William Boyd
Born
June 5, 1895
in Henrysburg, OH
Died
Sept. 12, 1972
in South Coast Medical Center, CA
Actor William Boyd portrayed Hopalong Cassidy, the silver-haired paragon of Western virtue, in 92 motion picture and television films. As the ageless Hoppy, Boyd rode his horse, Topper, across the range for a quarter of a century. On the screen, he never smoked, drank, swore or made love to women. He always tried to capture rustlers rather than shoot them and he always let the villain draw first when a showdown was inevitable. Boyd made his last Hoppy film in 1953, then faded into retirement, having made millions of dollars from television and advertising rights. Boyd came to Hollywood in 1915. His first job was as a chauffeur. After several bit parts, he caught the attention of Cecil B. DeMille who liked his wavy white hair and his snappy clothes. DeMille put him under a $30-a-week contract. Appearing in such films as "The Volga Boatman" and "King of Kings," Boyd became something of a romantic hero in the 1920s. In 1931, a case of mistaken identity plunged Boyd's career into darkness. A Broadway actor, also named William Boyd, was arrested at a drinking and gambling party. Newspapers the next day published the Hollywood Boyd's picture in error. Apologies were also published, but his career seemed ended. He was a has-been in 1935 when a Paramount producer offered him a part as Hopalong Cassidy in a series of cowboy films based on the novels of Clarence Mulford. In Mulford's works, Hoppy was an ornery cuss who spit tobacco juice, cursed, drank whiskey and walked with a limp. Boyd talked the producer into altering Hoppy's character 180 degrees. The Hopalong movies enjoyed box office success. With television, Hoppy became a household word. His sudden resurgence of popularity spawned a Hoppy radio show and a comic strip. In the years before his death he refused to talk to the press. "I'm not the man people remember as Hopalong Cassidy," he told one prospective interviewer. "I don't want to tamper with their memories."
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Two thoughts about William Boyd
I have met William Boyd whose alter ego was Hopalong Cassidy.I shook hands with him and as I recall he had enormous hands.But I guess it only seemed so as I was quite small at the time.I remember him as a kindly figure who bent down to reach me.His hand shake was very reassuring.I also met and stroked the front Right leg of Topper his horse on the same occasion. He did not seem to mind as I gather they are trained to act calmly always. I had to strain quite hard to reach them both(as I said I was quite little at the time) as they were both conducted through the streets in a motorcade and they stood on a raised dais.This meeting took place in my native country which at the time was known as CEYLON (now Sri Lanka).
My first visit to the USA was in August 1972 and then I went on to Toronto in Canada where I spent a couple of months. I found out later on that it was during my sojourn in North America that he passed away at the age of 77 years. I have just passed my 72nd year but I remember everthing very clearly.
I would be very grateful if someone can tell me where I can find the records of his goodwill tours around the world so that I can establish the date when he made the one and only visit to Ceylon when I met him. I have been trying for many years to obtain this information. Hopefully my search will now be rewarded at last.
Bill Boyd was my mothers uncle.
His TV show was a huge hit in Brazil ( i lived there as a kid) and my Dad and a friend bought the rights to air them on television in Sao Paulo back in the late 50's early 60's. He was so poular that he mad e a trip to Sao Paulo and was met with throngs of kids cheering him when he arrived. I was awe struck by his looks and gentle manner. I became an actor partly due to his impression on me. RIP Hoppy.
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