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Ben "Son" Johnson Jr. was an American stuntman, world champion rodeo cowboy, and Academy Award-winning actor. 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 through the good offices of John Ford. Tall and laconic, Johnson brought further authenticity to many roles in Westerns with his extraordinary expert horsemanship. An elegiac portrayal of a former cowboy theatre owner in the 1950s coming-of-age drama, The Last Picture Show, won Johnson the 1971 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. He 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 latter years.
Birth Name
Francis Benjamin Johnson Jr.
Born
Thursday, 13 June 1918
Died
Monday, 08 April 1996
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Spielberg | Self - Segment "The Sugarland Express" | 2017 |
| And the Oscar Goes to... | Self / Self (archive footage) | 2014 |
| Backstabber | Lance | 2011 |
| John Wayne: Behind the Scenes | (archive footage) | 2007 |
| Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters | Sam the Lion | 2006 |
| Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade | Self / Self (archive footage) | 2004 |
| AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies | Self | 2001 |
| The 69th Annual Academy Awards | Self - Memorial Tribute | 1997 |
| The Evening Star | Arthur Cotton | 1996 |
| Ben Johnson: Third Cowboy on the Right | Self | 1996 |
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Spielberg | Self - Segment "The Sugarland Express" | 2017 |
| And the Oscar Goes to... | Self / Self (archive footage) | 2014 |
| Backstabber | Lance | 2011 |
| John Wayne: Behind the Scenes | (archive footage) | 2007 |
| Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters | Sam the Lion | 2006 |
| Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade | Self / Self (archive footage) | 2004 |
| AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies | Self | 2001 |
| The 69th Annual Academy Awards | Self - Memorial Tribute | 1997 |
| The Evening Star | Arthur Cotton | 1996 |
| Ben Johnson: Third Cowboy on the Right | Self | 1996 |
| Ruby Jean and Joe | Big Man | 1996 |
| Bonanza: Under Attack | Bronc Evans | 1995 |
| Angels in the Outfield | Hank Murphy | 1994 |
| Outlaws: The Legend of O.B. Taggart | Jack Parrish | 1994 |
| Bonanza: The Return | Bronc Evans | 1993 |
| Warren Oates: Across the Border | Self | 1993 |
| Radio Flyer | Geronimo Bill | 1992 |
| Picture This: The Times of Peter Bogdanovich in Archer City, Texas | Self | 1991 |
| My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys | Jesse Dalton / Dad | 1991 |
| The Chase | Laurienti | 1991 |
| Hollywood Mavericks | Tector Gorch | 1990 |
| Back to Back | Eli Hix | 1989 |
| Oklahoma Passage | Host / Self | 1989 |
| Stranger on My Land | Vern Whitman | 1988 |
| Dark Before Dawn | The Sheriff | 1988 |
| Cherry 2000 | Six Fingered Jake | 1987 |
| Let's Get Harry | Harry Burck Sr. / Mr. Burck Sr. | 1986 |
| Trespasses | August Klein | 1986 |
| American Masters | Self | 1986 |
| Dream West | Jim Bridger | 1986 |
| Wild Horses | Bill Ward | 1985 |
| Red Dawn | Mr. Mason | 1984 |
| Champions | Burly Cocks | 1984 |
| The Shadow Riders | Uncle 'Black Jack' Traven | 1982 |
| Tex | Cole Collins | 1982 |
| Soggy Bottom, U.S.A. | Isum Gorch | 1981 |
| Terror Train | Carne | 1980 |
| Ruckus | Sam Bellows | 1980 |
| The Hunter | Sheriff Strong / Sheriff John Strong | 1980 |
| Wild Times | Doc Bogardus | 1980 |
| The Sacketts | Cap Rountree | 1979 |
| The Swarm | Felix | 1978 |
| Grayeagle | John Colter | 1977 |
| The Greatest | Hollis | 1977 |
| The Town That Dreaded Sundown | Captain J.D. Morales | 1976 |
| The Savage Bees | Sheriff Donald McKew | 1976 |
| The 48th Annual Academy Awards | Self - Presenter | 1976 |
| Hustle | Marty Hollinger | 1975 |
| Breakheart Pass | Marshal Pearce / Deputy U.S. Marshal Nathan Pearce | 1975 |
| Bite the Bullet | Mister | 1975 |
| Locusts | Amos Fletcher | 1974 |
| The Sugarland Express | Captain Tanner / Captain Harlin Tanner | 1974 |
| Blood Sport | Dwayne Birdsong | 1973 |
| Runaway! | Holly Gibson | 1973 |
| Dillinger | Melvin Purvis | 1973 |
| The Red Pony | Jess Taylor | 1973 |
| The Train Robbers | Jesse | 1973 |
| Kid Blue | Sheriff 'Mean John' Simpson | 1973 |
| The Getaway | Jack Beynon | 1972 |
| Junior Bonner | Buck Roan | 1972 |
| The Bull of the West | Spinner | 1972 |
| The 44th Annual Academy Awards | Self - Winner | 1972 |
| Corky | Boland | 1972 |
| The American West of John Ford | Trooper Travis Tyree | 1971 |
| Something Big | Jesse Bookbinder | 1971 |
| The Last Picture Show | Sam the Lion | 1971 |
| Chisum | James Pepper | 1970 |
| The Undefeated | Short Grub | 1969 |
| The Wild Bunch | Tector Gorch | 1969 |
| Hang 'Em High | Marshal Dave Bliss | 1968 |
| Will Penny | Alex / Alex - Flat Iron Ranch Foreman | 1967 |
| ABC Stage 67 | Sheriff Barbee | 1966 |
| The Monroes | Sleeve | 1966 |
| The Rare Breed | Harter / Jeff Harter | 1966 |
| Major Dundee | Sergeant Chillum | 1965 |
| Branded | Bill Latigo | 1965 |
| Cheyenne Autumn | Trooper Plumtree | 1964 |
| Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | Burt Wade | 1963 |
| Stoney Burke | Rex Donally | 1962 |
| The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Himself - Guest | 1962 |
| The Virginian | Spinner / Joe Hogan / Jim Brandt / Jed Cooper | 1962 |
| Tomboy and the Champ | Uncle Jim | 1961 |
| One-Eyed Jacks | Bob Amory | 1961 |
| Ten Who Dared | George Bradley | 1960 |
| Route 66 | Del McNab / Alley Golden | 1960 |
| Laramie | Billy Pardee / Jim - Driver / Tarp | 1959 |
| Bonanza | Sgt. Samuel Bellis / Kelly James / Deputy Sheriff Stan Mace | 1959 |
| Border Patrol | Hank Colman | 1959 |
| Fort Bowie | Capt. Thomas Thompson | 1958 |
| Slim Carter | Montana Burriss | 1957 |
| The Restless Gun | Sheriff Tim Malachy | 1957 |
| Perry Mason | Kelly | 1957 |
| Have Gun - Will Travel | John Anderson / John Bartlett / Sam Crabbe | 1957 |
| War Drums | Luke Fargo | 1957 |
| Rebel in Town | Frank Mason | 1956 |
| Oklahoma! | Wrangler | 1955 |
| Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Sheriff Jeff | 1955 |
| Navy Log | Border Patrol Officer | 1955 |
| Gunsmoke | Ben Crown / Hannon / Vern Morland | 1955 |
| The Magical World of Disney | Will Parker / George Bradley | 1954 |
| Shane | Chris Calloway | 1953 |
| The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet | Tex Barton | 1952 |
| Cavalcade of America | Cal Bennett | 1952 |
| Wild Stallion | Dan Light / Dan Light (as an adult) | 1952 |
| Fort Defiance | Ben Shelby | 1951 |
| Rio Grande | Trooper Travis Tyree | 1950 |
| Wagon Master | Travis Blue | 1950 |
| She Wore a Yellow Ribbon | Sgt. Tyree | 1949 |
| Mighty Joe Young | Gregg / Gregg Johnson | 1949 |
| 3 Godfathers | Posse Man #1 | 1948 |
| The Gallant Legion | Ranger / Texas Ranger | 1948 |
| Wyoming | Cowhand | 1947 |
| Badman's Territory | Deputy Marshal | 1946 |
| The Naughty Nineties | Coach Driver | 1945 |
| Corpus Christi Bandits | 2nd Stagecoach Driver | 1945 |
| Nevada | Barfly | 1944 |
| Tall in the Saddle | Townsman | 1944 |
| The Pinto Bandit | Race Contestant | 1944 |
| Bordertown Gun Fighters | Messenger | 1943 |
| The Outlaw | Deputy | 1943 |
| The Fighting Gringo | Mexican Barfly | 1939 |
Producer Filmography
| Title | Year |
|---|
| Black Friday | 2018 |
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1972 | Oscar | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Won |
| 1972 | Golden Globe | Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture | Won |
