Howdy Manco!!
Billy Gilbert got his start in Vaudeville at the age of 12 years old. He would go on to become an actor, playright, director and producer in films. He did the voice of Sneezy in the 1937 Walt Disney film, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs and also performed songs for Disney. His made his film debut in 1931 and appeared in over 100 films between 1931-1939. He continued to act for nearly 40 years, appearing in such films as, The Great Dictator, with Charlie Chaplin, The Outcasts Of Poker Flats, Captains Courageous, Destry Rides Again, with Jimmie Stewart and Marlene Dietrich and The Kissing Bandit With Frank Sinatra.
Bill McKinney began his film career in 1967, but it was the 1972 Burt Reynolds film, Deliverance, that set him on the road to being elected, the most hated villain of all. His role as the mountain man who raped Ned Beatty, in the film, ranks him as the number one badman of all time. This film launched his career. He was spotted by Clint Eastwood and became part of the Eastwood stock of actors, appearing in 8 Eastwood films, including, Thunderbolt And Lightfoot, Bronco Billy and The Outlaw Josey Wales. McKinney also appeared in Sam Peckinpah's Junior Bonner, John Huston's, The Life And Times Of Judge Roy Bean and as the assassin in The Parillax View. I remember an interview that Burt Reynolds did, in which he said that while on the set of Deliverance, he would see McKinney running nude through the water sprinklers in the morning. He also said that during the scene with Beatty, McKinney became a little too enthusiastic and Beatty became so enraged, the two actors had to be separated. McKinney later denied this.
Ed
by Laramie Wed Feb 08, 2023 5:26 pm
Subject: September 12 Birthday Wishes 
