Tim McCoy
Seduced by a traveling Wild West Show, Tim McCoy dropped out of college and headed west. He found ranch work in Wyoming, embracing the western life style. He became an expert horseman, competitive roper and student of Native American language and culture. His cowboy days were interrupted by WW I, where he distinguished himself in the fledgling Army Air Corps. Later in WW II he would rise to the rank of colonel and brevet brigadier general at the tender age of twenty eight.
In 1923 Hollywood called for the first time. Casting for the film The Covered Wagon called for a large number of Native American extras. McCoy was hired to apply his fluency in Indian sign language to assist in direction. Later he led a smaller Native American group in a stage presentation introduction to early screenings of the film in Hollywood. While he returned to Wyoming his handsome good looks were noticed. In 1926 he signed a contract with MGM to do a film series. Cast in his first feature War Paint, a star was born.
In 1929 Tim hit the serial circuit with Universal before moving on to Columbia. There he turned out oaters literally by the dozens, highlighted by a 1932 role in Two Fisted Law alongside John Wayne and Walter Brennan. McCoy took a time out from film making in 1936 to tour with his own Wild West Show. It didn’t take long for the show to go broke. By 1938 Tim was back in the B Western business, doing eight films a year at $4,000.00 a week. In 1941 McCoy joined Buck Jones in Jones’ The Rough Riders series. The Rough Riders hit it big for Monogram Pictures until WW II interrupted McCoy’s career, effectively putting an end to his film work.
Colonel Tim McCoy’s contributions to western film earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Hall of Great Western Performers. Tim McCoy died at Fort Huachuca military hospital in Arizona in 1978 at the age of 86. He is buried in the family plot in Saginaw, Michigan.
Next Week: Ken Maynard
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Ride easy,
Paul
In 1923 Hollywood called for the first time. Casting for the film The Covered Wagon called for a large number of Native American extras. McCoy was hired to apply his fluency in Indian sign language to assist in direction. Later he led a smaller Native American group in a stage presentation introduction to early screenings of the film in Hollywood. While he returned to Wyoming his handsome good looks were noticed. In 1926 he signed a contract with MGM to do a film series. Cast in his first feature War Paint, a star was born.
In 1929 Tim hit the serial circuit with Universal before moving on to Columbia. There he turned out oaters literally by the dozens, highlighted by a 1932 role in Two Fisted Law alongside John Wayne and Walter Brennan. McCoy took a time out from film making in 1936 to tour with his own Wild West Show. It didn’t take long for the show to go broke. By 1938 Tim was back in the B Western business, doing eight films a year at $4,000.00 a week. In 1941 McCoy joined Buck Jones in Jones’ The Rough Riders series. The Rough Riders hit it big for Monogram Pictures until WW II interrupted McCoy’s career, effectively putting an end to his film work.
Colonel Tim McCoy’s contributions to western film earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Hall of Great Western Performers. Tim McCoy died at Fort Huachuca military hospital in Arizona in 1978 at the age of 86. He is buried in the family plot in Saginaw, Michigan.
Next Week: Ken Maynard
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
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message 1:
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Peg
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Oct 20, 2018 09:06AM
Paul, I think I only saw him in movie posters and never knew his story. Thank you.
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