
Denver Pyle
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- 11 May 1920 · Bethune, Colorado, USA
- Died
- 25 December 1997
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
Acting 122
- 1997The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! as Uncle Jesse Duke
- 1996Podunk Possum in One Step Beyond as Podunk Possum (voice)
- 1994Father and Scout as George Rosebrock
- 1994Maverick as Old Gambler on Riverboat
- 1992John Wayne's 'The Alamo' as Self
- 1987Delta Fever as Walt
- 1986Return to Mayberry as Briscoe Darling
- 1983Mercur: The Town that Can't Stay Dead as Narrator
- 1981Legend of the Wild as Narrator (Voice)
- 1979When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion as Self
- 1978Once Upon a Starry Night as Mad Jack
- 1978How Bugs Bunny Won the West as Narrator
- 1978Return from Witch Mountain as Uncle Bene
- 1978Legend of the Northwest as Abner
- 1976Guardian of the Wilderness as Galen Clark
- 1976Welcome to L.A. as Carl Barber
- 1976The Last of Mrs. Lincoln as Senator Austin
- 1976Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson as The Indian Agent (McLaughlin)
- 1976Hawmps! as Col. Seymour Hawkins
- 1976The Adventures of Frontier Fremont as Old mountain man
- 1975Winterhawk as Arkansas
- 1975The Boy Who Talked to Badgers as Ben as an Adult
- 1975Death Among Friends as Morgan
- 1975Escape to Witch Mountain as Uncle Bene
- 1974Murder or Mercy as Amos Champion
- 1974The Legend of Hillbilly John as Grandpappy John
- 1974Hog Wild as Dr. Larson
- 1973Cahill: United States Marshal as Denver
- 1973Hitched as Ben Barnstable
- 1971Something Big as Junior Frisbee
- 1971Mean Justice as Tom Rawling
- 19685 Card Stud as Sig Evers
- 1968Bandolero! as Muncie Carter
- 1967Bonnie and Clyde as Frank Hamer
- 1967Tammy and the Millionaire as Grandpa Mordecai Tarleton
- 1967Welcome to Hard Times as Alfie - Stage Driver
- 1966Incident at Phantom Hill as 1st Hunter
- 1966Gunpoint as Cap
- 1965Mara of the Wilderness as Kelly
- 1965The Great Race as Sheriff
- 1965Shenandoah as Pastor Bjoerling
- 1965The Rounders as Bull
- 1964Cheyenne Autumn as Sen. Henry (uncredited)
- 1964Black Like Me as Man in pick-up truck
- 1964Mail Order Bride as Preacher Pope
- 1963Terrified as Sheriff Dixon
- 1962Geronimo as Senator Conrad
- 1962The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance as Amos Carruthers
- 1960The Alamo as Thimblerig (the Gambler)
- 1960Home from the Hill as Mr. Bradley
- 1959Cast a Long Shadow as Preacher Harrison
- 1959The Horse Soldiers as Jackie Jo
- 1959King of the Wild Stallions as MacGuire's Henchman
- 1959Good Day for a Hanging as Deputy Ed Moore
- 1958The Party Crashers as Mr. Bickford
- 1958Bitter Heritage as Sam Wheeler
- 1958China Doll as Col. Wiley
- 1958Fort Massacre as Collins
- 1958The Left Handed Gun as Ollinger
- 1957Jet Pilot as Mr. Simpson
- 1957Domino Kid as Bill Dragger
- 1957The Lonely Man as Brad, Red Bluff Sheriff
- 1957Destination 60,000 as Mickey Hill
- 1957Gun Duel in Durango as Ranger Captain
- 19567th Cavalry as Dixon
- 1956Yaqui Drums as Lefty Barr
- 1956The Naked Hills as Bert Killian / Narrator
- 1956I Killed Wild Bill Hickok as Jim Bailey
- 1956Please Murder Me as Det. Lt. Bradley
- 1955Top Gun as Hank Spencer (uncredited)
- 1955To Hell and Back as Thompson
- 1955Run for Cover as Harvey
- 1955Rage at Dawn as Clint Reno
- 1955Ten Wanted Men
- 1954The Yellow Mountain as (uncredited)
- 1954Drum Beat as Fairchild (uncredited)
- 1954Johnny Guitar as Posseman (uncredited)
- 1954The Boy from Oklahoma as Bagley
- 1954The Command as Infantryman (uncredited)
- 1954Ride Clear of Diablo as Reverend Moorehead
- 1953Texas Bad Man as Tench
- 1953Vigilante Terror as Henchman Sperry
- 1953Topeka as Jonas Bailey
- 1953Goldtown Ghost Riders as Bernie Malloy (uncredited)
- 1953The Lone Hand as Regulator (uncredited)
- 1953Column South as Confederate Spy in Yankee Uniform (uncredited)
- 1953Rebel City as Greeley
- 1953Gunsmoke as Greasy (uncredited)
- 1953A Perilous Journey as Bartender
- 1953Fort Vengeance as Rider Warning About Wagon Train (uncredited)
- 1952The Maverick as Bud Karnes
- 1952Canyon Ambush as Tom Carlton-Replaced (credit only)
- 1952Fargo as Carey
- 1952Desert Passage as Allen
- 1952Man from the Black Hills as Glenn Hartley
- 1952Oklahoma Annie as Skip
- 1952Mutiny as Gunner / Mutineer (uncredited)
- 1951Hills of Utah as Bowie French
- 1951Drums in the Deep South as Union Soldier Breaking Window (uncredited)
- 1951Million Dollar Pursuit as Nick Algren
- 1951Rough Riders of Durango as Henchman Lacey
- 1950The Old Frontier as Henchman George
- 1950Customs Agent as Al
- 1950Dynamite Pass as Henchman
- 1950Federal Agent at Large as 'Jumpy' Jordan
- 1950Singing Guns as Richards Henchman
- 1950Captain China as Steve
- 1950The Flying Saucer as Turner
- 1949The Big Wheel as Track Intern
- 1949Flame of Youth as Lytz
- 1949Too Late for Tears as Young Man at Union Station (uncredited)
- 1949Rim of the Canyon as Cash Collins (uncredited)
- 1949Hellfire as Rex
- 1949Red Canyon as Hutch
- 1949Streets of San Francisco as Ed Quinn
- 1949El Paso as Vigilante (uncredited)
- 1948The Man from Colorado as Easy Jarrett
- 1948Marshal of Amarillo as The Night Clerk
- 1948Train to Alcatraz as Hutch Hutchins
- 1947Where the North Begins as Jim Rockwell
- 1947Devil Ship as Carl
- 1947The Guilt of Janet Ames as Man in Opening Scene (uncredited)





