Jay Kirby (born William Bennett George, January 28, 1920 â€" July 30,
1964) was an American actor in films and television. He was best known
for playing Johnny Travers, the youthful sidekick of Hopalong Cassidy
in six films in the 1940s.In 1948, he and his wife Carmelle George
were divorced and the custody of their one-year-old son, Jeffrey, was
given to his wife.Kirby was born n Kansas City, Missouri. He began
acting in films in 1942, when he was cast to replace Russell Hayden as
the boyish partner to cowboy hero Hopalong Cassidy. He was an aviation
cadet in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II but does not
appear to have served long, as his screen appearances are continuous
throughout the war and afterward for several years. In 1949 he
reverted to his real name, Bill George, for his last feature film and
his subsequent television roles. He died at 44 and was buried in the
Los Angeles National Cemetery.
1964) was an American actor in films and television. He was best known
for playing Johnny Travers, the youthful sidekick of Hopalong Cassidy
in six films in the 1940s.In 1948, he and his wife Carmelle George
were divorced and the custody of their one-year-old son, Jeffrey, was
given to his wife.Kirby was born n Kansas City, Missouri. He began
acting in films in 1942, when he was cast to replace Russell Hayden as
the boyish partner to cowboy hero Hopalong Cassidy. He was an aviation
cadet in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II but does not
appear to have served long, as his screen appearances are continuous
throughout the war and afterward for several years. In 1949 he
reverted to his real name, Bill George, for his last feature film and
his subsequent television roles. He died at 44 and was buried in the
Los Angeles National Cemetery.
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