Clifford William Lyons (born near Clarno Township, Lake County, South
Dakota 1 July 1901 - died Los Angeles, California 6 January 1974) was
an American motion picture actor, stuntman and second unit director,
primarily of Westerns and particularly the films of John Ford and John
Wayne. His Hollywood contemporaries were unanimous in describing him
as “a driven taskmaster†.Lyons, the son of Garrett Thomas Lyons
and Wilhamena Johnson Lyons, was raised on a South Dakota farm, though
his family lived for a time in Memphis, Tennessee, where he attended
business school. An expert horseman, Lyons gave up the notion of a
business career and opted for the rodeo arena instead, touring
nationwide and eventually reaching Los Angeles at the age of 21.
Accomplished cowboys were in great demand for western films, and Lyons
found a home in that genre, working both as a stuntman and an
actor.After only a couple of bit parts, he was signed by independent
producer Bud Barsky to do seven inexpensive Westerns directed by Paul
Hurst, with costar Al Hoxie (the younger brother of cowboy actor Jack
Hoxie). Lyons and Al Hoxie alternated as the hero and heavy in another
Western series produced by Morris R. Schlank and, as Cliff "Tex"
Lyons, he seemed headed for minor stardom as a "B" western lead.
Throughout the late 1920s he also worked frequently in Ben F. Wilson
productions around Inglewood, California.
Dakota 1 July 1901 - died Los Angeles, California 6 January 1974) was
an American motion picture actor, stuntman and second unit director,
primarily of Westerns and particularly the films of John Ford and John
Wayne. His Hollywood contemporaries were unanimous in describing him
as “a driven taskmaster†.Lyons, the son of Garrett Thomas Lyons
and Wilhamena Johnson Lyons, was raised on a South Dakota farm, though
his family lived for a time in Memphis, Tennessee, where he attended
business school. An expert horseman, Lyons gave up the notion of a
business career and opted for the rodeo arena instead, touring
nationwide and eventually reaching Los Angeles at the age of 21.
Accomplished cowboys were in great demand for western films, and Lyons
found a home in that genre, working both as a stuntman and an
actor.After only a couple of bit parts, he was signed by independent
producer Bud Barsky to do seven inexpensive Westerns directed by Paul
Hurst, with costar Al Hoxie (the younger brother of cowboy actor Jack
Hoxie). Lyons and Al Hoxie alternated as the hero and heavy in another
Western series produced by Morris R. Schlank and, as Cliff "Tex"
Lyons, he seemed headed for minor stardom as a "B" western lead.
Throughout the late 1920s he also worked frequently in Ben F. Wilson
productions around Inglewood, California.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.