Denver Pyle

Biography

Denver Pyle was an American actor and director who started out in the theater before moving into film and television. Born in Bethune, Colorado, he studied acting and joined the American Repertory Theater, and appearances on stage led to small film parts, among them The Man from Colorado (1948). He became established after playing the outlaw Ben Thompson on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp in 1955, and went on to specialize in authority figures and gruff father figures, often as comic relief. His best known film role was the Texas Ranger Frank Hamer in Bonnie and Clyde (1967). On television he played Briscoe Darling on The Andy Griffith Show, Buck Webb on The Doris Day Show, Mad Jack on The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, and Uncle Jesse Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard from 1979 to 1985. He also directed, and had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

77years old at death

Born May 11, 1920Kit Carson County
Died December 25, 1997Burbank
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Also credited as Denver Dell Pyle

Movie Career

Films: 39
Career span: 49 years1948 to 1997

Genres

Western59%, 23 films
Drama44%, 17 films
Action26%, 10 films
Comedy21%, 8 films
Adventure18%, 7 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
Denver Pyle was cast as outlaw Ben Thompson on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp in 1955, the role that turned him from bit parts into an established actor.
First role
Pyle landed his first part in a play through actor friend Sidney Gordon, then studied acting and joined the American Repertory Theater.

Denver Pyle movies on Netflix

The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!1997IMDb rating 6.2as Uncle Jesse Duke
Maverick1994IMDb rating 7.0as Old Gambler on Riverboat
Return to Mayberry1986IMDb rating 6.9as Briscoe Darling
Return from Witch Mountain1978IMDb rating 5.7as Uncle Bene
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson1976IMDb rating 6.1as The Indian Agent (McLaughlin)
Hawmps!1976IMDb rating 5.4as Col. Seymour Hawkins
Welcome to L.A.1976IMDb rating 5.7as Carl Barber
Escape to Witch Mountain1975IMDb rating 6.3as Uncle Bene
Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5as Denver
Something Big1971IMDb rating 5.8as Junior Frisbee
5 Card Stud1968IMDb rating 6.5as Sig Evers
Bandolero!1968IMDb rating 6.5as Muncie Carter
Bonnie and Clyde1967IMDb rating 7.7as Frank Hamer
Gunpoint1966IMDb rating 6.1as Cap
Shenandoah1965IMDb rating 7.3as Pastor Bjoerling
The Great Race1965IMDb rating 7.2as Sheriff
The Rounders1965IMDb rating 6.1as Bull
Black Like Me1964IMDb rating 6.6as Man in pick-up truck
Geronimo1962IMDb rating 5.8as Senator Conrad
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance1962IMDb rating 8.1as Amos Carruthers
The Alamo1960IMDb rating 6.8as Thimblerig (the Gambler)
The Horse Soldiers1959IMDb rating 7.1as Jackie Jo
Fort Massacre1958IMDb rating 6.2as Collins
The Left Handed Gun1958IMDb rating 6.4as Ollinger
Gun Duel In Durango1957IMDb rating 5.9as Ranger Captain
Jet Pilot1957IMDb rating 5.6as Mr. Simpson
The Lonely Man1957IMDb rating 6.4as Brad, Red Bluff Sheriff
Please Murder Me1956IMDb rating 6.5as Lieut. Bradley
Rage at Dawn1955IMDb rating 6.0as Clint Reno
Run for Cover1955IMDb rating 6.7as Harvey
To Hell and Back1955IMDb rating 7.1as Thompson
Ride Clear of Diablo1954IMDb rating 6.8as Reverend Moorehead
The Command1954IMDb rating 6.4as Infantryman
Gunsmoke1953IMDb rating 6.6as Greasy
Oklahoma Annie1952IMDb rating 5.3as Skip
Drums in the Deep South1951IMDb rating 5.8as Union Soldier Breaking Window
The Big Wheel1949IMDb rating 5.6as Doctor
Too Late for Tears1949IMDb rating 7.3as Young Man at Union Station
The Man from Colorado1948IMDb rating 6.7as Easy Jarrett

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Bonnie and Clyde1967 Action, Biography, Crime, Dramaas Frank Hamer
IMDb rating 7.7128K votes
Maverick1994 Action, Adventure, Comedyas Old Gambler on Riverboat
IMDb rating 7.0126K votes
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance1962as Amos Carruthers
IMDb rating 8.190K votes
Escape to Witch Mountain1975as Uncle Bene
IMDb rating 6.313K votes
To Hell and Back1955as Thompson
IMDb rating 7.16.6K votes
Bandolero!1968as Muncie Carter
IMDb rating 6.56.4K votes
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!1997as Uncle Jesse Duke
IMDb rating 6.21.4K votes
The Horse Soldiers1959as Jackie Jo
IMDb rating 7.113K votes

Most often with

Andrew V. McLaglen directed four of these films, Arthur Penn two and John Ford two. John Wayne appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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John Wayne

Paul Fix

Harry Carey Jr.

Ray Teal

Edgar Buchanan

Audie Murphy

Andrew V. McLaglenDirector, 4 films

Arthur PennDirector, 2 films

John FordDirector, 2 films

Films together

John Wayne5 films together, 1957 to 1973
John Wayne's page
- Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5Pyle as DenverWayne as J. D. Cahill
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance1962IMDb rating 8.1Pyle as Amos CarruthersWayne as Tom Doniphon
- The Alamo1960IMDb rating 6.8Pyle as Thimblerig (the Gambler)Wayne as Col. Davy Crockett
- The Horse Soldiers1959IMDb rating 7.1Pyle as Jackie JoWayne as Col. John Marlowe
- Jet Pilot1957IMDb rating 5.6Pyle as Mr. SimpsonWayne as Col. Jim Shannon
Paul Fix4 films together, 1957 to 1973
Paul Fix's page
- Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5Pyle as DenverFix as Old Man
- Something Big1971IMDb rating 5.8Pyle as Junior FrisbeeFix as Chief Yellow Sun
- Shenandoah1965IMDb rating 7.3Pyle as Pastor BjoerlingFix as Dr. Tom Witherspoon
- Jet Pilot1957IMDb rating 5.6Pyle as Mr. SimpsonFix as Maj. Rexford
Harry Carey Jr.4 films together, 1965 to 1973
Harry Carey Jr.'s page
- Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5Pyle as DenverCarey as Hank
- Something Big1971IMDb rating 5.8Pyle as Junior FrisbeeCarey as Joe Pickins
- Bandolero!1968IMDb rating 6.5Pyle as Muncie CarterCarey as Cort Hayjack
- Shenandoah1965IMDb rating 7.3Pyle as Pastor BjoerlingCarey as Jenkins - Rebel Soldier
Ray Teal4 films together, 1948 to 1955
Ray Teal's page
- Rage at Dawn1955IMDb rating 6.0Pyle as Clint RenoTeal as Sheriff of Seymour
- Run for Cover1955IMDb rating 6.7Pyle as HarveyTeal as Sheriff
- The Command1954IMDb rating 6.4Pyle as InfantrymanTeal as Dr. Trent
- The Man from Colorado1948IMDb rating 6.7Pyle as Easy JarrettTeal as Bartender
Edgar Buchanan4 films together, 1948 to 1966
Edgar Buchanan's page
- Gunpoint1966IMDb rating 6.1Pyle as CapBuchanan as Bull
- The Rounders1965IMDb rating 6.1Pyle as BullBuchanan as Vince Moore
- Rage at Dawn1955IMDb rating 6.0Pyle as Clint RenoBuchanan as Judge
- The Man from Colorado1948IMDb rating 6.7Pyle as Easy JarrettBuchanan as Doc Merriam
Audie Murphy4 films together, 1953 to 1966
Audie Murphy's page
- Gunpoint1966IMDb rating 6.1Pyle as CapMurphy as Chad Lucas
- To Hell and Back1955IMDb rating 7.1Pyle as ThompsonMurphy as Audie Murphy
- Ride Clear of Diablo1954IMDb rating 6.8Pyle as Reverend MooreheadMurphy as Clay O'Mara
- Gunsmoke1953IMDb rating 6.6Pyle as GreasyMurphy as Reb Kittredge
Andrew V. McLaglenDirector, 4 films, 1965 to 1973
All films by Andrew V. McLaglen
- Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5Pyle as Denver
- Something Big1971IMDb rating 5.8Pyle as Junior Frisbee
- Bandolero!1968IMDb rating 6.5Pyle as Muncie Carter
- Shenandoah1965IMDb rating 7.3Pyle as Pastor Bjoerling
Arthur PennDirector, 2 films, 1958 to 1967
All films by Arthur Penn
- Bonnie and Clyde1967IMDb rating 7.7Pyle as Frank Hamer
- The Left Handed Gun1958IMDb rating 6.4Pyle as Ollinger
John FordDirector, 2 films, 1959 to 1962
All films by John Ford
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance1962IMDb rating 8.1Pyle as Amos Carruthers
- The Horse Soldiers1959IMDb rating 7.1Pyle as Jackie Jo

Box office

What Denver Pyle's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$350 million

9 of the 39 films have a worldwide figure.

9Worldwide figure
3US gross only
2Never in cinemas
25Figure not found

Top grosser

Maverick1994Old Gambler on Riverboat$183 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 98% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Maverick1994as Old Gambler on Riverboat
$183M52.3% of the total
2
Bonnie and Clyde1967as Frank Hamer
$70M20.0% of the total
3
The Great Race1965as Sheriff
$25M7.2% of the total
4
Escape to Witch Mountain1975as Uncle Bene
$20M5.7% of the total
5
Shenandoah1965as Pastor Bjoerling
$17M4.9% of the total
6
Bandolero!1968as Muncie Carter
$12M3.4% of the total
7
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance1962as Amos Carruthers
$8.0M2.3% of the total
8
The Alamo1960as Thimblerig (the Gambler)
$7.9M2.3% of the total