Ben Johnson (actor)

Ben Johnson ( born June 13, 1918 in Foraker, Osage County, Oklahoma, † April 8, 1996 in Mesa, Arizona ) was an American actor. He also worked as a stuntman and rodeo cowboy.

Life

Johnson first worked as a stuntman, inter alia, on the set of The Fighting Gringo. John Ford noticed him and hired him in 1948 as a stuntman for his film Fort Apache. Add tracks in the sand, also a Western by John Ford, Johnson took a smaller role. In the following years, Johnson took over more and more roles, for example as in George Stevens ' Shane.

Johnson played mainly in numerous Westerns, made ​​appearances on such series as Bonanza and finally won an Oscar for his supporting role in " The Last Picture Show " from the year 1971. For this role he also won the British Film Award and a Golden Globe Award.

1982 Johnson was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame. In 1994 he was awarded a Star on the Walk of Fame.

Johnson married in 1941 Carol Elaine Jones, the daughter of actor Buck Jones. They conducted a 53- year marriage, to Carol died on 27 March 1994. The couple remained childless.

Filmography (selection)