Ben Johnson (actor)

1. Overview

Francis Benjamin Johnson Jr. (June 13, 1918 - April 8, 1996), known professionally as Ben Johnson, was an American actor, stuntman, and rodeo cowboy who achieved world champion status in team roping. Born in Foraker, Oklahoma, on the Osage Indian Reservation, Johnson brought a distinctive authenticity to his many roles in Westerns due to his expert horsemanship and droll manner. His career transitioned from the rodeo arena to Hollywood, initially as a stunt double, before he secured acting roles with the help of director John Ford. Johnson's most acclaimed acting performance was as Sam the Lion in the 1971 coming-of-age drama The Last Picture Show, for which he received an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Throughout his life, Johnson maintained a strong connection to his cowboy roots, operating a horse-breeding ranch and expressing immense pride in his rodeo accomplishments. By his later years, shrewd real estate investments had also contributed to his estimated worth of 100.00 M USD.

2. Early life and background

Francis Benjamin Johnson Jr. was born on June 13, 1918, in Foraker, Oklahoma, which is located on the Osage Indian Reservation. He identified as being of mixed Irish and Cherokee ancestry. Johnson was the son of Ollie Susan Johnson (née Workmon) and Ben Johnson Sr. His father was a prominent rancher and a rodeo champion within Osage County, establishing a strong foundation for Ben Jr.'s lifelong connection to horses and the cowboy lifestyle.

3. Rodeo career

Ben Johnson's deep connection to the cowboy lifestyle extended beyond his acting career into professional rodeo. In 1953, he temporarily stepped away from his well-paying film work to actively compete in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA). During this period, he achieved the prestigious title of Team Roping World Champion, an accomplishment he later stated he was "prouder of that than anything else I've ever done," despite only breaking even financially that year. Johnson's significant contributions and achievements in the sport were recognized with his induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979. He also continued his involvement by operating a horse-breeding ranch in Sylmar, California, and sponsoring the Ben Johnson Pro Celebrity Team Roping and Penning competition in Oklahoma City, which raised funds for Children's Medical Research Inc. and the Children's Hospital of Oklahoma.

4. Film career

Ben Johnson's extensive film career spanned decades, evolving from his beginnings as a skilled stuntman to becoming an Academy Award-winning actor. His authentic cowboy background provided a unique foundation for his performances, particularly in Westerns.

4.1. Stuntman and early acting

Johnson's entry into the film industry began in an unconventional way, as he often quipped that he "got to Hollywood in a carload of horses," having arrived to deliver a consignment of horses for the Howard Hughes film The Outlaw (1943), in which he was uncredited as a deputy. His exceptional horsemanship and work as a stuntman quickly caught the attention of renowned director John Ford. Ford hired Johnson for stunt work in the 1948 film Fort Apache, where he also served as the riding double for actor Henry Fonda. During the production of Fort Apache, Johnson famously saved three men when a wagon they were in stampeded. Ford, witnessing Johnson's quick action, promised him a reward. Johnson initially hoped for another doubling job or a small speaking role, but instead, Ford offered him a seven-year acting contract. Johnson recalled signing the contract without reading past the fifth line, which stated a salary of 5.00 K USD a week.

His first credited acting role was in Ford's 1948 film 3 Godfathers, a film noted for the impressive riding skills demonstrated by both Johnson and co-star Pedro Armendáriz. Johnson later described this film as the most physically demanding of his career. Following this, Ford suggested a starring role for Johnson in the 1949 film Mighty Joe Young, where he played the character Gregg opposite Terry Moore. Ford continued to cast Johnson in his films, including the remaining two parts of his famous cavalry trilogy, all starring John Wayne: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) and Rio Grande (1950), which further showcased Johnson's equestrian abilities. Ford also gave Johnson the lead role in Wagon Master (1950), a film that became one of Ford's personal favorites. Despite his calm and firm demeanor, Johnson was known for his definite boundaries. During the filming of Rio Grande, he reportedly defied Ford, who was notorious for browbeating his actors, leading to a decade-long hiatus from Ford's films.

5. Awards and recognition

Ben Johnson received significant accolades throughout his career, particularly for his acting performance in The Last Picture Show. For his role as Sam the Lion in the 1971 film, he was awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture for the same film. Additionally, his performance earned him the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor and the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Beyond these acting awards, Johnson was recognized for his broader contributions to the entertainment industry and his cowboy heritage. For his work in motion pictures, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard. In 1982, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. In 2003, Johnson was also inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame.

6. Personal life

Ben Johnson was married to Carol Elaine Jones in 1941. Their marriage lasted until Carol's death on March 27, 1994. The couple did not have any children. Carol Elaine Jones was the daughter of Clarence "Fat" Jones, a well-known Hollywood horse wrangler. Johnson continued to work almost continuously in his profession until his death.

7. Death

Ben Johnson died on April 8, 1996, at the age of 77. He collapsed and passed away from a heart attack while visiting his mother, Ollie, who was then 96 years old, at Leisure World in Mesa, Arizona. Both Johnson and his mother resided in this suburban Phoenix retirement community. Following his death, Johnson's body was transported from Arizona to Pawhuska, Oklahoma, where he was laid to rest at the Pawhuska City Cemetery. His mother, Ollie Susan Johnson, later died on October 16, 2000, at the age of 101.

8. Legacy and memorials

Ben Johnson's legacy is preserved through various tributes and institutions that honor his contributions to film and the cowboy way of life. A documentary film about his life, titled Ben Johnson: Third Cowboy on the Right, was made by Tom Thurman in 1996, with a screenplay by Thurman and Tom Marksbury.

In June 2019, the Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum was opened in his hometown of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. This museum is dedicated to showcasing the lives and careers of both Ben Johnson Jr. and his father, Ben Johnson Sr., who was also a world-champion cowboy. The museum also features other world-champion cowboys and cowgirls, famous ranches from the area where Ben grew up (including the one he was raised on), and works by cowboy artists and craftsmen.

To further commemorate his impact, the Ben Johnson Memorial Steer Roping and the International Roundup Cavalcade, recognized as the world's largest amateur rodeo, are held annually in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. A one-and-a-quarter-sized bronze sculpture depicting Ben Johnson riding a horse and roping a steer, created by artist John D. Free, was commissioned and produced in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, serving as a lasting artistic tribute.

9. Filmography

Ben Johnson had an extensive film and television career, often appearing in Westerns due to his authentic cowboy background.