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Denver Dell Pyle (May 11, 1920 – December 25, 1997) was an American film and television actor. He was known for portraying Briscoe Darling Jr. in several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, and playing Jesse Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard from 1979-85.
Pyle was born in Bethune, Colorado on May 11, 1920 to farmer Ben H. Pyle and his wife Maude; His brother, Willis, was an animator known for his work with Walt Disney Animation Studios and UPA. After graduating from high school, Pyle briefly attended Colorado State University, but dropped out to enter show business, moving to Los Angeles in 1940. He worked as a drummer and band member until the United States entered World War II, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Pyle was wounded in action in the Battle of Guadalcanal and received a medical discharge in 1942. Near the end of the war, he served in the United States Merchant Marine.
In 1955, Pyle married Marilee Carpenter, a production assistant at 20th Century Fox. They had sons David and Tony. Marilee and Denver divorced in 1970. In 1983, Pyle married Tippie Johnston. That union lasted until his death.
Pyle died of lung cancer on Christmas 1997. Memorial services were held January 6, 1998, at First Baptist Church in Waxahachie, Texas. He is buried in an unmarked grave at the Forreston Cemetery in Forreston, Texas. His remains are interred beside those of his second wife's parents, J.T. Johnston and Erin Birch Johnston. CLR
Known For
Maverick
(1994)
Old Gambler on Riverboat
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
(1962)
Amos Carruthers
Bonnie and Clyde
(1967)
Frank Hamer
Cahill: United States Marshal
(1973)
Denver
Bandolero!
(1968)
Muncie Carter
The Alamo
(1960)
Thimblerig (the Gambler)
Johnny Guitar
(1954)
Posseman (uncredited)
Shenandoah
(1965)
Pastor Bjoerling
The Great Race
(1965)
Sheriff
The Left Handed Gun
(1958)
Ollinger
Return from Witch Mountain
(1978)
Uncle Bene
Cheyenne Autumn
(1964)
Sen. Henry (uncredited)
The Rounders
(1965)
Bull
Escape to Witch Mountain
(1975)
Uncle Bene
Winterhawk
(1975)
Arkansas
5 Card Stud
(1968)
Sig Evers
Full Filmography
Acting
The Guilt of Janet Ames
(1947)
Man in Opening Scene (uncredited)
Where the North Begins
(1947)
Jim Rockwell
Devil Ship
(1947)
Carl
Marshal of Amarillo
(1948)
The Night Clerk
Train to Alcatraz
(1948)
Hutch Hutchins
The Man from Colorado
(1948)
Easy Jarrett
Streets of San Francisco
(1949)
Ed Quinn
Flame of Youth
(1949)
Lytz
Hellfire
(1949)
Rex
El Paso
(1949)
Vigilante (uncredited)
Rim of the Canyon
(1949)
Cash Collins (uncredited)
Too Late for Tears
(1949)
Young Man at Union Station (uncredited)
Red Canyon
(1949)
Hutch
The Big Wheel
(1949)
Track Intern
The Old Frontier
(1950)
Henchman George
Dynamite Pass
(1950)
Henchman
Captain China
(1950)
Steve
Singing Guns
(1950)
Richards Henchman
Customs Agent
(1950)
Al
The Flying Saucer
(1950)
Turner
Federal Agent at Large
(1950)
'Jumpy' Jordan
Million Dollar Pursuit
(1951)
Nick Algren
Rough Riders of Durango
(1951)
Henchman Lacey
Drums in the Deep South
(1951)
Union Soldier Breaking Window (uncredited)
Hills of Utah
(1951)
Bowie French
Fargo
(1952)
Carey
Desert Passage
(1952)
Allen
The Maverick
(1952)
Bud Karnes
Man from the Black Hills
(1952)
Glenn Hartley
Mutiny
(1952)
Gunner / Mutineer (uncredited)
Oklahoma Annie
(1952)
Skip
Canyon Ambush
(1952)
Tom Carlton-Replaced (credit only)
Vigilante Terror
(1953)
Henchman Sperry
Gunsmoke
(1953)
Greasy (uncredited)
A Perilous Journey
(1953)
Bartender
Goldtown Ghost Riders
(1953)
Bernie Malloy (uncredited)
Fort Vengeance
(1953)
Rider Warning About Wagon Train (uncredited)
The Lone Hand
(1953)
Regulator (uncredited)
Topeka
(1953)
Jonas Bailey
Texas Bad Man
(1953)
Tench
Rebel City
(1953)
Greeley
Column South
(1953)
Confederate Spy in Yankee Uniform (uncredited)
The Command
(1954)
Infantryman (uncredited)
Ride Clear of Diablo
(1954)
Reverend Moorehead
The Yellow Mountain
(1954)
(uncredited)
Johnny Guitar
(1954)
Posseman (uncredited)
Drum Beat
(1954)
Fairchild (uncredited)
The Boy from Oklahoma
(1954)
Bagley
Top Gun
(1955)
Hank Spencer (uncredited)
Ten Wanted Men
(1955)
To Hell and Back
(1955)
Thompson
Run for Cover
(1955)
Harvey (uncredited)
Rage at Dawn
(1955)
Clint Reno
I Killed Wild Bill Hickok
(1956)
Jim Bailey
The Naked Hills
(1956)
Bert Killian / Narrator
Yaqui Drums
(1956)
Lefty Barr
7th Cavalry
(1956)
Dixon
Please Murder Me
(1956)
Det. Lt. Bradley
Gun Duel In Durango
(1957)
Ranger Captain
Domino Kid
(1957)
Bill Dragger
The Lonely Man
(1957)
Brad, Red Bluff Sheriff
Jet Pilot
(1957)
Mr. Simpson
Destination 60,000
(1957)
Mickey Hill
The Party Crashers
(1958)
Mr. Bickford
Bitter Heritage
(1958)
Sam Wheeler
China Doll
(1958)
Col. Wiley
Fort Massacre
(1958)
Collins
The Left Handed Gun
(1958)
Ollinger
King of the Wild Stallions
(1959)
MacGuire's Henchman
The Horse Soldiers
(1959)
Jackie Jo
Good Day for a Hanging
(1959)
Deputy Ed Moore
Cast a Long Shadow
(1959)
Preacher Harrison
Home from the Hill
(1960)
Mr. Bradley
The Alamo
(1960)
Thimblerig (the Gambler)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
(1962)
Amos Carruthers
Geronimo
(1962)
Senator Conrad
Terrified
(1963)
Sheriff Dixon
Black Like Me
(1964)
Man in pick-up truck
Mail Order Bride
(1964)
Preacher Pope
Cheyenne Autumn
(1964)
Sen. Henry (uncredited)
Mara of the Wilderness
(1965)
Kelly
The Rounders
(1965)
Bull
Shenandoah
(1965)
Pastor Bjoerling
The Great Race
(1965)
Sheriff
Gunpoint
(1966)
Cap
Incident at Phantom Hill
(1966)
1st Hunter
Tammy and the Millionaire
(1967)
Grandpa Mordecai Tarleton
Welcome to Hard Times
(1967)
Alfie - Stage Driver
Bonnie and Clyde
(1967)
Frank Hamer
Bandolero!
(1968)
Muncie Carter
5 Card Stud
(1968)
Sig Evers
Mean Justice
(1971)
Tom Rawling
Something Big
(1971)
Junior Frisbee
Hitched
(1971)
Ben Barnstable
Cahill: United States Marshal
(1973)
Denver
Murder or Mercy
(1974)
Amos Champion
The Legend of Hillbilly John
(1974)
Grandpappy John
Hog Wild
(1974)
Dr. Larson
The Boy Who Talked to Badgers
(1975)
Ben as an Adult
Escape to Witch Mountain
(1975)
Uncle Bene
Winterhawk
(1975)
Arkansas
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson
(1976)
The Indian Agent (McLaughlin)
Welcome to L.A.
(1976)
Carl Barber
Hawmps!
(1976)
Col. Seymour Hawkins
The Last of Mrs. Lincoln
(1976)
Senator Austin
The Adventures of Frontier Fremont
(1976)
Old mountain man
Guardian of the Wilderness
(1976)
Galen Clark
Return from Witch Mountain
(1978)
Uncle Bene
Legend of the Northwest
(1978)
Once Upon a Starry Night
(1978)
Mad Jack
How Bugs Bunny Won the West
(1978)
Narrator
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
(1979)
Self
Legend of the Wild
(1981)
Narrator (Voice)
Mercur: The Town that Can't Stay Dead
(1983)
Narrator
Return to Mayberry
(1986)
Briscoe Darling
Delta Fever
(1987)
Walt
John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
(1992)
Self
Father and Scout
(1994)
George Rosebrock
Maverick
(1994)
Old Gambler on Riverboat
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!
(1997)
Uncle Jesse Duke