Hank Worden
(1901 - 1992)Another character actor best known for a single role, he was in reality a bona-fide cowboy. Born Norton Earl Worden in Rolfe, Iowa on July 23, 1901, he was raised on a Montana cattle ranch and became a rodeo bronc rider after a stint as an Army pilot. He, along with Tex Ritter, was discovered in Madison Square Garden while they were performing in a rodeo. After some New York stage work, actress Billie Burke introduced them to film producers and they were on their way. Hank, a tall, bald-domed, lanky man with a heavy western drawl was typecast mostly in Westerns. In his early films he sometimes used the name Heber Snow. His most famous role was as Mose Harper in the film classic "The Searchers" (1956). From there he became a friend of John Wayne and part of his repertoire ensemble. Among his other films were: "The Plainsman" (1936) in an unbilled part, his film debut; "Come and Get It" (1936); "The Cowboy and the Lady" (1938) as Cowhand; "The Stranger From Arizona" (1938) as Skeeter; "The Night Riders" (1939) as Rancher; "Northwest Passage" (1940) as Ranger; "Brigham Young - Frontiersman" (1940) uncredited in a Bit Part; "Black Market Rustlers" (1943) as Slim; "So Proudly We Hail!" (1943) as Soldier on Troop Ship; "The Bullfighters" (1945) with Laurel & Hardy, as McCoy; "The Lawless Breed" (1946) as The Deputy; "The Sea Of Grass" (1947) as Bill; "Prairie Express" (1947) as Deputy Clint; "Lightnin' in the Forest" (1948) as Bartender; "Fort Apache" (1948) as Southern Recruit; "Red River" (1948) with John Wayne and Montgomery Clift, as Sims Reeves; "3 Godfathers" (1948) as Deputy Sheriff Curly; "The Fighting Kentuckian" (1949) as Militiaman Announcer of Wrestling; "Wagonmaster" (1950) as Luke Clegg; the "Ma & Pa Kettle" series of the 1950s as an Indian; "The Big Sky" (1952) as Poor Devil, one of my favorites of his roles; "The Indian Fighter" (1955) as Crazy Bear; Disney's "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates" (1956); "The Dragoon Wells Massacre" (1957) as Hopi Charlie; "The Quiet Gun" (1957) as Sampson; "The Horse Soldiers" (1959) as Deacon Clump; "The Alamo" (1960) as Parson; "One-Eyed Jacks" (1961) with Marlon Brando, as Doc; "The Music Man" (1962) as Undertaker; "McLintock!" (1963) as Curly Butler; "True Grit" (1969) as R. Ryan the Undertaker; "Chisum" (1970) as the Stationmaster; "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" (1971) as a Militiaman; "Big Jake" (1971) as Hank; "Cahill: United States Marshall" (1973) as Albert; "Smokey and the Bandit" (1977) uncredited as a Trucker; "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1978) as Old Bandmember; "Every Which Way But Loose" (1978) & "Any Which Way You Can" (1980) with Clint Eastwood, as the Trailer Court Manager; "Bronco Billy" (1980) as Gas Station Operator; "Ice Pirates" (1984) as Elderly Jason; "Runaway Train" (1985) as Old Con and "Almost an Angel" (1990) as Pop, his last film. He also appeared in many TV series including "The Lone Ranger"; "Wagon Train"; "The Adventures of Jim Bowie"; "Rawhide"; "Cheyenne"; "Bonanza"; "Petticoat Junction"; "The Beverly Hillbillies"; "McCloud"; "Knight Rider"; "Cop Rock" and "Twin Peaks". I once had the honor of talking to him on the phone as friends of mine who took care of him in his later years arranged it. I'll never forget that drawling voice. He died at his home in Brentwood, California on December 6, 1992 of natural causes at age 91.
From Great Character Actors, Page 1.
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