Interesting Facts about Chill Wills
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- Interesting Facts about Chill Wills - Theodore Childress "Chill" Wills (1902 - 1978) was an actor and a singer in the Avalon Boys quartet.
Chill was a performer from childhood, forming and leading the Avalon Boys singing group in the 1930s. Appearing in a few Westerns, he disbanded the group in 1938, and started a solo acting career.
Here are some interesting facts about Chill Wills…
One of his more memorable roles was that of the distinctive voice of Francis the Talking Mule in the series of popular films. Wills' deep, rough voice, with its Western twang, was a perfect match for the cynical, sardonic mule. As was the custom at the time, Wills was given no billing for his vocal work, though he was prominently featured on-screen as blustery General Ben Kaye in the fourth entry, Francis Joins the WACS. He provided the deep voice for Stan Laurel's performance of "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" in Way Out West (1937), in which the Avalon Boys Quartet appeared.
Cast in numerous serious film roles, including "the city of Chicago" as personified by a phantom police sergeant in the film noir 1953s City That Never Sleeps, and that of Uncle Bawley in 1956s Giant, also featured Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean. Wills was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Davy Crockett's companion Beekeeper in the film 1960s The Alamo. Wills was a poker player and a close friend of Benny Binion, the founder of the World Series of Poker and former owner of Binion's Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wills participated in the first World Series, held in 1970, and is seated in the center of the famous picture with a number of legendary players.
In 1959, he starred as Bije Wilcox in "The Bije Wilcox Story" on Wagon Train.
In Rory Calhoun's Western series The Texan, Wills appeared in the lead role in the 1960 episode titled "The Eyes of Captain Wylie".
Wills starred in the short-run series Frontier Circus, which aired for only one season (1961-62) on CBS. In 1966, he was cast in the role of a shady Texas rancher, Jim Ed Love, in the short-lived comedy/Western series The Rounders (reprising his role in the 1965 film The Rounders, starring Henry Fonda), with co-stars Ron Hayes, Patrick Wayne, and Walker Edmiston. In 1962 he guest-starred as a deranged mountain man on Gunsmoke, and old friend of Matt Dillon, preying on homesteaders. His murderous rampage, results in his violent death.
In 1968, he starred in the Gunsmoke episode "A Noose for Dobie Price", where he played Elihu Gorman, a former outlaw who joins forces with Marshal Matt Dillon, played by James Arness, to track down a member of his former gang who has escaped jail. In 1971, he appeared as Pat Reedy on The Men from Shiloh (rebranded name of the TV Western The Virginian) in the episode titled "The Angus Killer".
His last role was in 1978, as a janitor in Stubby Pringle's Christmas.
I’m and old guy and grew up with his movies. I loved those Francis the Talking Mule movies and The Rounders is one of my favorite movies. He was a great character in all of his movies and shows. They don’t have people like him in movies these days.
I Liked Him in John Wayne Movie "McClintock". May They R.I.P.
Always loved Chill in anything he did. Great actor
Loved Chill Wills in Giant with Liz Rock and James Dean. Classic scene when he herds the party guests like cattle when hurricane coming.
I know a lady whose father was good friends with him. A fabulous drinker, he called everyone "Cus" (cousin) as he could not remember anyone's name. A fun boy for sure.
I always enjoy learning more about these veteran character actors, thanks!
Chill had a memorable face and voice, and always added a bit of color to whatever film he was in.
A real "character" actor
My favorite Chill Wills movie was Kentucky Rifle. Thanks 🤠
I loved the man but it's hard to believe he was a singer with that voice. RIP
A man of many talents :)
I liked finding out about chill wills
An all round performer:)
You could say the Foghorn Leghorn’s voice was based on Chill Wills’ booming voice.
Loved him as Frances, fantastic character actor.❤
A very colorful actor
How can you talk about Chill and not mention meet me in St Louis and his many films with the great John Wayne?
I just watched From Hell to Texas which he starred with Don Murray, R G Armstrong and Dennis Hopper. He helps Don who is fleeing from RG and Dennis. a Father and son wanting revenge for a son that die in a fight with Don.
I liked him in the movie Giant
I like him in THE SUNDOWNERS with Robert Preston
A real character
Wasn't he a ranch hand and worked on the rodeo circuit before going into shoe business?
Chill had dinner with my family at our home in Salem, Oregon in the early 1970's. He dressed up cause he wore 5 20 dollar gold pieces around his neck. We asked him what they were for. He said he never wanted to be without money.