Denver Pyle
Acting
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
Known for
Acting222
movieThe Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!
1997
Uncle Jesse Duke
tvWhat a Cartoon!
1995
Podunk Possum (voice)
tvCybill
1995
Denver Pyle (uncredited)
movieFather and Scout
1994
George Rosebrock
movieMaverick
1994
Old Gambler on Riverboat
tvL.A. Law
1986
Harold Nordoff
movieReturn to Mayberry
1986
Briscoe Darling
tvMurder, She Wrote
1984
Eben Connors
tvThe Dukes
1983
Uncle Jesse (voice)
movieLegend of the Wild
1981
Narrator (Voice)
tvThe Dukes of Hazzard
1979
Jesse Duke
tvDallas
1978
Blackie Callahan
movieReturn from Witch Mountain
1978
Uncle Bene
tvThe Love Boat
1977
Eric Springer
tvGrizzly Adams
1977
Mad Jack
tvHow the West Was Won
1977
Sgt. Tripp
movieGuardian of the Wilderness
1976
Galen Clark
movieWelcome to L.A.
1976
Carl Barber
movieThe Last of Mrs. Lincoln
1976
Senator Austin
movieBuffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson
1976
The Indian Agent (McLaughlin)
movieHawmps!
1976
Col. Seymour Hawkins
movieThe Adventures of Frontier Fremont
1976
Old mountain man
movieWinterhawk
1975
Arkansas
movieThe Boy Who Talked to Badgers
1975
Ben as an Adult
movieEscape to Witch Mountain
1975
Uncle Bene
tvPetrocelli
1974
Andrew Warburton
tvThe Manhunter
1974
Sam Dickerson
movieMurder or Mercy
1974
Amos Champion
movieThe Legend of Hillbilly John
1974
Grandpappy John
movieHog Wild
1974
Dr. Larson
movieHitched
1973
Ben Barnstable
tvBarnaby Jones
1973
Stayley Kircher
tvKung Fu
1972
Dr. Joseph Colton
tvThe Streets of San Francisco
1972
Carl Armstrong
tvThe Waltons
1972
Cousin Homer Lee Baldwin
movieSomething Big
1971
Junior Frisbee
tvCannon
1971
Sheriff Hogsett
movieMean Justice
1971
Tom Rawling
tvThe Doris Day Show
1968
Buck Webb
movie5 Card Stud
1968
Sig Evers
movieBandolero!
1968
Muncie Carter
tvThe High Chaparral
1967
General Warren
tvThe Guns of Will Sonnett
1967
Sam Cochran
tvHondo
1967
Judge Amos Blunt
tvCimarron Strip
1967
Charley Austin
movieBonnie and Clyde
1967
Frank Hamer
movieTammy and the Millionaire
1967
Grandpa Mordecai Tarleton
movieWelcome to Hard Times
1967
Alfie - Stage Driver
movieIncident at Phantom Hill
1966
1st Hunter
tvTammy
1965
Mordecai Tarleton
movieThe Great Race
1965
Sheriff
movieShenandoah
1965
Pastor Bjoerling
movieCheyenne Autumn
1964
Sen. Henry (uncredited)
tvGomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
1964
Titus Purcell
movieBlack Like Me
1964
Man in pick-up truck
movieMail Order Bride
1964
Preacher Pope
tvThe Great Adventure
1963
Gen. Mills
tvMr. Novak
1963
Brill
tvTemple Houston
1963
Phineas Fallon
tvChanning
1963
Sam Riddle
tvArrest and Trial
1963
Jack Felton
tvThe Lieutenant
1963
Maj. Matthew Morrissey
movieTerrified
1963
Sheriff Dixon
Empire
1962
Tom Rawling
tvThe Virginian
1962
Pico Brown
movieGeronimo
1962
Senator Conrad
movieThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
1962
Amos Carruthers
tvThe Dick Van Dyke Show
1961
Uncle George
tvBen Casey
1961
Dallas Hopewell
tvDr. Kildare
1961
R. E. Lenger
tvCain's Hundred
1961
Chief Amos Trask
tvKraft Mystery Theatre
1961
Captain Lister
movieThe Alamo
1960
Thimblerig (the Gambler)
tvRoute 66
1960
Father Prior / Joe Wylie
tvStagecoach West
1960
Hewitt
tvThe Andy Griffith Show
1960
Briscoe Darling
tvNational Velvet
1960
Jed Corrigan
tvCheckmate
1960
Terry Adams
tvThe Aquanauts
1960
Captain Leo Stohl
tvThriller
1960
Ortho Wheeler
tvThe Tall Man
1960
Marshal Dave Leggert
movieHome from the Hill
1960
Mr. Bradley
tvThe Detectives
1959
Bill Darien
tvThe Twilight Zone
1959
Stu Tillman
tvLaw of the Plainsman
1959
Burke Carew
tvRiverboat
1959
Jim Bledsoe
tvThe Deputy
1959
Akins / Frank Barton
tvBonanza
1959
Price Buchanan / Claude Roman / Sheriff Ed / Marcus Caldwell / Theodore 'Ted' Hackett / Sheriff Tom Stedman / Warden
movieCast a Long Shadow
1959
Preacher Harrison
movieThe Horse Soldiers
1959
Jackie Jo
movieKing of the Wild Stallions
1959
MacGuire's Henchman
tvRawhide
1959
John Wesley 'Daddy' Quade
movieGood Day for a Hanging
1959
Deputy Ed Moore
tvBat Masterson
1958
Dan Morgan / Walsh (uncredited)
tvLawman
1958
Glen Folsom / Sam Brackett
tvBehind Closed Doors
1958
Roger Woodson
tvThe Texan
1958
Sheriff / Chip Andrews / Houston Blackston / Joe Lufton
tvBronco
1958
Norton Gillespie / Nelson / Petrie Munger
movieThe Party Crashers
1958
Mr. Bickford
movieBitter Heritage
1958
Sam Wheeler
movieChina Doll
1958
Col. Wiley
movieFort Massacre
1958
Collins
movieThe Left Handed Gun
1958
Ollinger
Jefferson Drum
1958
Bart Resdake
movieJet Pilot
1957
Mr. Simpson
tvCasey Jones
1957
Frank Reeder
movieDomino Kid
1957
Bill Dragger
tvThe Restless Gun
1957
Sheriff Jay
tvMaverick
1957
Jerry O'Brien
tvPerry Mason
1957
Robert Crane / Jackson Sidemark / Tom Quincy / Tilden Stuart / Emery Fillmore / Frank Honer
tvWagon Train
1957
Bragg
tvHave Gun, Will Travel
1957
Pete Hollister / Clay Sommers / McKay / Advent
movieThe Lonely Man
1957
Brad, Red Bluff Sheriff
movieGun Duel in Durango
1957
Ranger Captain
movie7th Cavalry
1956
Dixon
movieYaqui Drums
1956
Lefty Barr
tvDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
John Baker / Marshal Quimby / Sheriff / Sheriff Tom / Seth Robson / Marshal Joe Sully / Nat Sledge
State Trooper
1956
Mark Schmedler
Broken Arrow
1956
Fred Graf
movieThe Naked Hills
1956
Bert Killian / Narrator
movieI Killed Wild Bill Hickok
1956
Jim Bailey
moviePlease Murder Me
1956
Det. Lt. Bradley
movieTop Gun
1955
Hank Spencer (uncredited)
tvFury
1955
Carter
tvThe 20th Century Fox Hour
1955
Lester / Charley
tvFrontier
1955
Eben / Frank
movieTo Hell and Back
1955
Thompson
tvCheyenne
1955
Cyrus Burton / John Hanson / Nate Weyland
tvGunsmoke
1955
Willie Calhoun / Hank Shinn / Mike Blocker / Gus / Haggen / Aaron / Pa / Caleb / Claudius / Clab Chummer / Caleb Nash / Henry Rand / Judge Blent / Cyrus Himes
tvThe Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
1955
Ben Thompson / Hoss Mackey / Oliver Tittle / Dobie Jenner
movieRun for Cover
1955
Harvey (uncredited)
movieRage at Dawn
1955
Clint Reno
tvThe Millionaire
1955
Arthur Darner
movieThe Yellow Mountain
1954
(uncredited)
movieDrum Beat
1954
Fairchild (uncredited)
tvThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
Mr. Royal (uncredited) / Dr. Larson / Amos Briggs (uncredited) / Ben as an Adult (voice) / Uncle Bene / Clay Tanner
tvLassie
1954
Mr. Madden
movieJohnny Guitar
1954
Posseman (uncredited)
tvThe Lone Wolf
1954
Kargar
tvPublic Defender
1954
Tom Gayley / George Hansen
movieThe Command
1954
Infantryman (uncredited)
movieRide Clear of Diablo
1954
Reverend Moorehead
tvAnnie Oakley
1954
Dr. Barnes / Tom Malloy
movieVigilante Terror
1953
Henchman Sperry
movieTopeka
1953
Jonas Bailey
movieGoldtown Ghost Riders
1953
Bernie Malloy (uncredited)
movieColumn South
1953
Confederate Spy in Yankee Uniform (uncredited)
movieThe Lone Hand
1953
Regulator (uncredited)
movieRebel City
1953
Greeley
movieGunsmoke
1953
Greasy (uncredited)
movieA Perilous Journey
1953
Bartender
movieFort Vengeance
1953
Rider Warning About Wagon Train (uncredited)
tvYou Are There
1953
Chairman Savage / Cotta / Capt. Canfield / William Bayard Hale / William Newell / Col. Tench Tilghman / Dan DeQuille
movieThe Maverick
1952
Bud Karnes
movieCanyon Ambush
1952
Tom Carlton-Replaced (credit only)
tvAdventures of Superman
1952
Emile Hatch
movieFargo
1952
Carey
movieMan from the Black Hills
1952
Glenn Hartley
movieMutiny
1952
Gunner / Mutineer (uncredited)
tvThe Roy Rogers Show
1951
Henchman Nash / Bad Boy Wiley / Zeke Miller / Tom Larrabee
movieHills of Utah
1951
Bowie French
movieDrums in the Deep South
1951
Union Soldier Breaking Window (uncredited)
tvThe Adventures of Kit Carson
1951
Edmund Denning / Flip Kilson / Hackett
movieMillion Dollar Pursuit
1951
Nick Algren
tvThe Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
Henchman (uncredited)
movieRough Riders of Durango
1951
Henchman Lacey
The Cisco Kid
1950
Professor Jerry Roark / Bank Robber
tvThe Gene Autry Show
1950
Frank Blake / Burr Ramsey / Dodge Hartman / First Henchman, Rawhide Vest / Curt Wayne / Professor Sharp / Sheriff / Cleanshaven Deputy-Henchman / Jim, the Sheriff / Edward Hadley
movieThe Old Frontier
1950
Henchman George
movieDynamite Pass
1950
Henchman
movieFederal Agent at Large
1950
'Jumpy' Jordan
movieSinging Guns
1950
Richards Henchman
movieThe Big Wheel
1949
Track Intern
tvThe Lone Ranger
1949
Deputy French / Colby / Deputy Allen / Stack / Grayson / Arley McQueen / Vance Kiley
movieToo Late for Tears
1949
Young Man at Union Station (uncredited)
movieRim of the Canyon
1949
Cash Collins (uncredited)
movieRed Canyon
1949
Hutch
movieEl Paso
1949
Vigilante (uncredited)
movieThe Man from Colorado
1948
Easy Jarrett / Easy Jarrett (uncredited)
movieMarshal of Amarillo
1948
The Night Clerk
Train to Alcatraz
1948
Hutch Hutchins
movieWhere the North Begins
1947
Jim Rockwell
movieThe Guilt of Janet Ames
1947
Man in Opening Scene (uncredited)
Directing1
tvThe Doris Day Show
1968
Director