Chill Wills Biography

Fast Facts

• Won third place in the Top Male Supporting Performance category at the 1961 Laurel Awards for "The Alamo․"
• Supported Republican nominee Barry M․ Goldwater in his 1964 presidential campaing, but refused to Support Richard M․ Nixon's 1968 presidential bid
• Died of cancer, and his remains were interred in the Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, Calif
• Formed The Avalon Boys singing group and led them throughout the 1930s
• Started performing in tent shows, in vaudeville and with stock companies as a musician when he was 12 years old
• Best known for his roles in westerns, with one of his earliest coming in 1940 in "Boom Town" and one of his most notably being in 1960's "The Alamo․"
• Though he was not given billing for his vocal work, he voiced a cynical, sardonic mule Frances in a series of popular films
• A poker player, he played in the first World Series of Poker tournament held in 1970