Theodore Childress "Chill" Wills (July 18, 1902 – December 15, 1978) was an American actor and a singer in the Avalon Boys quartet.

Early life

Wills was born in

Seagoville, Texas Seagoville ( ) is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Dallas. A small portion of Seagoville extends into Kaufman County. The population was 18,446 at the 2020 census. The city is located along U.S. Highway 175, from ...

, on July 18, 1902.

Career

Wills was a performer from early childhood, forming and leading the Avalon Boys singing group in the 1930s. He provided the deep voice for

Stan Laurel Stan Laurel ( ; born Arthur Stanley Jefferson; 16 June 1890 – 23 February 1965) was an English comic actor, director and writer who was in the comedy double act, duo Laurel and Hardy. He appeared with his comedy partner Oliver Hardy in 107 sh ...

's performance of "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" in '' Way Out West'' (1937), in which the Avalon Boys Quartet appeared. After appearing in a few Westerns, he disbanded the group in 1938, and struck out on a solo acting career. During the 1940s, Wills was a contract player for

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

, appearing in Westerns. Wills was also cast in a number of dramatic roles, including as "the City of Chicago" as personified by a phantom police sergeant in the

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

City That Never Sleeps ''City That Never Sleeps'' is a 1953 American film noir crime film directed by John H. Auer and starring Gig Young, Mala Powers, William Talman, Edward Arnold, Chill Wills, Marie Windsor, and Paula Raymond, with cinematography by John L ...

'' (1953), and that of Uncle Bawley in ''

Giant In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: ''wiktionary:gigas, gigas'', cognate wiktionary:giga-, giga-) are beings of humanoid appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''gia ...

'' (1956), which also features

Rock Hudson Rock Hudson (born Roy Harold Scherer Jr.; November 17, 1925 – October 2, 1985) was an American actor. One of the most popular film stars of his time, he had a screen career spanning more than three decades, and was a prominent figure in the G ...

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was an English and American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 19 ...

, and

James Dean James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931September 30, 1955) was an American actor. He became one of the most influential figures in Hollywood in the 1950s, despite a career that lasted only five years. His impact on cinema and popular culture was p ...

. Wills was nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It has been awarded since the 9th Academy Awards to an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in ...

for his role as

Davy Crockett Colonel (United States), Colonel David Crockett (August 17, 1786 – March 6, 1836) was an American politician, militia officer and frontiersman. Often referred to in popular culture as the "King of the Wild Frontier", he represented Tennesse ...

's companion Beekeeper in the film '' The Alamo'' (1960). However, his aggressive campaign for the award was considered tasteless by many, including the film's star/director/producer

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...

, who publicly apologized for Wills. His publicity agent, Wojciechowicz "Bow Wow" Wojtkiewicz (former husband of gossip columnist

Sheilah Graham Sheilah Graham (born Lily Shiel; 15 September 1904 – 17 November 1988) was a British-born, nationally syndicated American gossip columnist during Hollywood's "Golden Age". In her youth, she had been a showgirl and a freelance writer for Fl ...

), accepted blame for the ill-advised effort, claiming that Wills knew nothing about it. The Oscar was won by

Peter Ustinov Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov (16 April 192128 March 2004) was a British actor, director and writer. An internationally known raconteur, he was a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits for much of his career. Ustinov received #Awa ...

for his role as

Lentulus Batiatus Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Vatia (also called Lentulus Batiatus by Plutarch) was the Roman owner of a gladiatorial school in ancient Capua. It was from this school that, in 73 BC, the Thracian slave Spartacus and about 70 to 78 followers escaped. T ...

in ''

Spartacus Spartacus (; ) was a Thracians, Thracian gladiator (Thraex) who was one of the Slavery in ancient Rome, escaped slave leaders in the Third Servile War, a major Slave rebellion, slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Historical accounts o ...

''. Wills was the voice of

Francis the Talking Mule Francis the Talking Mule is a fictional mule who first appeared in three short stories written for ''Esquire magazine'' by David Stern, which he later combined into the 1946 novel ''Francis''. This was the basis of a series of seven Universal-I ...

in a series of films. Wills' deep, rough voice, with its Western twang, was matched to the personality of the cynical, sardonic mule. As was customary at the time, Wills was given no billing for his vocal work, though he was featured prominently on-screen as blustery General Ben Kaye in the fourth entry, ''

Francis Joins the WACS ''Francis Joins the WACS'' is a 1954 American black-and-white comedy film from Universal-International, produced by Ted Richmond, directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Donald O'Connor, Julie Adams, ZaSu Pitts, Mamie Van Doren and Chill Wills ...

''. Wills was a poker player and a friend of

Benny Binion Lester Ben Binion (November 20, 1904 – December 25, 1989), better known as Benny Binion, was an American casino operator who established illegal gambling operations in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. In 1931, Binion was convicted of shooting an ...

, the founder of the

World Series of Poker The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is a series of poker tournaments held annually in Paradise, Nevada, and since 2004, sponsored by Eldorado Resorts, Caesars Entertainment. It dates its origins to 1970, when Benny Binion invited seven of the best ...

and former owner of Binion's Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wills participated in the first World Series, held in 1970, and is seated in the center of the picture. In 1959, he starred as Bije Wilcox in "The Bije Wilcox Story" on ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western television series that aired for eight seasons, first on the NBC television network (1957–1962) and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and reached the top of the ...

''. In

Rory Calhoun Rory Calhoun (born Francis Timothy McCown, August 8, 1922April 28, 1999) was an American film and television actor. He starred in numerous Westerns in the 1950s and 1960s, and appeared in supporting roles in films such as ''How to Marry a Millio ...

's Western series '' The Texan'', Wills appeared in the lead role in the 1960 episode titled "The Eyes of Captain Wylie". Wills starred in the series ''

Frontier Circus ''Frontier Circus'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series about a traveling circus roaming the American West in the 1880s. Filmed by Revue Productions, the program originally aired on CBS from October 5, 1961, until Sep ...

'', which aired for only one season (1961–62) on CBS. In 1966, he was cast in the role of a shady Texas rancher, Jim Ed Love, in the short-lived comedy/Western series '' The Rounders'' (reprising his role in the 1965 film '' The Rounders'', starring

Henry Fonda Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor whose career spanned five decades on Broadway theatre, Broadway and in Hollywood. On screen and stage, he often portrayed characters who embodied an everyman image. Bo ...

), with co-stars Ron Hayes, Patrick Wayne, and

Walker Edmiston Walker Robert Edmiston (February 6, 1926 – February 15, 2007) was an American actor and puppeteer. Early years Walker Edmiston was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on February 6, 1926, to William Sherman Edmiston (1894–1976) and Anna Edmiston ( ...

. In 1962 he guest-starred as title character "Abe Blocker" on ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'', as a deranged mountain man, and old friend of Matt Dillon, preying on homesteaders. His murderous rampage results in his violent death. In 19631964, Wills joined William Lundigan,

Walter Brennan Walter Andrew Brennan (July 25, 1894 – September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Come and Get It (1936 film), Come and Get It'' (1936), ''Kentucky (film), Kentucky'' (19 ...

, and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in making appearances on behalf of U.S. Senator

Barry Goldwater Barry Morris Goldwater (January 2, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was an American politician and major general in the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve who served as a United States senator from 1953 to 1965 and 1969 to 1987, and was the Re ...

, the Republican nominee in the campaign against U.S. President

Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), also known as LBJ, was the 36th president of the United States, serving from 1963 to 1969. He became president after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, under whom he had served a ...

. Later, in 1968, Wills refused to support

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 until Resignation of Richard Nixon, his resignation in 1974. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican ...

for the presidency and served as master of ceremonies for George C. Wallace, former governor of Alabama, for the California campaign stops in Wallace's

presidential campaign A political campaign is an organized effort which seeks to influence the decision making progress within a specific group. In democracies, political campaigns often refer to electoral campaigns, by which representatives are chosen or referen ...

. Wills was among the few Hollywood celebrities to endorse Wallace's bid against Nixon and Hubert H. Humphrey; another was

. Also in 1968, he starred in the ''

'' episode "A Noose for Dobie Price", where he played Elihu Gorman, a former outlaw who joins forces with Marshal Matt Dillon, played by

James Arness James Arness (born James King Aurness; May 26, 1923 – June 3, 2011) was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the series ''Gunsmoke''. He has the distinction of having played the role of Dillon in f ...

, to track down a member of his former gang who has escaped jail. In 1971, he appeared as Pat Reedy on ''The Men from Shiloh'' (rebranded name of the TV Western '' The Virginian'') in the episode titled "The Angus Killer". His last role was in 1978, as a janitor in '' Stubby Pringle's Christmas''.

Death

On December 15, 1978, Wills died of cancer in Encino, California, aged 76. He was cremated and interred at Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Partial filmography

* ''

It's a Gift ''It's a Gift'' is a 1934 American comedy film starring W.C. Fields. It was Fields's 16th sound film and his fifth in 1934 alone. The film concerns the trials and tribulations of a grocer as he battles a shrewish wife, an incompetent assista ...

'' (1934) as Campfire Singer (uncredited) * '' Bar 20 Rides Again'' (1935) as Background Singer / Henchman * '' Anything Goes'' (1936) as Member of The Avalon Boys (uncredited) * '' Call of the Prairie'' (1936) as Singing Cowhand * '' Hideaway Girl'' (1936) as Lead Singer of Avalon Boys * '' Way Out West'' (1937) as Lead Singer of the Avalon Boys / Stan's Bass Singing (uncredited) * '' Nobody's Baby'' (1937) as Amateur Hour Lead Quartet Singer * ''

Block-Heads ''Block-Heads'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by John G. Blystone and starring Laurel and Hardy, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. It was produced by Hal Roach Studios for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film, a reworking of elements from the Lau ...

'' (1938) as Midget in Elevator (voice, uncredited) * '' Lawless Valley'' (1938) as Deputy Speedy McGow * '' Arizona Legion'' (1939) as Whopper Hatch * '' Trouble in Sundown'' (1939) as Whopper * '' Sorority House'' (1939) as Mr. Johnson * '' Racketeers of the Range'' (1939) as Whopper Hatch * '' Timber Stampede'' (1939) as Whopper Hatch * '' The Day the Bookies Wept'' (1939) as Man on Bus (uncredited) * ''

Allegheny Uprising ''Allegheny Uprising'' (released in the UK as ''The First Rebel'') is a 1939 American Adventure Western film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Claire Trevor and John Wayne. Based on the 1937 novel ''The First Rebel'' by Neil H. Swanson ...

'' (1939) as John M'Cammon * '' Boom Town'' (1940) as Deputy Harmony Jones * ''

Wyoming Wyoming ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States, Western United States. It borders Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho t ...

'' (1940) as Lafe (uncredited) * '' The Westerner'' (1940) as Southeast * ''

Sky Murder ''Sky Murder'' is a 1940 detective film starring Walter Pidgeon as detective Nick Carter in his third and final outing for MGM as Nick Carter. The film was part of a trilogy based on original screen stories starring the popular literary series ...

'' (1940) as Sheriff Beckwith * '' Tugboat Annie Sails Again'' (1940) as Shiftless * ''

Western Union The Western Union Company is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Denver, Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1851 as the New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company in Rochester, New York, the co ...

'' (1941) as Homer Kettle * '' The Bad Man'' (1941) as 'Red' Giddings * ''

Billy the Kid Henry McCarty (September 17 or November 23, 1859July 14, 1881), alias William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid, was an American outlaw and gunfighter of the Old West who was linked to nine murders: four for which he was solely res ...

'' (1941) as Tom Patterson * '' Belle Starr'' (1941) as Blue Duck * ''

Honky Tonk A honky-tonk (also called honkatonk, honkey-tonk, honky tonk, or tonk) is either a bar that provides country music for the entertainment of its patrons or the style of music played in such establishments. It can also refer to the type of piano ...

'' (1941) as The Sniper * '' The Bugle Sounds'' (1942) as Sgt. Larry Dillon * ''

Tarzan's New York Adventure ''Tarzan's New York Adventure'' (also known as ''Tarzan Against the World'') is a 1942 American adventure film from Metro Goldwyn Mayer, produced by Frederick Stephani, directed by Richard Thorpe, that stars Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'S ...

'' (1942) as Manchester Montford * '' Her Cardboard Lover'' (1942) as Judge * '' The Omaha Trail'' (1942) as Henry Hawkins * '' Apache Trail'' (1942) as 'Pike' Skelton * '' Stand by for Action'' (1942) as Chief Boatswain's Mate Jenks * '' A Stranger in Town'' (1943) as Charles Craig * '' Best Foot Forward'' (1943) as Chester Short * ''

See Here, Private Hargrove ''See Here, Private Hargrove'' is a 1942 book by Marion Hargrove, about his experiences in U.S. Army basic training. Origin The author, a North Carolina native, was a correspondent for ''The Charlotte News'' prior to World War II. After he was ...

'' (1944) as First Sergeant Cramp * ''

Rationing Rationing is the controlled distribution (marketing), distribution of scarcity, scarce resources, goods, services, or an artificial restriction of demand. Rationing controls the size of the ration, which is one's allowed portion of the resourc ...

'' (1944) as Bus Driver (scenes deleted) * '' Barbary Coast Gent'' (1944) as Sheriff Hightower * '' Meet Me in St. Louis'' (1944) as Mr. Neely * '' I'll Be Seeing You'' (1944) as Swanson * '' Sunday Dinner for a Soldier'' (1944) as Mr. York * ''

What Next, Corporal Hargrove? ''What Next, Corporal Hargrove?'' is a 1945 black-and-white comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Robert Walker and Keenan Wynn. It was distributed by MGM and produced by George Haight. Harry Kurnitz received an Oscar nomination fo ...

'' (1945) as Sergeant Cramp * ''

Leave Her to Heaven ''Leave Her to Heaven'' is a 1945 American film directed by John M. Stahl, starring Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain, and Vincent Price. Adapted by screenwriter Jo Swerling from the 1944 novel of the same name by Ben Ames Williams, the ...

'' (1945) as Leick Thome * ''

The Harvey Girls ''The Harvey Girls'' is a 1946 Technicolor American musical film produced by Arthur Freed for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It is based on the 1942 novel of the same name by Samuel Hopkins Adams, about Fred Harvey's Harvey House waitresses. Directe ...

'' (1946) as H.H. Hartsey * '' Gallant Bess'' (1946) as Chief Petty Officer * ''

The Yearling ''The Yearling'' is a novel by American writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, published in March 1938. It was the main selection of the Book of the Month Club in April 1938. It won the 1939 Pulitzer Prize for the Novel. It was the best-selling ...

'' (1946) as Buck Forrester * '' High Barbaree'' (1947) as Lars (uncredited) * '' Heartaches'' (1947) as 'Breezie' Mann * '' The Sainted Sisters'' (1948) as Will Twitchell * '' Northwest Stampede'' (1948) as Mileaway * '' The Saxon Charm'' (1948) as Captain Chatham * '' That Wonderful Urge'' (1948) as Homer Beggs, Justice of the Peace, Monroe Township * '' Family Honeymoon'' (1948) as Fred * '' Loaded Pistols'' (1948) as Sheriff Cramer * ''

Tulsa Tulsa ( ) is the second-most-populous city in the state of Oklahoma, after Oklahoma City, and the 48th-most-populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tul ...

'' (1949) as Pinky Jimpson (Narrator) * '' Red Canyon'' (1949) as Brackton * ''

Francis Francis may refer to: People and characters *Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church (2013–2025) *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Francis (surname) * Francis, a character played by YouTuber Boogie2 ...

'' (1950) as Francis the Talking Mule (voice, uncredited) * '' The Sundowners'' (1950) as Sam Beers * '' Rock Island Trail'' (1950) as Hogger McCoy * '' Stella'' (1950) as Chief Clark (uncredited) * '' High Lonesome'' (1950) as Boatwhistle, Ranch Cook * ''

Rio Grande The Rio Grande ( or ) in the United States or the Río Bravo (del Norte) in Mexico (), also known as Tó Ba'áadi in Navajo language, Navajo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the Southwestern United States a ...

'' (1950) as Dr. Wilkins (regimental surgeon) * ''

Oh! Susanna "Oh! Susanna" is a folk song by Stephen Foster (1826–1864), first published in 1848. It is among the most popular American songs ever written. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. ...

'' (1951) as Sergeant Barhydt * ''

Francis Goes to the Races ''Francis Goes to the Races'' is a 1951 American black-and-white comedy film from Universal-International, produced by Leonard Goldstein, directed by Arthur Lubin, that stars Donald O'Connor, Piper Laurie, and Cecil Kellaway. The distinctive ...

'' (1951) as Francis the Talking Mule (voice, uncredited) * ''

Cattle Drive Droving is the practice of walking livestock over long distances. It is a type of herding, often associated with cattle, in which case it is a cattle drive (particularly in the US). Droving stock to market—usually on foot and often with the ...

'' (1951) as Dallas * '' The Sea Hornet'' (1951) as Swede * '' Bronco Buster'' (1952) as Dan Bream * '' Francis Goes to West Point'' (1952) as Francis the Talking Mule (voice, uncredited) * '' Ride the Man Down'' (1952) as Ike Adams * '' Small Town Girl'' (1953) as 'Happy', Jailer (uncredited) * '' Francis Covers the Big Town'' (1953) as Francis the Talking Mule (voice, uncredited) * ''

'' (1953) as Sergeant Joe, the 'Voice of Chicago' * '' The Man from the Alamo'' (1953) as John Gage * ''

Tumbleweed A tumbleweed is a structural part of the above-ground anatomy of a number of species of plants. It is a diaspore that, once mature and dry, detaches from its root or stem and rolls due to the force of the wind. In most such species, the tumbl ...

'' (1953) as Sheriff Murchoree * ''

'' (1954) as General Benjamin Kaye / Francis the Talking Mule (voice) * '' Ricochet Romance'' (1954) as Tom Williams * '' Hell's Outpost'' (1954) as Kevin Russel * '' Timberjack'' (1955) as Steve Riika * ''

Kentucky Rifle The long rifle, also known as the Kentucky rifle, Pennsylvania rifle, or American long rifle, is a muzzle-loading firearm used for hunting and warfare. It was one of the first commonly-used rifles. The American rifle was characterized by a ver ...

'' (1955) as Tobias Taylor * '' Francis in the Navy'' (1955) as Francis the Talking Mule (voice, uncredited) * ''

Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the country's central valley and is the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Regi ...

'' (1956) as Captain 'Sidewheel' Jones * ''

'' (1956) as Uncle Bawley * '' Gun for a Coward'' (1957) as Loving * '' Gun Glory'' (1957) as Preacher * '' From Hell to Texas'' (1958) as Amos Bradley * ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'' (1958) (Season 4 Episode 2: "Don't Interrupt") as Mr. Kilmer * '' The Sad Horse'' (1959) as Captain Connors * '' The Alamo'' (1960) as Beekeeper * '' Where the Boys Are'' (1960) as Police Captain * '' Gold of the Seven Saints'' (1961) as Doc Wilson Gates * '' The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come'' (1961) as Major Buford * '' The Deadly Companions'' (1961) as Turk, "a half-crazed card shark" * ''

'' (1962) as Abe Blocker * '' Young Guns of Texas'' (1962) as Preacher Sam Shelby * ''

McLintock! :''See also McClintock (disambiguation)'' ''McLintock!'' is a 1963 American Western comedy film, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. The film co-stars Wayne's son Patrick Wayne, Stefanie Powers, Jack Kr ...

'' (1963) as Drago * '' The Wheeler Dealers'' (1963) as Jay Ray Spinelby * ''

The Cardinal ''The Cardinal'' is a 1963 American drama film produced independently, directed by Otto Preminger and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The screenplay was written by Robert Dozier, based on the novel by the same by Henry Morton Robinson. The ...

'' (1963) as Monsignor Whittle * '' The Rounders'' (1965) as Jim Ed Love * '' Fireball 500'' (1966) as Big Jaw Harris * '' Big Daddy'' (1969) * ''

The Over-the-Hill Gang ''The Over-the-Hill Gang'' is a 1969 American made-for-television Western comedy film about a group of aging Texas Rangers, starring Walter Brennan and Pat O'Brien. Chill Wills, Edgar Buchanan, Andy Devine, and Jack Elam play supporting rol ...

'' (1969) as George Asque, retired Texas Ranger * '' The Liberation of L.B. Jones'' (1970) as Mr. Ike * ''

The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again ''The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again'' starring Walter Brennan and Fred Astaire is a 1970 '' ABC Movie of the Week'' sequel to the Western comedy '' The Over-the-Hill Gang''. The supporting cast includes Edgar Buchanan, Andy Devine, Chill Wi ...

'' (1970) as George Asque * ''

Night Gallery ''Night Gallery'' is an American anthology television series that aired on NBC from December 16, 1970, to May 27, 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, '' The Twilight Zon ...

'' (1970) as Heppelwhite (segment "The Little Black Bag") * '' The Steagle'' (1971) as Tall-Guy McCoy *''

Alias Smith and Jones ''Alias Smith and Jones'' is an American Western television series that originally aired on ABC from January 1971 to January 1973. The show initially starred Pete Duel (and, after Duel's death, Roger Davis) as Hannibal Heyes and Ben Murphy ...

'' (1972) in Season 2 Episode 19: " The Biggest Game in the West" * '' Guns of a Stranger'' (1973) as Tom Duncan * '' Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid'' (1973) as Lemuel * '' Mr. Billion'' (1977) as Colonel Clayton T. Winkle * '' Poco... Little Dog Lost'' (1977) as Big Burt

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wills, Chill 1902 births 1978 deaths People from Dallas County, Texas Male actors from Texas American poker players Deaths from cancer in California American male film actors Male actors from Greater Los Angeles Texas Republicans 20th-century American male actors Burials at Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery Male Western (genre) film actors New Right (United States) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players