Denver Pyle
Acting Born May 11, 1920 Died Dec 25, 1997 Bethune, Colorado, USA 312 credits
Biography
Denver Dell Pyle was an American film and television actor born on May 11, 1920, in Bethune, Colorado, to farmer Ben H. Pyle and his wife Maude. He had a brother named Willis, who worked as an animator. After graduating from high school, Pyle briefly attended Colorado State University before dropping out to pursue show business, relocating to Los Angeles in 1940. He initially worked as a drummer and band member. Over his career, Pyle amassed 223 known acting credits. He was recognized for portraying Briscoe Darling Junior in several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show and for playing Jesse Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard from 1979 to 1985. Pyle passed away on December 25, 1997, at the age of 77.
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Career overview
Denver Dell Pyle was an American film and television actor born in Bethune, Colorado on May 11, 1920. Before entering show business, he attended Colorado State University briefly after graduating from high school before dropping out and moving to Los Angeles in 1940. Initially working as a drummer and band member, he later established a prolific acting career spanning film and television, accumulating 223 known acting credits on The Movie Database.
Pyle became widely known for his television work, notably portraying the character Briscoe Darling Jr. in several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. He also played Jesse Duke in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard from 1979 to 1985. Throughout his career, his extensive contributions to the medium established him as a recognizable character actor on screen.
Pyle passed away on December 25, 1997 at the age of 77. His legacy in entertainment remains defined by his numerous television and film appearances, which documented a decades-long career in the American acting industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!
What a Cartoon!Cybill
MaverickFather and Scout
John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
Delta Fever
L.A. LawReturn to Mayberry
Murder, She Wrote
The DukesMercur: The Town that Can't Stay Dead
Legend of the Wild
The Dukes of HazzardWhen the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
DallasHow Bugs Bunny Won the WestReturn from Witch MountainOnce Upon a Starry NightLegend of the Northwest
The Love BoatHow the West Was WonGrizzly Adams
Welcome to L.A.Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History LessonThe Last of Mrs. LincolnThe Adventures of Frontier FremontGuardian of the Wilderness
Escape to Witch MountainDeath Among FriendsWinterhawkThe Boy Who Talked to Badgers
PetrocelliThe ManhunterHog WildThe Legend of Hillbilly JohnMurder or Mercy
Barnaby JonesCahill: United States MarshalHitched
The WaltonsThe Streets of San FranciscoKung Fu
CannonSomething BigMean Justice
The Doris Day ShowThe Doris Day Show · DirectorBandolero!5 Card Stud
The High ChaparralBonnie and ClydeThe Guns of Will SonnettCimarron StripHondo
GunpointIncident at Phantom Hill
TammyThe Great RaceMara of the WildernessShenandoahThe Rounders
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.Mail Order BrideCheyenne AutumnBlack Like Me
The LieutenantMr. NovakArrest and TrialThe Great AdventureTemple Houston
The VirginianThe Man Who Shot Liberty ValanceEmpireGeronimo
The Dick Van Dyke ShowDr. KildareBen CaseyCain's HundredKraft Mystery Theatre
The Andy Griffith ShowThrillerRoute 66Route 66The Tall Man
BonanzaBonanzaBonanzaBonanzaBonanza
The RiflemanBat MastersonBat MastersonLawmanLawman
Perry MasonPerry MasonPerry MasonPerry MasonPerry Mason
Full Filmography
312 titles- The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! (1997) as Uncle Jesse Duke
- What a Cartoon! (1995) as Podunk Possum (voice)
- Cybill (1995) as Denver Pyle (uncredited)
- Maverick (1994) as Old Gambler on Riverboat
- Father and Scout (1994) as George Rosebrock
- John Wayne's 'The Alamo' (1992) as Self
- Delta Fever (1987) as Walt
- L.A. Law (1986) as Harold Nordoff
- Return to Mayberry (1986) as Briscoe Darling
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Eben Connors
- The Dukes (1983) as Uncle Jesse (voice)
- Mercur: The Town that Can't Stay Dead (1983) as Narrator
- Legend of the Wild (1981) as Narrator (Voice)
- The Dukes of Hazzard (1979) as Jesse Duke
- When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion (1979) as Self
- Dallas (1978) as Blackie Callahan
- How Bugs Bunny Won the West (1978) as Narrator
- Return from Witch Mountain (1978) as Uncle Bene
- Once Upon a Starry Night (1978) as Mad Jack
- Legend of the Northwest (1978) as Abner
- The Love Boat (1977) as Eric Springer
- How the West Was Won (1977) as Sgt. Tripp
- Grizzly Adams (1977) as Mad Jack
- Welcome to L.A. (1976) as Carl Barber
- Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976) as The Indian Agent (McLaughlin)
- The Last of Mrs. Lincoln (1976) as Senator Austin
- The Adventures of Frontier Fremont (1976) as Old mountain man
- Guardian of the Wilderness (1976) as Galen Clark
- Hawmps! (1976) as Col. Seymour Hawkins
- Escape to Witch Mountain (1975) as Uncle Bene
- Death Among Friends (1975) as Morgan
- Winterhawk (1975) as Arkansas
- The Boy Who Talked to Badgers (1975) as Ben as an Adult
- Petrocelli (1974) as Andrew Warburton
- The Manhunter (1974) as Sam Dickerson
- Hog Wild (1974) as Dr. Larson
- The Legend of Hillbilly John (1974) as Grandpappy John
- Murder or Mercy (1974) as Amos Champion
- Barnaby Jones (1973) as Stayley Kircher
- Cahill: United States Marshal (1973) as Denver
- Hitched (1973) as Ben Barnstable
- The Waltons (1972) as Cousin Homer Lee Baldwin
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972) as Carl Armstrong
- Kung Fu (1972) as Dr. Joseph Colton
- Cannon (1971) as Sheriff Hogsett
- Something Big (1971) as Junior Frisbee
- Mean Justice (1971) as Tom Rawling
- The Doris Day Show (1968) as Buck Webb
- The Doris Day Show (1968) Director
- Bandolero! (1968) as Muncie Carter
- 5 Card Stud (1968) as Sig Evers
- The High Chaparral (1967) as General Warren
- Bonnie and Clyde (1967) as Frank Hamer
- The Guns of Will Sonnett (1967) as Sam Cochran
- Cimarron Strip (1967) as Charley Austin
- Hondo (1967) as Judge Amos Blunt
- Welcome to Hard Times (1967) as Alfie - Stage Driver
- Tammy and the Millionaire (1967) as Grandpa Mordecai Tarleton
- Gunpoint (1966) as Cap
- Incident at Phantom Hill (1966) as 1st Hunter
- Tammy (1965) as Mordecai Tarleton
- The Great Race (1965) as Sheriff
- Mara of the Wilderness (1965) as Kelly
- Shenandoah (1965) as Pastor Bjoerling
- The Rounders (1965) as Bull
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964) as Titus Purcell
- Mail Order Bride (1964) as Preacher Pope
- Cheyenne Autumn (1964) as Sen. Henry (uncredited)
- Black Like Me (1964) as Man in pick-up truck
- The Lieutenant (1963) as Maj. Matthew Morrissey
- Mr. Novak (1963) as Brill
- Arrest and Trial (1963) as Jack Felton
- The Great Adventure (1963) as Gen. Mills
- Temple Houston (1963) as Phineas Fallon
- Channing (1963) as Sam Riddle
- Terrified (1963) as Sheriff Dixon
- The Virginian (1962) as Pico Brown
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) as Amos Carruthers
- Empire (1962) as Tom Rawling
- Geronimo (1962) as Senator Conrad
- The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) as Uncle George
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as R. E. Lenger
- Ben Casey (1961) as Dallas Hopewell
- Cain's Hundred (1961) as Chief Amos Trask
- Kraft Mystery Theatre (1961) as Captain Lister
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Briscoe Darling
- Thriller (1960) as Ortho Wheeler
- Route 66 (1960) as Father Prior
- Route 66 (1960) as Joe Wylie
- The Tall Man (1960) as Marshal Dave Leggert
- Checkmate (1960) as Terry Adams
- National Velvet (1960) as Jed Corrigan
- Home from the Hill (1960) as Mr. Bradley
- The Aquanauts (1960) as Captain Leo Stohl
- Stagecoach West (1960) as Hewitt
- The Alamo (1960) as Thimblerig (the Gambler)
- Bonanza (1959) as Price Buchanan
- Bonanza (1959) as Claude Roman
- Bonanza (1959) as Sheriff Ed
- Bonanza (1959) as Marcus Caldwell
- Bonanza (1959) as Theodore 'Ted' Hackett
- Bonanza (1959) as Sheriff Tom Stedman
- Bonanza (1959) as Warden
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Stu Tillman
- Rawhide (1959) as John Wesley 'Daddy' Quade
- The Deputy (1959) as Akins
- The Deputy (1959) as Frank Barton
- The Detectives (1959) as Bill Darien
- Riverboat (1959) as Jim Bledsoe
- Law of the Plainsman (1959) as Burke Carew
- Men Into Space (1959)
- Bourbon Street Beat (1959)
- Wichita Town (1959)
- Good Day for a Hanging (1959) as Deputy Ed Moore
- The Horse Soldiers (1959) as Jackie Jo
- Cast a Long Shadow (1959) as Preacher Harrison
- King of the Wild Stallions (1959) as MacGuire's Henchman
- The Rifleman (1958)
- Bat Masterson (1958) as Dan Morgan
- Bat Masterson (1958) as Walsh (uncredited)
- Lawman (1958) as Glen Folsom
- Lawman (1958) as Sam Brackett
- The Texan (1958) as Sheriff
- The Texan (1958) as Chip Andrews
- The Texan (1958) as Houston Blackston
- The Texan (1958) as Joe Lufton
- Bronco (1958)
- Bronco (1958) as Norton Gillespie
- Bronco (1958) as Nelson
- Bronco (1958) as Petrie Munger
- Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1958) as Braddock
- Behind Closed Doors (1958) as Roger Woodson
- Jefferson Drum (1958) as Bart Resdake
- Fort Massacre (1958) as Collins
- The Left Handed Gun (1958) as Ollinger
- The Party Crashers (1958) as Mr. Bickford
- China Doll (1958) as Col. Wiley
- Bitter Heritage (1958) as Sam Wheeler
- Perry Mason (1957) as Robert Crane
- Perry Mason (1957) as Jackson Sidemark
- Perry Mason (1957) as Tom Quincy
- Perry Mason (1957) as Tilden Stuart
- Perry Mason (1957) as Emery Fillmore
- Perry Mason (1957) as Frank Honer
- Wagon Train (1957) as Bragg
- Wagon Train (1957)
- Maverick (1957) as Jerry O'Brien
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957)
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957) as Pete Hollister
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957) as Clay Sommers
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957) as McKay
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957) as Advent
- The Real McCoys (1957)
- Tombstone Territory (1957)
- 26 Men (1957)
- The Restless Gun (1957) as Sheriff Jay
- The Restless Gun (1957)
- Casey Jones (1957) as Frank Reeder
- Jet Pilot (1957) as Mr. Simpson
- Gun Duel in Durango (1957) as Ranger Captain
- Domino Kid (1957) as Bill Dragger
- The Lonely Man (1957) as Brad, Red Bluff Sheriff
- Destination 60,000 (1957) as Mickey Hill
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as John Baker
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Marshal Quimby
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Sheriff
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Sheriff Tom
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Seth Robson
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Marshal Joe Sully
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Nat Sledge
- State Trooper (1956) as Mark Schmedler
- The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1956)
- Broken Arrow (1956) as Fred Graf
- Please Murder Me (1956) as Det. Lt. Bradley
- The Naked Hills (1956) as Bert Killian / Narrator
- I Killed Wild Bill Hickok (1956) as Jim Bailey
- 7th Cavalry (1956) as Dixon
- Yaqui Drums (1956) as Lefty Barr
- Cheyenne (1955) as Cyrus Burton
- Cheyenne (1955) as John Hanson
- Cheyenne (1955) as Nate Weyland
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955) as Ben Thompson
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955) as Hoss Mackey
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955) as Oliver Tittle
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955) as Dobie Jenner
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Willie Calhoun
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Hank Shinn
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Mike Blocker
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Gus
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Haggen
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Aaron
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Pa
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Caleb
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Claudius
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Clab Chummer
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Caleb Nash
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Henry Rand
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Judge Blent
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Cyrus Himes
- The Millionaire (1955) as Arthur Darner
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955) as Lester
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955) as Charley
- Fury (1955) as Carter
- Frontier (1955) as Eben
- Frontier (1955) as Frank
- My Friend Flicka (1955) as Alec
- Buffalo Bill Jr. (1955)
- Ten Wanted Men (1955)
- Run for Cover (1955) as Harvey (uncredited)
- To Hell and Back (1955) as Thompson
- Top Gun (1955) as Hank Spencer (uncredited)
- Rage at Dawn (1955) as Clint Reno
- Lassie (1954) as Mr. Madden
- Annie Oakley (1954) as Dr. Barnes
- Annie Oakley (1954) as Tom Malloy
- Public Defender (1954) as Tom Gayley
- Public Defender (1954) as George Hansen
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Mr. Royal (uncredited)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Dr. Larson
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Amos Briggs (uncredited)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Ben as an Adult (voice)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Uncle Bene
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Clay Tanner
- The Lone Wolf (1954) as Kargar
- Ride Clear of Diablo (1954) as Reverend Moorehead
- Johnny Guitar (1954) as Posseman (uncredited)
- Drum Beat (1954) as Fairchild (uncredited)
- The Yellow Mountain (1954) as (uncredited)
- The Boy from Oklahoma (1954) as Bagley
- The Command (1954) as Infantryman (uncredited)
- You Are There (1953) as Chairman Savage
- You Are There (1953) as Cotta
- You Are There (1953) as Capt. Canfield
- You Are There (1953) as William Bayard Hale
- You Are There (1953) as William Newell
- You Are There (1953) as Col. Tench Tilghman
- You Are There (1953) as Dan DeQuille
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Henry
- Column South (1953) as Confederate Spy in Yankee Uniform (uncredited)
- I'm the Law (1953)
- The Lone Hand (1953) as Regulator (uncredited)
- Gunsmoke (1953) as Greasy (uncredited)
- A Perilous Journey (1953) as Bartender
- Rebel City (1953) as Greeley
- Fort Vengeance (1953) as Rider Warning About Wagon Train (uncredited)
- Topeka (1953) as Jonas Bailey
- Goldtown Ghost Riders (1953) as Bernie Malloy (uncredited)
- Vigilante Terror (1953) as Henchman Sperry
- Texas Bad Man (1953) as Tench
- Adventures of Superman (1952) as Emile Hatch
- Hopalong Cassidy (1952)
- Oklahoma Annie (1952) as Skip
- Desert Passage (1952) as Allen
- Fargo (1952) as Carey
- Mutiny (1952) as Gunner / Mutineer (uncredited)
- Man from the Black Hills (1952) as Glenn Hartley
- The Maverick (1952) as Bud Karnes
- Canyon Ambush (1952) as Tom Carlton-Replaced (credit only)
- The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (1951) as Henchman (uncredited)
- The Roy Rogers Show (1951) as Henchman Nash
- The Roy Rogers Show (1951) as Bad Boy Wiley
- The Roy Rogers Show (1951) as Zeke Miller
- The Roy Rogers Show (1951) as Tom Larrabee
- The Adventures of Kit Carson (1951)
- The Adventures of Kit Carson (1951) as Edmund Denning
- The Adventures of Kit Carson (1951) as Flip Kilson
- The Adventures of Kit Carson (1951) as Hackett
- Drums in the Deep South (1951) as Union Soldier Breaking Window (uncredited)
- Hills of Utah (1951) as Bowie French
- Million Dollar Pursuit (1951) as Nick Algren
- Rough Riders of Durango (1951) as Henchman Lacey
- The Cisco Kid (1950) as Professor Jerry Roark
- The Cisco Kid (1950) as Bank Robber
- The Gene Autry Show (1950) as Frank Blake
- The Gene Autry Show (1950) as Burr Ramsey
- The Gene Autry Show (1950) as Dodge Hartman
- The Gene Autry Show (1950) as First Henchman, Rawhide Vest
- The Gene Autry Show (1950) as Curt Wayne
- The Gene Autry Show (1950) as Professor Sharp
- The Gene Autry Show (1950) as Sheriff
- The Gene Autry Show (1950) as Cleanshaven Deputy-Henchman
- The Gene Autry Show (1950) as Jim, the Sheriff
- The Gene Autry Show (1950) as Edward Hadley
- Singing Guns (1950) as Richards Henchman
- Dynamite Pass (1950) as Henchman
- The Flying Saucer (1950) as Turner
- Federal Agent at Large (1950) as 'Jumpy' Jordan
- Captain China (1950) as Steve
- The Old Frontier (1950) as Henchman George
- Customs Agent (1950) as Al
- The Lone Ranger (1949) as Deputy French
- The Lone Ranger (1949) as Colby
- The Lone Ranger (1949) as Stack
- The Lone Ranger (1949) as Deputy Allen
- The Lone Ranger (1949) as Grayson
- The Lone Ranger (1949) as Arley McQueen
- The Lone Ranger (1949) as Vance Kiley
- The Big Wheel (1949) as Track Intern
- El Paso (1949) as Vigilante (uncredited)
- Hellfire (1949) as Rex
- Red Canyon (1949) as Hutch
- Rim of the Canyon (1949) as Cash Collins (uncredited)
- Too Late for Tears (1949) as Young Man at Union Station (uncredited)
- Streets of San Francisco (1949) as Ed Quinn
- Flame of Youth (1949) as Lytz
- The Man from Colorado (1948) as Easy Jarrett
- The Man from Colorado (1948) as Easy Jarrett (uncredited)
- Marshal of Amarillo (1948) as The Night Clerk
- Train to Alcatraz (1948) as Hutch Hutchins
- Devil Ship (1947) as Carl
- The Guilt of Janet Ames (1947) as Man in Opening Scene (uncredited)
- Where the North Begins (1947) as Jim Rockwell
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Denver Pyle best known for?
Denver Pyle is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including What a Cartoon! (1995), Cybill (1995), Maverick (1994), L.A. Law (1986).
When and where was Denver Pyle born?
Denver Pyle was born on May 11, 1920 in Bethune, Colorado, USA. They passed away on December 25, 1997.
How many credits does Denver Pyle have?
Denver Pyle has accumulated over 312 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1947 to 1997.
What is Denver Pyle's background in cinema and television?
Denver Dell Pyle was an American film and television actor born on May 11, 1920, in Bethune, Colorado, to farmer Ben H. Pyle and his wife Maude. He had a brother named Willis, who worked as an animator. After graduating from high school, Pyle briefly attended Colorado State University before dropping out to pursue show...