Ben Johnson | |
|---|---|
&sq=Google&lang=en&file=File:Ben_Johnson_The_Wild_Bunch_publicity_photo.JPG) Johnson in 1969 | |
| Born | Francis Benjamin Johnson Jr. June 13, 1918 Foraker, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | April 8, 1996 (aged 77) Mesa, Arizona, U.S. |
| Resting place | Pawhuska City Cemetery |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1939–1996 |
| Spouse |
Carol Elaine Jones
(m. 1941; died 1994) |
Francis Benjamin Johnson Jr. (June 13, 1918 – April 8, 1996) was an American film and television actor, stuntman, and world-champion rodeo cowboy. Johnson brought authenticity to many roles in Westerns with his droll manner and expert horsemanship.
The son of a rancher, Johnson arrived in Hollywood to deliver a consignment of horses for a film. He did stunt-double work for several years before breaking into acting with the help of John Ford. An elegiac portrayal of a former cowboy theater owner in the 1950s coming-of-age drama The Last Picture Show won Johnson the 1971 Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Johnson also operated a horse-breeding ranch throughout his career. Although he said he had succeeded by sticking to what he knew, shrewd real estate investments made Johnson worth an estimated $100 million by his later years.[1][dubious – discuss]
- ^ Jensen, Richard D. (2010). The Nicest Fella – the Life of Ben Johnson: The World Champion Rodeo Cowboy who Became an Oscar-winning Movie Star. iUniverse. ISBN 9781440196782.