Actor. Born James Shorttel Bannon, he was a character actor who appeared in both film and television during a career that from 1940s to the 1960s. His best known role was of the Red Ryder in the last four films of the "Red Ryder" series and on the television series of the same name in the early 1950s. After graduating from Rockhurst College, he started out as a sportscaster in Kansas City, Missouri. In the late 1930s he came to California and started working in radio and later in films. In 1945 he received the main role of Jack Packard in the film version of the popular radio series "I Love A Mystery" and later appeared in the same role the next year in the film "The Devil's Mask". He would go on to appear as the popular radio character Red Ryder in the last four films of the Red Ryder series. He also appeared as Red Ryder in the short lived television series of the same name. He would go on to appear in such television series as "The Adventures of Kit Carson", "The Range Rider", "The Gene Autry Show", "The Adventures of Champion", "Annie Oakley", "The Lone Ranger", "Maverick", "Casey Jones", "Fury", "Sea Hunt", "Wagon Train", "Lassie", and "Death Valley Days". He also continued to appear in films during his career with such credits as "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1951),"Unknown World" (1951), "Phantom from Space" (1953), "The Great Jesse James Raid" (1953), "The Shaggy Dog" (1959), and "A Gathering of Eagles" (1963). After leaving acting in the mid 1960s, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona to work at the radio station KTAR. He passed away after a battle with emphysema.
Actor. Born James Shorttel Bannon, he was a character actor who appeared in both film and television during a career that from 1940s to the 1960s. His best known role was of the Red Ryder in the last four films of the "Red Ryder" series and on the television series of the same name in the early 1950s. After graduating from Rockhurst College, he started out as a sportscaster in Kansas City, Missouri. In the late 1930s he came to California and started working in radio and later in films. In 1945 he received the main role of Jack Packard in the film version of the popular radio series "I Love A Mystery" and later appeared in the same role the next year in the film "The Devil's Mask". He would go on to appear as the popular radio character Red Ryder in the last four films of the Red Ryder series. He also appeared as Red Ryder in the short lived television series of the same name. He would go on to appear in such television series as "The Adventures of Kit Carson", "The Range Rider", "The Gene Autry Show", "The Adventures of Champion", "Annie Oakley", "The Lone Ranger", "Maverick", "Casey Jones", "Fury", "Sea Hunt", "Wagon Train", "Lassie", and "Death Valley Days". He also continued to appear in films during his career with such credits as "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1951),"Unknown World" (1951), "Phantom from Space" (1953), "The Great Jesse James Raid" (1953), "The Shaggy Dog" (1959), and "A Gathering of Eagles" (1963). After leaving acting in the mid 1960s, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona to work at the radio station KTAR. He passed away after a battle with emphysema.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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