Denver Pyle profile
Actor profile

Denver Pyle

11th May 1920 Bethune, Colorado, USA 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

121 Movies 92 TV Shows 213 Credits
Filmography

Movies & TV Shows

Maverick poster
Maverick 20th May 1994 as Old Gambler on Riverboat
Hawmps! poster
Hawmps! 20th May 1976 as Col. Seymour Hawkins
Hitched poster
Hitched 31st March 1973 as Ben Barnstable
The Alamo poster
The Alamo 23rd October 1960 as Thimblerig (the Gambler)
Top Gun poster
Top Gun 1st December 1955 as Hank Spencer (uncredited)
Drum Beat poster
Drum Beat 10th November 1954 as Fairchild (uncredited)
The Command poster
The Command 13th February 1954 as Infantryman (uncredited)
Topeka poster
Topeka 9th August 1953 as Jonas Bailey
Column South poster
Column South 20th May 1953 as Confederate Spy in Yankee Uniform (uncredited)
Gunsmoke poster
Gunsmoke 4th May 1953 as Greasy (uncredited)
Fort Vengeance poster
Fort Vengeance 28th March 1953 as Rider Warning About Wagon Train (uncredited)
Canyon Ambush poster
Canyon Ambush 12th October 1952 as Tom Carlton-Replaced (credit only)
Fargo poster
Fargo 7th September 1952 as Carey
Mutiny poster
Mutiny 5th March 1952 as Gunner / Mutineer (uncredited)
El Paso poster
El Paso 22nd March 1949 as Vigilante (uncredited)
L.A. Law poster
L.A. Law 15th September 1986 as Harold Nordoff
The Dukes poster
The Dukes 5th February 1983 as Uncle Jesse (voice)
Dallas poster
Dallas 2nd April 1978 as Blackie Callahan
Kung Fu poster
Kung Fu 14th October 1972 as Dr. Joseph Colton
Hondo poster
Hondo 8th September 1967 as Judge Amos Blunt
Tammy poster
Tammy 17th September 1965 as Mordecai Tarleton
Empire poster
Empire 25th September 1962 as Tom Rawling
Thriller poster
Thriller 13th September 1960 as Ortho Wheeler
Bonanza poster
Bonanza 12th September 1959 as Marcus Caldwell
Rawhide poster
Rawhide 9th January 1959 as John Wesley 'Daddy' Quade
The Texan poster
The Texan 29th September 1958 as Houston Blackston
Fury poster
Fury 15th October 1955 as Carter
Cheyenne poster
Cheyenne 20th September 1955 as John Hanson
Gunsmoke poster
Gunsmoke 10th September 1955 as Cyrus Himes