DENVER PYLE BIOGRAPHY
by Julie-Ann S. (Sneddy)
Denver Dell Pyle was born on May 11th, 1920 in Bethune, Colorado to Ben and Maude Mae Pyle, local farmers. Pyle didn't want to be a farmer, so he went to university to study law, where he worked as drummer in a dance band to earn money. However, Pyle became frustrated with studying law and decided to return to his family farm, unsure of what he really wanted to do. He worked in a variety of jobs, including working in oilfields and on shrimp boats. In 1940, he had a job as page at NBC Radio and even though some the stars of the day had begun as pages at NBC, Pyle's tenure there did not lead to an entertainment career.
During World War Two, Pyle served in the navy. Some time after the war had finished, a fellow oilfield co-worker who was mute, led Pyle to consider an acting career. Pyle had been inspired to act, by watching his co-worker communicate his thoughts through the use of body language. Pyle studied acting under acting greats, Michael Chekov and Maria Ouspenskaya. He made his first film appearance in 1947 and his first television appearance in 1951.
Pyle's film appearances included The Left-Handed Gun (1958), The Alamo (1960), and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). In 1967 he appeared as the sheriff, in what would be his break-through film role in Bonnie and Clyde (1967). After this Pyle was in demand for many other film and television roles including an appearance as a gambler in Maverick (1994).
Pyle's television career was highlighted with many guest star appearances and regular roles on numerous TV shows. He appeared as a guest star in many TV westerns including The Lone Ranger, The Gene Autry Show, Have Gun Will Travel, Gunsmoke and of course, Bonanza. The Bonanza episodes he appeared in were:
Springtime (season 3)
A Hot Day for a Hanging (season
4)
The Boss (season 4)
Little Man - Ten Feet Tall (season
4)
Bullet for a Bride (season 5)
The Passing of a King
(season 10)
The Wagon (season 12)
Riot! (season 14)
Other TV guest star roles over the years, included appearances on such shows as Perry Mason, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Murder She Wrote and Dallas.
Television shows that Pyle starred in were The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (as Ben Thompson), The Doris Day Show (as Buck Webb), The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (as Mad Jack) and his most famous role as Uncle Jesse Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985). Pyle also directed episodes of many TV shows including The Doris Day Show, Death Valley Days and The Dukes of Hazzard.
In general, Pyle had eventually over 300 film and television credits to his name. His hair had gone prematurely grey when he was in his early 30s. He also had two sons with his wife Marilee, whom he divorced in 1966.
Pyle died on December 25th, 1997 from lung cancer at Burbank's Providence St. Joseph Medical Centre.
Sources:
The Internet Movie
Database
TV Tome
Yahoo! Movies
Info Please
What A Character!
Wildest
Westerns