William boyd biography

William Lawrence Boyd (June 5, – Septem) was an American actor and film producer, known for portraying the cowboy hero Hopalong Cassidy in dozens of Western films released during the s and '40s. The son of a day laborer, William Boyd moved with his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he was seven. His parents died while he was in his early teens, forcing him to quit school and take such jobs as a grocery clerk, surveyor and oil field worker. He went to Hollywood in , already gray-haired. Early years First steps Professional growth Public recognition Peak period Later years Public interest Professional activity Media attention
After rising to fame as the title character in the Hopalong Cassidy films of the s and ’40s, Boyd bought the rights to the books and movies featuring his famous character and created a highly successful Hopalong Cassidy television series.