Denver Pyle
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- May 11, 1920
- Died
- December 25, 1997
- Birthplace
- Bethune, Colorado, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Denver Dell Pyle (May 11, 1920 – December 25, 1997) was an American film and television actor. He was known for portraying Briscoe Darling Jr. in several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, and playing Jesse Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard from 1979-85. Pyle was born in Bethune, Colorado on May 11, 1920 to farmer Ben H. Pyle and his wife Maude; His brother, Willis, was an animator known for his work with Walt Disney Animation Studios and UPA. After graduating from high school, Pyle briefly attended Colorado State University, but dropped out to enter show business, moving to Los Angeles in 1940. He worked as a drummer and band member until the United States entered World War II, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Pyle was wounded in action in the Battle of Guadalcanal and received a medical discharge in 1942. Near the end of the war, he served in the United States Merchant Marine. In 1955, Pyle married Marilee Carpenter, a production assistant at 20th Century Fox. They had sons David and Tony. Marilee and Denver divorced in 1970. In 1983, Pyle married Tippie Johnston. That union lasted until his death. Pyle died of lung cancer on Christmas 1997. Memorial services were held January 6, 1998, at First Baptist Church in Waxahachie, Texas. He is buried in an unmarked grave at the Forreston Cemetery in Forreston, Texas. His remains are interred beside those of his second wife's parents, J.T. Johnston and Erin Birch Johnston. CLR
Filmography
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! 1997
as Uncle Jesse Duke
Father and Scout 1994
as George Rosebrock
Maverick 1994
as Old Gambler on Riverboat
- John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
John Wayne's 'The Alamo' 1992
as Self
Delta Fever 1987
as Walt
Return to Mayberry 1986
as Briscoe Darling
Mercur: The Town that Can't Stay Dead 1983
as Narrator
Legend of the Wild 1981
as Narrator (Voice)
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion 1979
as Self
- Once Upon a Starry Night
Once Upon a Starry Night 1978
as Mad Jack
How Bugs Bunny Won the West 1978
as Narrator
Return from Witch Mountain 1978
as Uncle Bene
Legend of the Northwest 1978
as Abner
Guardian of the Wilderness 1976
as Galen Clark
Welcome to L.A. 1976
as Carl Barber
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln 1976
as Senator Austin
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson 1976
as The Indian Agent (McLaughlin)
Hawmps! 1976
as Col. Seymour Hawkins
The Adventures of Frontier Fremont 1976
as Old mountain man
Winterhawk 1975
as Arkansas
The Boy Who Talked to Badgers 1975
as Ben as an Adult
Death Among Friends 1975
as Morgan
Escape to Witch Mountain 1975
as Uncle Bene
Murder or Mercy 1974
as Amos Champion
The Legend of Hillbilly John 1974
as Grandpappy John
Hog Wild 1974
as Dr. Larson
Cahill: United States Marshal 1973
as Denver
Hitched 1973
as Ben Barnstable
Something Big 1971
as Junior Frisbee
Mean Justice 1971
as Tom Rawling
5 Card Stud 1968
as Sig Evers
Bandolero! 1968
as Muncie Carter
Bonnie and Clyde 1967
as Frank Hamer
Tammy and the Millionaire 1967
as Grandpa Mordecai Tarleton
Welcome to Hard Times 1967
as Alfie - Stage Driver
Incident at Phantom Hill 1966
as 1st Hunter
Gunpoint 1966
as Cap
Mara of the Wilderness 1965
as Kelly
The Great Race 1965
as Sheriff
Shenandoah 1965
as Pastor Bjoerling
The Rounders 1965
as Bull
Cheyenne Autumn 1964
as Sen. Henry (uncredited)
Black Like Me 1964
as Man in pick-up truck
Mail Order Bride 1964
as Preacher Pope
Terrified 1963
as Sheriff Dixon
Geronimo 1962
as Senator Conrad
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962
as Amos Carruthers
The Alamo 1960
as Thimblerig (the Gambler)
Home from the Hill 1960
as Mr. Bradley
Cast a Long Shadow 1959
as Preacher Harrison
The Horse Soldiers 1959
as Jackie Jo
King of the Wild Stallions 1959
as MacGuire's Henchman
Good Day for a Hanging 1959
as Deputy Ed Moore
The Party Crashers 1958
as Mr. Bickford
Bitter Heritage 1958
as Sam Wheeler
China Doll 1958
as Col. Wiley
Fort Massacre 1958
as Collins
The Left Handed Gun 1958
as Ollinger
Jet Pilot 1957
as Mr. Simpson
Domino Kid 1957
as Bill Dragger
The Lonely Man 1957
as Brad, Red Bluff Sheriff
- Destination 60,000
Destination 60,000 1957
as Mickey Hill
Gun Duel in Durango 1957
as Ranger Captain
7th Cavalry 1956
as Dixon
Yaqui Drums 1956
as Lefty Barr
The Naked Hills 1956
as Bert Killian / Narrator
I Killed Wild Bill Hickok 1956
as Jim Bailey
Please Murder Me 1956
as Det. Lt. Bradley
Top Gun 1955
as Hank Spencer (uncredited)
To Hell and Back 1955
as Thompson
Run for Cover 1955
as Harvey
Rage at Dawn 1955
as Clint Reno
Ten Wanted Men 1955
Actor
The Yellow Mountain 1954
as (uncredited)
Drum Beat 1954
as Fairchild (uncredited)
Johnny Guitar 1954
as Posseman (uncredited)
The Boy from Oklahoma 1954
as Bagley
The Command 1954
as Infantryman (uncredited)
Ride Clear of Diablo 1954
as Reverend Moorehead
Texas Bad Man 1953
as Tench
Vigilante Terror 1953
as Henchman Sperry
Topeka 1953
as Jonas Bailey
The Lone Hand 1953
as Regulator (uncredited)
Goldtown Ghost Riders 1953
as Bernie Malloy (uncredited)
Column South 1953
as Confederate Spy in Yankee Uniform (uncredited)
Rebel City 1953
as Greeley
Gunsmoke 1953
as Greasy (uncredited)
A Perilous Journey 1953
as Bartender
Fort Vengeance 1953
as Rider Warning About Wagon Train (uncredited)
The Maverick 1952
as Bud Karnes
Canyon Ambush 1952
as Tom Carlton-Replaced (credit only)
Fargo 1952
as Carey
Desert Passage 1952
as Allen
Man from the Black Hills 1952
as Glenn Hartley
Oklahoma Annie 1952
as Skip
Mutiny 1952
as Gunner / Mutineer (uncredited)
Hills of Utah 1951
as Bowie French
Drums in the Deep South 1951
as Union Soldier Breaking Window (uncredited)
Million Dollar Pursuit 1951
as Nick Algren
Rough Riders of Durango 1951
as Henchman Lacey
The Old Frontier 1950
as Henchman George
Customs Agent 1950
as Al
Dynamite Pass 1950
as Henchman
Federal Agent at Large 1950
as 'Jumpy' Jordan
Singing Guns 1950
as Richards Henchman
Captain China 1950
as Steve
The Flying Saucer 1950
as Turner
The Big Wheel 1949
as Track Intern
Flame of Youth 1949
as Lytz
Too Late for Tears 1949
as Young Man at Union Station (uncredited)
Rim of the Canyon 1949
as Cash Collins (uncredited)
Hellfire 1949
as Rex
Red Canyon 1949
as Hutch
- Streets of San Francisco
Streets of San Francisco 1949
as Ed Quinn
El Paso 1949
as Vigilante (uncredited)
The Man from Colorado 1948
as Easy Jarrett, as Easy Jarrett (uncredited)
Marshal of Amarillo 1948
as The Night Clerk
- Train to Alcatraz
Train to Alcatraz 1948
as Hutch Hutchins
Where the North Begins 1947
as Jim Rockwell
Devil Ship 1947
as Carl
The Guilt of Janet Ames 1947
as Man in Opening Scene (uncredited)
Credits from TMDB.