Ben Johnson was born to be a cowboy, excelling in both the rodeo arena and on the silver screen. With over 300 film appearances, Johnson won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as Sam the Lion in the 1971 film “The Last Picture Show.” However, Johnson often remarked that his most cherished prize was the gold buckle he earned in 1953 for winning the team roping world championship.
In 1953, Johnson took a hiatus from Hollywood to pursue his rodeo aspirations, inspired by his father, a champion roper in the early 1900s. Born in 1918 in Foraker, Oklahoma, Johnson wanted to test his skills in the rodeo circuit. Reflecting on that year, Johnson said, “At the end of the year, I didn’t have $3. All I had was a wore-out automobile and a mad wife,” as he had spent his earnings on entry fees for his traveling partners.
Standing 6-foot-2, Johnson returned to Hollywood, where he had worked as a stunt double for stars like Gary Cooper, Joel McCrea, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers. His Hollywood journey began when, as a 21-year-old ranch hand, he delivered 16 horses to a movie set, earning an unprecedented $300. During that trip to Flagstaff, Arizona, he also met his wife, Carol. Producer Howard Hughes noticed his talent and hired him as a stuntman and wrangler.
Johnson’s next significant break came in 1947 on the set of “Fort Apache,” where he was doubling for Henry Fonda. In a moment of heroism, Johnson saved three stuntmen’s lives by stopping a runaway wagon during a scene gone awry. Director John Ford rewarded his bravery with a seven-year contract at $5,000 a week.
Some of Johnson’s notable films include “The Wild Bunch,” “Shane,” “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” “Rio Grande,” “Chisum,” “The Sugarland Express,” and “Angels in the Outfield.” Despite his success in Hollywood, Johnson maintained his passion for rodeo, leading to his induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in its inaugural 1979 class. In 1994, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Johnson passed away in 1996, leaving behind a legacy both in film and rodeo. By the 1980s, his real estate investments had grown his fortune to an estimated $200 million.