Gene Autry
Biography
Gene Autry was an American actor, singer, and musician who became known as the Singing Cowboy through radio, film, and television. Born near Tioga, Texas, he grew up doing ranch work before the humorist Will Rogers encouraged him to sing professionally. He signed with Columbia Records in 1929, and his first hit came in 1932 with That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine. His screen debut was in In Old Santa Fe (1934), and he soon took the lead in the serial The Phantom Empire. Autry appeared in 93 movies between 1934 and 1953, mostly Westerns in which he played himself and rode his horse Champion, and he hosted The Gene Autry Show from 1950 to 1956. His recordings included Back in the Saddle Again and Christmas standards such as Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and he entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1969. He was the only person with stars in all five Hollywood Walk of Fame categories.
91years old at death
- Born Tioga
- Died Studio City
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
- Orvon Grover Autry (birth name)Also credited as Orvon Gene Autry
Movie Career
- Films
- 6
- Career span
- 25 years1934 to 1959
Photos
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Big break
Film producer Nat Levine discovered Autry and Burnette in 1934. The pair debuted for Mascot Pictures Corp. in In Old Santa Fe in a singing cowboy quartet, and Levine then starred Autry in the 1935 serial The Phantom Empire.
A change of course
In 1960, Autry sought radio broadcast rights for a new Los Angeles expansion team, but baseball executives persuaded him to become the owner of the franchise instead. The team debuted in 1961 as the Los Angeles Angels.
A change of course
During World War II, Autry joined the United States Army in 1942 and rose to tech sergeant in the Army Air Corps. He held a private pilot certificate, wanted to fly for the military, and in June 1944 earned his Service Pilot rating, serving as a C-109 transport pilot over the Himalayas between India and China.
Gene Autry movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Joseph Kane directed two of these films. Smiley Burnette appears in four 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.
Films together
Smiley Burnette's page
Champion's page
George Chesebro's page
Edward Hearn's page
Frankie Marvin2 films together, 1936 to 1937
Frankie Marvin's page
Joseph KaneDirector, 2 films, 1934 to 1937
All films by Joseph Kane
Awards
Three awards and honors from 1960 to 2009, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grammy Awards | |||
| 2009 | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (posthumous) | Won | |
| Other honors | |||
| 1998 | Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame | Won | |
| 1960 | Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.