A WORD ON WESTERN’s Exclusive Salute to William Boyd, born June 5, 1895. Bill Boyd’s identification with fictional cowboy hero Hopalong Cassidy made him rich. After starring in 66 Hoppy movies from 1935 to 1948, Boyd, and his fifth wife, Grace, risked everything they had to buy the rights to the character. With the end of B westerns looming, he was advised against it.
Born in Ohio but raised in Oklahoma, Boyd’s father died when he was 12 and he quit school, ultimately heading west and stardom in silent films. He had a penchant for drinking, womanizing, and gambling. William Boyd’s career had almost been ruined in the early 1930s when his photo was wrongly plastered on the front page of newspapers with headlines of being arrested for a wild Malibu party.
What happened to change his luck? What made him one of the most popular western film stars? How did he become the hero to millions of fans all over the world?
William Boyd’s Hopalong Cassidy is still finding new fans. Learn more about his life and career in this special birthday edition of A WORD ON WESTERNS.
4 июн 2022