Ben Johnson Jr.

At 77 years old, Ben Johnson Jr. has this physical status:

Ben "Son" Johnson Jr. (June 13, 1918 – April 8, 1996), an American stuntman, world champion rodeo cowboy, and Academy Award-winning actor.

Johnson, the son of a rancher, arrived in Hollywood to pick up a consignment of horses for a film.

He did stunt-double work for many years before finally breaking into acting in John Ford's gracious offices.

With his incredible expert horsemanship, Johnson, a tall and laconic, brought further authenticity to many roles in Westerns.

The Last Picture Show, a cinematic representation of a former cowboy theatre owner in the 1950s, received the 1971 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actor.

Throughout his life, he ran a horse-breeding ranch.

Despite the fact that he believed he had won by sticking to what he knew, Johnson shrewd real estate investments made him worth more than $100 million by his later years.

Early life

Johnson was born in Foraker, Oklahoma, on the Osage Indian Reservation, of Irish and Cherokee ancestry, and the son of Ollie Susan Johnson (née Workmon) and Ben Johnson, Sr. His father, a rancher and rodeo champion in Osage County, was born.

Personal life

Johnson's 1941 marriage to Carol Elaine Jones lasted until her death on March 27, 1994. They had no children. Clarence "Fat" Jones, a well-known Hollywood horse wrangler, was her daughter.

Johnson continued to work almost continuously until his death from a heart attack at the age of 77. The veteran actor died on April 8, 1996 while visiting Leisure World in Mesa, Arizona, where they both lived. Johnson's body was later moved from Arizona to Pawhuska, Oklahoma, for burial at the Pawhuska City Cemetery.

Ollie died on October 16, 2000, at the age of 101.

In 2003, Johnson was inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame.

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Film career

Johnson's film career began with the Howard Hughes film The Outlaw.

Later, Johnson used to say that he arrived in a truckload of horses to Hollywood.

Director John Ford, who hired Johnson for stunt work in the 1948 film Fort Apache and as the riding double for Henry Fonda, caught his interest as a stuntman. The horses were stampeded during shootings while three men were riding it. Johnson, who "had to be settin' on a horse," stopped the runaway wagon and saved the men. Johnson wished it would be in a new doubling job or even a small speaking role when Ford promised that he would be rewarded. Rather, he was granted a seven-year Ford acting contract. Johnson was called into his office by Ford and gave him an envelope with a contract in it. Johnson started reading it, and when he reached the fifth line, he said, "$5,000 a week," he stopped reading, grabbed a pen, signed it, and gave it to Ford.

He was first recognized actor in Ford's 3 Godfathers; the film is notable for the riding skills displayed by both Johnson and actor Pedro Armendáriz; Later, he said that the film was the most physically demanding of his career. Ford suggested a starring role for him in the 1949 film Mighty Joe Young; he played Gregg opposite Terry Moore. In the remaining two films of Ford's cavalry trilogy, John Wayne appears as She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), and Rio Grande (1950) joined Fort Apache. Both roles showcased Johnson's riding abilities. In Wagon Master (1950), one of Ford's favorites, Johnson was also cast as the lead.

Johnson did not have bad temper in real life; his demeanor in tense situations was calm but firm. Despite being known for avoiding drama, he had firm boundaries; during the building of Rio Grande he defied Ford, who was notorious for browbeating his actors, and reportedly told him to go to hell. Johnson was mistaken, but Ford did not use him in a film for more than a decade. Johnson appeared in four films of Sam Peckinpah and had a positive rapport with the tempestuous director. Peckinpah was lauded for Johnson's authenticity and inability of acting airs.

After being defeated senselessly by Alan Laddd, Johnson appeared as Chris Calloway, a "bad guy who does well," and One-Eyed Jacks (1961), starring Marlon Brando, Johnson appeared in supporting roles in Shane (1953). He returned to Ford in Cheyenne Autumn in 1964. He appeared in four Peckinpah films, including Charlton Heston (1965), The Wild Bunch (1969, with William Holden and Robert Ryan), and Back-to-back Steve McQueen films, The Getaway and Junior Bonner (both 1972). Melvin Purvis appeared in John Milius' Dillinger with Warren Oates in 1973; he also appeared in Milius' 1984 film Red Dawn. In 1975, he appeared in Bite the Bullet, starring Gene Hackman and James Coburn. In 1975's Breakheart Pass, he appeared with Charles Bronson. In 1980, he was portrayed as Sheriff Isum Gorch of Soggy Bottom, the United States.

Johnson appeared in the 1962–63 season of Have Gun Will Travel, which included a brief glimpse of his riding abilities. In 1963, Johnson appeared on the television Western The Virgin in the episode "Duel at Shiloh." In all 26 episodes of ABC's Western The Monroes, co-stars Michael Anderson, Jr., and Barbara Hershey appeared as the character Sleeve in the 1966–67 television series.

He worked with John Wayne and director Andrew V. McLaglen in two films, including appearances in The Undefeated (1969) and in a small role in Chisum (1970). Johnson's career came to an end in 1971, with Johnson receiving an Academy Award for his role as Sam the Lion in The Last Picture Show, directed by Peter Bogdanovich.

He told Nancy Anderson of Copley News Service that winning the Oscar for The Last Picture Show was not going to change him and that he would not raise his salary request to studios due to it. "I grew up on a farm and I know livestock," he said, so I like working in Westerns." I've been afraid of failure throughout my life. To prevent it from happening, I've stuck with doing things I know how to do, and it's made me a good living."

Cap Roundtree was a member of the 1979 miniseries The Sacketts, he appeared in Cap Roundtree. In the 1984 action film Red Dawn, Sam Bellows appeared in Ruckus and Jack Mason. He appeared in the Outfield's 1994 version.

During the entire period, he continued ranching in Sylmar, California, owning a horse-breeding ranch. In addition, Ben Johnson sponsored the Ben Johnson Pro Celebrity Team Roping and Penning competition, which took place in Oklahoma City and Katy, Texas, and the Children's Hospital of Oklahoma.

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