Bill Elliott
Biography
Bill Elliott was an American film actor who built a career as a rugged hero of B Westerns, most closely associated with the Red Ryder series. Born Gordon Nance, he grew up on a Missouri ranch, where riding and roping filled his youth. He broke into pictures with extra work around 1925, studied at the Pasadena Playhouse and made his first Western, The Arizona Wildcat, in 1927. After years of unbilled parts, he drew notice in minor Westerns and Columbia gave him the title role in the serial The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (1938), which led to his own series of features and a new screen name. He signed with Republic Pictures in 1943 and starred in Calling Wild Bill Elliott before playing Red Ryder in 16 films. Later B Westerns, a radio show, and Monogram police dramas followed until he retired.
61years old at death
- Born Pattonsburg
- Died Las Vegas
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
- Gordon Nance (birth name)Also credited as Gordon Eliott
Movie Career
- Films
- 11
- Career span
- 6 years1931 to 1937
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First role
By 1927, Elliott had made his first Western, The Arizona Wildcat, and in it he played his first featured role.
Big break
After the success of the 1938 serial The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, Columbia promoted Elliott to star in his own Western series, replacing Robert "Tex" Allen.
About the name
After several co-starring roles, he changed his name to Gordon Elliott. When studios moved to sound films, he returned to extra and bit parts, such as in Broadway Scandals in 1929.
About the name
Elliott's first film for Republic Pictures, Calling Wild Bill Elliott in 1943, gave him the name by which he would be billed for the rest of his career.
Own stunts
Ben Johnson, in an interview with Harry Carey Jr., remembered that Elliott was among the actors he taught to ride. Elliott asked many questions about style and technique and, according to Johnson, became an excellent horseman.
Bill Elliott movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Frank Capra directed two of these films, Alfred E. Green two and Roy Del Ruth two. Eleven actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Bette Davis's page
Barbara Stanwyck's page
Mary Astor's page
Loretta Young's page
Berton Churchill's page
John Eldredge's page
All films by Frank Capra
All films by Alfred E. Green
Roy Del RuthDirector, 2 films, 1931 to 1933
All films by Roy Del Ruth
Also two films together5 more actors
- Richard CramerBlonde Crazy (1931) and Platinum Blonde (1931)
- Don DillawayThe Little Giant (1933) and Platinum Blonde (1931)
- Edward Van SloanThe Woman in Red (1935) and The Mummy (1932)
- Noel FrancisBlonde Crazy (1931) and Smart Woman (1931)
- Oliver EckhardtForbidden (1932) and Platinum Blonde (1931)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.