Actor, Stuntman. From 1920 to 1940, Johhny Tyke, (born Tyacke) was a stunt man and bit player who appeared in many low-budget Westerns, hardly ever receiving onscreen billing. Notorous among his fellow "Gower Gulch" cowboys (named for the corner of Gower St and Sunset Blvd in Hollywood where many of them waited for work) for his terrible temper and obnoxious behavior, he was shot with a .45 caliber handgun and killed by fellow bit-player "Blackjack Ward" while both were waiting to be picked up for a day's work. A detective testified that Tyke had been arrested 13 times, and had served federal time for narcotics possesion. All the witnesses to the shooting testified that Blackjack Ward acted in self-defense, and he was found not guilty of voluntary manslaughter. One cowboy witness testified, "Tyke abused Blackjack somethin' awful".
Actor, Stuntman. From 1920 to 1940, Johhny Tyke, (born Tyacke) was a stunt man and bit player who appeared in many low-budget Westerns, hardly ever receiving onscreen billing. Notorous among his fellow "Gower Gulch" cowboys (named for the corner of Gower St and Sunset Blvd in Hollywood where many of them waited for work) for his terrible temper and obnoxious behavior, he was shot with a .45 caliber handgun and killed by fellow bit-player "Blackjack Ward" while both were waiting to be picked up for a day's work. A detective testified that Tyke had been arrested 13 times, and had served federal time for narcotics possesion. All the witnesses to the shooting testified that Blackjack Ward acted in self-defense, and he was found not guilty of voluntary manslaughter. One cowboy witness testified, "Tyke abused Blackjack somethin' awful".
Bio by: Joe Walker
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