Birthname: Lester Alvin Burnette
Sign | Pisces |
Born | Mar 18, 1911 Summum, IL |
Died | Feb 16, 1967 Encino, CA |
Age | Died at 55 |
Smiley Burnette | |
Job | Actor |
Years active | 1933-1967 |
Top Roles | Frog Millhouse, Frog Millhouse, Frog Millhouse, Frog Millhouse, Frog |
Top Genres | Western, Action, Musical, Romance, Adventure, Comedy |
Top Topics | Horses, Musicians, True Story (based on) |
Top Collaborators | Gene Autry, Armand Schaefer (Producer), Joseph Kane (Director), Tom London |
Shares birthday with | Edward Everett Horton, Robert Donat, Esther Minciotti see more.. |
Smiley Burnette Overview:
Character actor, Smiley Burnette, was born Lester Alvin Burnette on Mar 18, 1911 in Summum, IL. Burnette died at the age of 55 on Feb 16, 1967 in Encino, CA .
MINI BIO:
In the days when every "B" western star had comic-books devoted to their imaginary adventures, only two "sidekicks" were awarded the accolade of a comic to themselves. One of these was George "Gabby" Hayes; the other was tubby Smiley Burnette, with his flapjack black stetson, and manic humor. Living up to his nickname by always grinning, Burnette came on like a chubbier version of Eddie Bracken, coming into films with his friend Gene Autry (whose radio vocals he had backed on guitar). He remained one of the most popular "B"-westerners, with a number of partners, through the 1930s and 1940s, sticking with the genre until it petered out in 1953. When appearing as a regular on the TV comedy series Petticoat Junction, Burnette learned that he had leukemia, the disease that killed him at 55. Also a prolific songwriter.
(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Character Actors: an Illustrated Directory).HONORS and AWARDS:
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He was honored with one star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures.
Smiley Burnette BlogHub Articles:
Smiley Burnette Quotes:
Frog Milhouse: How's the water?
Donald Gregory: Why don't you find out?
Frog Milhouse: It's not Saturday night.
[Walker shows Gene and Frog their new executive offices]
Henry Walker: Well, boys, what do you think of it.
Gene Autry: I'd feel a lot more at home down in the stockyard.
Frog Milhouse: Well, me too. I-I don't like being cooped up. You're liable to get hydrophobia or something.
[first lines]
Ranch hand Slim: Sure hate to see this outfit bust up after all the years we've been together.
Gene Autry: Why do you say that?
Ranch hand Slim: Oh, anything can happen to us with a new owner coming in.
Gene Autry: Oh, I'll admit things have been unsettled since Old Man Marshall died, but I understand that Van Fleet is a pretty nice guy.
Frog Millhouse: What difference does it make who owns the place as long as I ear regular?
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