frank Hamer |
Maverick | Old Gambler on Riverboat |
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance | Amos Carruthers |
Shenandoah | Pastor Bjoerling |
Escape to Witch Mountain | Uncle Bene |
The Great Race | Sheriff of Boracho |
The Rounders | Bull |
The Waltons | Cousin Homer Lee Baldwin 1 episode, 1972 |
Arrest and Trial | Jack Felton 1 episode, 1963 |
The Doris Day Show | Director |
The Doris Day Show | Buck Webb 53 episodes, 1968-1970 |
The Virginian | Pico Brown 1 episode, 1963 |
Dallas | Blackie Callahan 2 episodes, 1990 |
Murder, She Wrote | Eben Connors 1 episode, 1988 |
The High Chaparral | General Warren 1 episode, 1967 |
Petrocelli | Andrew Warburton 1 episode, 1976 |
Kung Fu | Dr. Joseph Colton / ... 2 episodes, 1973-1974 |
Mr. Novak | Brill 1 episode, 1964 |
The Andy Griffith Show | Briscoe Darling 6 episodes, 1963-1966 |
The Dukes of Hazzard | Director |
The Dukes of Hazzard | Uncle Jesse / ... 146 episodes, 1979-1985 |
The Love Boat | Eric Springer 1 episode, 1986 |
Dr. Kildare | R. E. Lenger 1 episode, 1964 |
The Streets of San Francisco | Carl Armstrong 1 episode, 1973 |
Route 66 | Father Prior / ... 2 episodes, 1961-1962 |
Barnaby Jones | Stayley Kircher 1 episode, 1976 |
Ben Casey | Dallas Hopewell 1 episode, 1962 |
Cybill | Denver Pyle (uncredited) unknown episodes |
Cannon | Sheriff 1 episode, 1974 |
L.A. Law | Harold Nordoff 1 episode, 1994 |
The Authentic Cowboy: The Life and Times of Denver Pyle
Denver Pyle was a famous American actor, best known for his roles as Briscoe Darling, Jr. on several episodes of ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ and Uncle Jesse in ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ (1979-85). Born on December 25, 192, in Bethune, Colorado, Denver Pyle earned the reputation of playing drawling, slow Southern types with the perfect touch of western authenticity. In this article, we delve deeper into his life, accomplishments, and net worth details.
Early Life
Denver Pyle may have been born in Colorado, but true to his wandering spirit and love of adventure he spent his youth living from one state to another. After living in many places throughout the country, he eventually landed in Oklahoma and began playing drums for a band. But that career was short-lived, and Denver Pyle went on to do many odd jobs, including working on shrimp boats off the coast of Texas and even mining for oil.
In 194, he decided to give Los Angeles a try and took a job with NBC as a page. But World War II Interfered almost immediately, prompting Denver Pyle to enlist in the US Navy. Unfortunately, during the Battle of Guadalcanal, he was seriously wounded and subsequently discharged due to medical reasons in 1943.
Military Service
Once back on US soil in Los Angeles, Denver Pyle found employment working at an aircraft plant. Here he served as a riveter while also continuing his acting career joining an amateur theatre group.
Acting Career
Initially spotted by a talent scout while performing with the amateur theater group, Denver Pyle began taking acting seriously, studying under famous names including Maria Ouspenskaya and Michael Chekhov. His film debut came a few years later in The Guilt of Janet Ames (1947).
Always looking to bring a touch of authenticity in his portrayal of many Western roles he played, Denver Pyle went on to appear in hundreds of films and television shows, sometimes playing even minor villains or side characters, with no billing given.
A highlight in his acting career came when he secured an association with John Wayne to appear in many of his films. Many of these famous Western films would prominently feature Denver Pyle, solidifying his reputation as a master actor able to infuse a captivating portrayal on-screen.
Additionally, Denver Pyle often appeared on well-known shows such as Gunsmoke (1955)and Bonanza (1959). He particularly impressed all with his perfectly executed performance in the 1967 Bonnie and Clyde alongside Faye Dunaway.
Net Worth Details
As an actor who worked in both television and film, Denver Pyle made numerous films and became a familiar face to many generations. It’s been reported that at the time of his passing, Denver Pyle had amassed a net worth of $5 million.
Achievements
Denver Pyle was one of those talented actors who never really received his due recognition despite a successful acting career spanning almost five decades.
However, even without the win of any awards during his work on the big screen, Denver Pyleβs legacy continues, passed on from generation to generation, for his captivating portrayal on screen. He remains an influential figure in the film and television industry. He surely belongs among the timeless actors who were able to not only captivate our minds with their performances but also hearts for longer than one could believe possible.
The End of an Era
Although a noted success, Denver Pyleβs age slowly caught up to him leaving behind a mark on the television and film industry we will never forget. Denver Dell Pyle died of lung cancer at age 77, on December 25, 1997, in Burbank, California.
In conclusion, even though he is no longer with us, Denver Pyle will continue to be fondly remembered as a Hollywood pioneer and an individual who contributed hugely to the film and television industry, bringing a touch of authenticity in numerous roles he undertook with proper preparation and mastery on-and-off screen.
Interesting Facts about Denver Pyle
- Was originally cast to play Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke (1955) when James Arness turned down the first request to audition for the role.
- Received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California just two weeks before his death. Despite his weakened condition, caused by the cancer that would eventually kill him, he managed to attend the ceremony.
- His middle name was "Dell", the name of his parents' favorite city.
- While working with John Wayne on The Alamo (1960), Wayne became impressed with Pyle's photography and made special arrangements with his public relations office to designate Pyle as the official set photographer for the picture.
- Best known for his role as Uncle Jesse Duke on the television series The Dukes of Hazzard (1979).
- During World War II, he enlisted in the United States Navy, was wounded in the battle for Guadalcanal and received a medical discharge in 1943.
- Brother of Willis Pyle, an animator and painter. Cousin of Ernie Pyle. Pyle's immediate family had longevity in their genes. His brother died at the age of 101 in 2016. Their mother lived to be 104.
- Met James Best in the movie The Left Handed Gun (1958). Some 21 years later, he would later co-star, opposite him on The Dukes of Hazzard (1979), as his sheriff.
- Best friends with James Best from 1958 to 1997.
- Has the distinction of playing the last murder victim in the original Perry Mason (1957) series (and in the same episode, "The Case of the Final Fade-Out", Mason's second-to-last client).
- Although he played O.Z. Whitehead's father in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), he was nine years his junior in real life.