Hollywood Makeup Artist. Born William Tom Layne Britton, his childhood nickname "Shotgun," by which he was always known, was given to him by his father who said he looked like a "sawed-off shotgun" in his new knickers. His famous clients included Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, the late John Belushi, John Candy and Jane Russell. He was under personal contract to Russell for ten years during the Howard Hughes ownership of RKO Studios, a rarity in Hollywood. He was also a collegiate star quarterback named by famed sportswriter Grantland Rice as All American potential back in the twenties when Texas' Hardin-Simmons University was a gridiron powerhouse. Soon after graduation, he came to Hollywood in 1928 with a letter written to Joan Crawford by her father, Tom LeSeur. Joan got Shotgun a job in the make-up department of MGM, the studio where she was to become one of its biggest stars. An accomplished golfer with a scratch handicap in his prime, he was a friend and playing partner of such golfing greats as Jimmy Demaret, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. Demaret urged Shotgun to go on the PGA tour but the make up artist said he couldn't afford to take a drop in income. That was in the days before pro golfers became millionaires. Shotgun and Bing Crosby were always rated among the top golfers in the movie colony. He was a past president of Local 706, the makeup artists union and was a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
Hollywood Makeup Artist. Born William Tom Layne Britton, his childhood nickname "Shotgun," by which he was always known, was given to him by his father who said he looked like a "sawed-off shotgun" in his new knickers. His famous clients included Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, the late John Belushi, John Candy and Jane Russell. He was under personal contract to Russell for ten years during the Howard Hughes ownership of RKO Studios, a rarity in Hollywood. He was also a collegiate star quarterback named by famed sportswriter Grantland Rice as All American potential back in the twenties when Texas' Hardin-Simmons University was a gridiron powerhouse. Soon after graduation, he came to Hollywood in 1928 with a letter written to Joan Crawford by her father, Tom LeSeur. Joan got Shotgun a job in the make-up department of MGM, the studio where she was to become one of its biggest stars. An accomplished golfer with a scratch handicap in his prime, he was a friend and playing partner of such golfing greats as Jimmy Demaret, Sam Snead and Ben Hogan. Demaret urged Shotgun to go on the PGA tour but the make up artist said he couldn't afford to take a drop in income. That was in the days before pro golfers became millionaires. Shotgun and Bing Crosby were always rated among the top golfers in the movie colony. He was a past president of Local 706, the makeup artists union and was a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Britton memorials in:
Advertisement
