While working with him on a movie in 1983, we had a production break because of weather. During the sudden storm we both sought refuge under the same cover. We were having a good conversation. On set we often have rope handy to tie things down that might blow away or get knocked over. I was an electric and not a grip but had a hank of rope handy with me. Son asked to see it and proceeded to entertain me with rope tricks; one of which was to whip a knot into the trailing end using only wrist action of the hand holding it. Then he showed me how to knot a lariat for roping and taught me how to properly throw the loop. It was one of those special moments in the business you never forget. I knew him only as an actor and former wrangler. I didn't know then I was being mentored as a cowboy by a world champion steer roper. There were no smart phones at the time so I have no photos but I wish I did, but then I was never the type to impose and ask either. I miss him, his type, and I miss the business.
Ben was a friend of my wife's family, and what a great guy. His warmth, humor and infectious laugh made him a welcome diversion any time he graced the household. His presence is missed.
Of all the actors playing cowboys, this man didn't have to act he was the real deal. He was refreshingly moral, led his life in the true "cowboy way" and even sounded like a cowboy when he spoke. I always liked him. Thank you for your video.
The best description of Ben Johnson was when he said he was more proud of his World Championship Roping over his academy award! Only a real cowboy could say something that profound.
He seemed so straight forward and honest that when I saw your documentary, I hoped to learn that he was a good man. He was a good man first, and then after that a good husband, cowboy, and actor. His comment that he was best at playing Ben Johnson was perfect - transparent honesty. Thank you for this documentary about a very admirable man.
He was one of the all time best cowboy actors there ever was, and a true Man that lived with a set of morals throughout his entire life. R.I.P. and God bless.
Jerry, you have, without a doubt, the best video biographies on the Internet or anywhere else. The info you choose to include is always informative and sometimes even poignant. Well done, Sir, very well done. Again!!
Ben "Son" Johnson was always one of my favorite western stars. He was the best of a few who didn't have to 'act' like a cowboy. He 'was' one. One of my favorite, but most poignant of his roles was the 'old timer' in "Bite the Bullet" with Gene Hackman, James Coburn, Candace Bergen, and Jan Michael Vincent, among others. The comment in response to Jan Michael Vincent's snarky, "I'd rather be in Hell than Oklahoma" was typical of his sardonic sense of humor. He said, "Every man to his own country" nuff said punk, go to bed.....
Ben Johnson's character showed through on the small and big screen. He came across, at least to me, as a true gentleman and real cowboy and a real man. He is the man most of us wish we could always be. Your piece on him is a real tribute to him, thank you.
I have enjoyed watching numerous western movies with Ben Johnson in them, just watched Shadow Riders (DVD) with Tom Selleck, Sam Elliot, Katherine Ross, and Ben Johnson. My late mother, Anne E. Golding had a secret crush on Ben Johnson. R.I.P. Mom and Ben.
Kay Mitchell your wrong he raised quarter horses and lived in ft worth Texas my mentor trained grey lark for him and I won his memorial roping one year so troll somewhere else you sad pathetic excuse of a woman have some respect
God broke the mould when Ben was born. His like will never be seen again. It was because of Ben that I became totally hooked on westerns. I'm also 70 years old.
I really enjoyed this. I worked on 2 movies with Ben Johnson (in '74 and '80) and I appreciate the detail, and the respect you showed him. He was a true gentleman and a good soul. During our downtime at the small motel, all of the cast and crew were staying in, Oscar-winner Ben would fire up a barbeque by the pool and cook burgers and steaks for everyone. He told me that, in the scene where Alan Ladd punches him through the saloon doors in SHANE, Ben knocked himself cold throwing himself backward through the doors. He was a kind soul who had time for everyone and countless stories of his years in Hollywood. Thanks for the doc.
He used a ' damn ' occasionally in his movies. " The Wild Bunch" for sure & a couple of others come to mind. But he was an estimable man of character. And one of the greatest athletes & horsemen ever
The last movie I remember seeing Ben Johnson in was Red Dawn. Definitely a class act. Humble, kind and a man of principles and morals that were non negotiable. Definitely one of my all-time favorite actors.
Exceptional biography, Mr. Skinner. Ben Johnson has long been one of my favorite character actors (together with Harry Carey, Jr., and only 2 or 3 others). Ben Johnson was and shall always be one of my role models on the kind of human being and friend I wish to be to those close to me. You did a wonderful job with this biography. Thank you very much, Mr. Skinner!
I always liked Ben Johnson, now I know why because of what you said in this video. To me his eyes always shone with a genuine caring nature. Thank you for posting. Very nice.
Another terrific documentary Jerry! I’ve been a huge fan of all the actors John Ford used and brought to us. What a wonderful man Ben ‘Son’ Johnson obviously was.
Thank you for another outstanding video, Mr. Skinner. Ben Johnson has always been one of my favorite celebrities. Hopefully, a new generation will see your tribute to him and see what a "REAL" man is.
Thanks so much Jerry for the excellent documentary. I've always loved Ben "Son" Johnson. Good to hear him and John Wayne were so close. And I respect him even more for telling John Ford to go to hell.
A truly beautiful biography!! My mom meet Ben at a rodeo one time & what I remember her saying is he was a tall, wonderful gentleman. They don’t make men like Ben anymore!! Thank you, Mr Skinner!! ❤❤❤
One Eyed Jacks has been one of my favorite westerns since I first saw it at the Ilex theater in Quitman, GA in 1961. Ben Johnson, Brando, Karl Malden, Katy Jurado and Slim Pickens. I still watch it from time to time. Johnson had the some of the best lines in the movie: "Maybe so, but I wouldn't want to lose me a handful of brains tryin' to find out."
Being raised on Westerns,I had much respect for Ben Johnson.....who was one of the last of a dying breed.A real cowboy and a man with principles.R.I.P. Ben....gone but definitely not forgotten.
@@gerrycoleman7290 they surely could Gerry,a real gentleman with no pretense at life,just lived as it was meant to be,I loved the Western genre and the movies,I am a Scot,live in Scotland but my old man was a big Duke fan and Ford movies,a WWII veteran and seem's no matter what side the pond you was on they had a code that old lads did,and it seems like it is no longer there any more,but Ben was one of my favorite western star's,I lived quite a long spell in Texas and round about Oklahoma,down Texhoma Pottsborro loved it,lot of friends there,going back to see them soon I hope.
He was a stalwart of the better Westerns. Great performance in George Stevens' Shane with Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur , Van Heflin, Jack Palance, Brandon De Wilde, Emile Meyer, Elisha Cook Jnr. Edgar Buchanan. Arguably the best Western ever made.
Amen to that. So true. He was a Great Man. And Never messed around on his wife. And had a good Life. And Great Friends. / John Wayne. He's another Heroe!!!. I loved them both. I watch Chisum every night. Because I love watching John Wayne and Ben Johnson together. They are Both So very Missed & Loved. C. MAC.
Guys at work had RED DAWN on...and I pointed to Ben Johnson and said, He was in a lot of cowboy movies. They were unawares. Sad. I hope this younger generation discovers older movies.....
It is a shame when I see people around my age and younger who don't love the old Westerns I grew up with or even know about the supremely talented actors in them. I was born the year Ben Johnson passed away, but I grew up watching Westerns and always was a huge fan of The Duke. I'm just now really starting to discover more of Ben Johnson's work even though I saw him in some of Wayne's films years ago. Personally, I've always been the type to prefer marrying a man who is a city slicker like me, even though I do love Westerns, but after learning more about Ben Johnson, he is the exception to the rule. If only there were men like him today. An authentic cowboy and wonderful human being.
@@cate384 The US cost of living has past real cowboys over. I'm sure there must be some on the big spreads still around though as they still gotta herd cattle someway. At least the covid isn't a problem for them. I went to school at a teachers college and my freshman year my roommate was a cowboy on partial schlorship. He was gone most of the time to rodeos but still made pretty good grades. He seemed to be a hard worker also. Cowboys now mostly drive 350 dualys pulling their horse trailers all over. My neighbor was a cowgirl completely. She competed in the barrel racing competions around central tx. It was hard work as she also raised horses and trained them. She cleaned her own stalls and all. I think she probably weighed about 115, 5'2 maybe but pretty strong from the hard work. All three boys are educated with their own lives away from horses. The dad is a golpher in his spare time. Cowboys love horses. I like old westerns and watching the gun handling of the old actors.
Jerry, another good one, loved it. Harry Carey Sr, Jr, Jack Elam, Paul Fix, Ken Curtis and many others on film and TV were very interesting but not much is told about them, looking forward to more stories from you.
Thank you Mr Skinner for this video of one of my heroes and fellow Oklahomans , there are still some very good cowboys roaming the tall grass prairies but none like Mr Johnson . What a treasure .
Bravo Jerry Skinner, BRAVO!!!!! This video was just GREAT!!!!! I love all of your videos. One other video that I love is the one on Susan Hayward. Jerry, you're the BEST!!!!
I always liked the westerns that had Ben Johnson or John Wayne in them then to have both of them in the same movie was a real bonus. Ben was a good man as most real cowboys are, my dad is a real cowboy and at 91 is still a good man. I always looked up to the good ones and knowing Ben's story explains why. Thanks for putting this story out Jerry Skinner.
Loved this actor when I first saw him in Shane at the cinema. Didn’t know his name but saw something outstanding in him. I was still at school then ( I’m 84 now) but have always admired his acting and have always believed that he deserved much more public recognition than he ever got but then again, Ben Johnson was a real mans man, not a celluloid one !!!
@@alandouthwaite6980 His true Good nature shone through in Shane, the Respect he showed even to one he had disagreed with was so easy for him to act as it was him!
As the many others that have commented on here, Ben Johnson was a favorite western actor of mine. I moved to Mesa, AZ in 1984 and became aware that he lived in Mesa and eventually learned that he frequented a little downtown Mesa bar on Country Club Dr. only a few blocks from where I worked. I regret that I never made the effort to try to catch him there, and then learned of his passing, and the opportunity was gone forever. My loss, would have loved to shock his hand and expressed my gratitude to him. Rest In Peace, Ben "Son" Johnson, you were one of a kind and missed by all of us cowboy (wannabees) western fans. God Bless You...….
Impeccable presentation Jerry, easily the best on You Tube, along with all your presentations. I followed 'Son' as a boy, charging around the town on imaginary horses.At school, Son was the man!.....we knew then he was the best horseman around....and........his voice epitomized the Old West like no other........except yours of course! Proper job, as we say in Cornwall.
I met Mr. Johnson in Omaha at the Cafe Dicopia. I was the bartender, the restaurant was full so he and his companion sat the the counter and ate dinner. They were waiting for a ring from Warren Buffett's jewrey store (Borsheims) so they ate dinner. It was a real honor to meet him. He was indeed a nice man. RIP.
One of the true greats of westerns! The movies with Wayne and him as his sidekick were the best and most of the time Ben stole the scenes. He was a class act!
Just a Great account of the history of the Great Westerns. This video brought back many pleasant memories. Thank you Jerry very much for your work in this video.
You touched upon a man who never got billing he deserved. From She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (My favorite *), to his horse skills in Rio Grande, Ben Johnson - The character actor, was so much better then the crap passed off by Hollyweird today.
Awesome job done again Jerry. Haven't seen one in awhile but I think perfection takes time, and you out did your self on this one. Waiting patiently for the next one. Take care
A real gentleman, and actor. He was an Okie, and back then they were raised to give respect. If you couldn't mind, a trip around the barn put you in the right mind real soon. Now they call it child abuse, and they wonder what happened to kids who turn out so bad. Loved Ben in what ever he played in, a kind gentle soul. Thank you Jerry God Bless. By the way, I'm an Okie and proud of it.
Thank you Jerry for sharing this wonderful memory of Ben Johnson who was a man with integrity. I knew he was the man I always thought him to be was true. Profanity and nudity has no talent, it's hard to find these days.
Ben Johnson is probably my absolute favorite actor of all time....close follow ups would be Warren Oates and Richard Farnsworth. They all sounded like, had cadences and ethics like my dad.....awww thank you again Jerry Skinner!
Very interesting biography. Ben Johnson used to be one of those actors that I recognized and liked, but couldn't remember his name. He was excellent in everything he did. I also love Richard Farnsworth, and my favorite, Will Geer.
its been awile. i was worried about you. good to see you back. im from kingston tn so i feel a certain kinship to you. people go on about the way you talk but to me it's normal speak for us east tenn boys
Jerry Skinner, you have a way to describe these people that quite simply no one could possibly do. Thank you for all your video's. I've watched many and thoroughly enjoyed them. BJ was a great fellow that was instantly recognized. Thank You Jerry.
oh how wonderful ! i wish i had met him, you can tell he is what a man should be-i understand his wife was pretty special as well-so jealous even though i wasn't even born till 57!. Goodlooking, sexy, kind but knew where to draw the line-what to accept n what not to-this world could do with him,
I always liked watching Ben Johnson & John Wayne in the westerns ! Many memories growing up watching them together ! Thanks to them & Clint Eastwood for those westerns ! 👍👍
Jerry, Ben Johnson was one of my mother's favorite actors, she really liked his calm manner. If Johnson had been a musician instead of an actor, he'd have been a famous "studio player" as he played a million second parts behind the likes of John Wayne and others! I've seen Johnson in so many roles over the years, a great man for sure! I wish Hollywood made movies like some of these classic Westerns! Thanks for the video, great as always!
Tired of trashy, sordid movie celebrity news? Here is a refreshing documentary on the life of Ben Johnson, movie actor and one heck of a rodeo cowboy. Thank you, Jerry Skinner.
Hi, Jerry. I agree, Ben "Son" Johnson was a true gentleman cowboy. Thank you so much for everything you have done for this unique channel by telling us wonderful stories from olden times.
I was called to pick him up from the hospital when he passed away. When I was told who I was picking up I just couldn’t believe it as I had grown up watching Ben Johnson westerns on tv with my dad when I was a kid. I sure wish I could have met him when he was still alive.
