Ben Johnson
American actor and horseman
Died when: 77 years 300 days (933 months)Star Sign: Gemini
Francis Benjamin Johnson Jr. (June 13, 1918 – April 8, 1996) was an American film and television actor, stuntman, and world-champion rodeo cowboy.Tall and laconic, Johnson brought authenticity to many roles in Westerns with his droll manner and expert horsemanship.
The son of a rancher, Johnson arrived in Hollywood to deliver a consignment of horses for a film.He did stunt-double work for several years before breaking into acting with the help of John Ford.
An elegiac portrayal of a former cowboy theater owner in the 1950s coming-of-age drama The Last Picture Show won Johnson the 1971 Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Johnson also operated a horse-breeding ranch throughout his career.Although he said he had succeeded by sticking to what he knew, shrewd real estate investments made Johnson worth an estimated $100 million by his later years.
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