Ben Johnson Biography

Fast Facts

• Inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame in 1982, at Oklahoma City's National cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
• Pawhuska, Oklahoma holds the world's largest amateur rodeo, the Ben Johnson Memorial Steer Roping and the International Roundup Cavalcade
• Hired for stunt work by director John Ford for the film "Fort Apache," in which he was the riding double for Henry Fonda
• Sold horses to film maker Howard Hughes for his film "The Outlaw," and was later hired to help transport the horses to Hollywood
• Quote: "I can't handle phony people, and there are a lot of them in Hollywood․ I've built my life around the principles of honesty, realism and respect, and if the people in Hollywood are so pumped up on themselves they can't deal with that․"
• Quote: "I never expected to become a star, figuring to stay two or three rungs down the ladder and last awhile․ When I do get a little ahead, I see what I can do to help others․"
• Has appeared in numerous films with actor John Wayne, including "The Undefeated" and "Rio Grande․"
• Was cast as the lead in "Wagon Master" directed by John Ford, who later said it was one of his favorite films
• While visiting Houston, Texas in 1976, his prize belt buckle he won for calf roping was stolen out of his car, and later returned to him on another visit ten years later
• In all three films "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," "Wagon Master," and "Rio Grande," his character's name was Travis