Cliff Lyons (actor)
Encyclopedia
Clifford William Lyons was an American motion picture stuntman
, second-unit director, and actor
, primarily of Westerns, particularly the films of John Ford
and John Wayne
.
Lyons, the son of Garrett Thomas Lyons and Wilhamena Johnson Lyons, was raised on a South Dakota farm, though his family lived for a time in Memphis, Tennessee
, where he attended business school. An expert horseman, Lyons gave up the notion of a business career and opted for the rodeo
arena instead, touring and eventually reaching Los Angeles at the age of 21. With accomplished cowboys in great demand, Lyons quickly became involved in movies, working both as a stuntman and an actor. After only a couple of bit parts, he was signed by producer Isador 'Bud' Barsky to do seven inexpensive Westerns directed by Paul Hurst
with Lyons and Al Hoxie alternating as the hero and the heavy. Lyons and Hoxie alternated in another Western series produced by Morris R. Schlank, and, as Cliff 'Tex' Lyons, Lyons seemed headed for minor stardom as a B-Western lead. But Lyons's voice was not well-suited for sound and the talkie revolution confined him to small roles. However, as his small shot at stardom faded, his career as a stunt double for big stars and small was on the rise. Lyons doubled such cowboy stars as Tom Mix
, Ken Maynard
, Buck Jones
, and Johnny Mack Brown
. In 1936, he worked with John Wayne for the first time and struck up a personal and business relationship that would remain strong for three decades. Wayne was influential in getting Lyons his first work as a second-unit director and in introducing Lyons to John Ford, for whom Lyons would do some of his finest work. Lyons's reputation as a stunt coordinator is comparable to that of acknowledged master Yakima Canutt
, with whom Lyons partnered on numerous occasions. Lyons's most noted work was the massive and dynamic battle sequences of Wayne's The Alamo
.
Lyons was married from 1938 to 1955 to actress Beth Marion
, with whom he had two sons. Cliff Lyons died in 1974 at 72, not long after coordinating stunts for Wayne's The Train Robbers
.
Stuntman
A stuntman or stunt performer is someone who performs dangerous stunts.Stuntman may also refer to:*The Stunt Man, a 1980 film starring Peter O'Toole*Stuntman , a 2002 video game**Stuntman: Ignition, its sequel...
, second-unit director, and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, primarily of Westerns, particularly the films of John Ford
John Ford
John Ford was an American film director. He was famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath...
and John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
.
Lyons, the son of Garrett Thomas Lyons and Wilhamena Johnson Lyons, was raised on a South Dakota farm, though his family lived for a time in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, where he attended business school. An expert horseman, Lyons gave up the notion of a business career and opted for the rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
arena instead, touring and eventually reaching Los Angeles at the age of 21. With accomplished cowboys in great demand, Lyons quickly became involved in movies, working both as a stuntman and an actor. After only a couple of bit parts, he was signed by producer Isador 'Bud' Barsky to do seven inexpensive Westerns directed by Paul Hurst
Paul Hurst
Paul Michael Hurst is a former English footballer who played in Football League Two in England, for Rotherham, where he played for over 10 years. He is currently joint manager of Conference National side Grimsby Town with Rob Scott.-Playing career:Hurst figured regularly on the left side of the...
with Lyons and Al Hoxie alternating as the hero and the heavy. Lyons and Hoxie alternated in another Western series produced by Morris R. Schlank, and, as Cliff 'Tex' Lyons, Lyons seemed headed for minor stardom as a B-Western lead. But Lyons's voice was not well-suited for sound and the talkie revolution confined him to small roles. However, as his small shot at stardom faded, his career as a stunt double for big stars and small was on the rise. Lyons doubled such cowboy stars as Tom Mix
Tom Mix
Thomas Edwin "Tom" Mix was an American film actor and the star of many early Western movies. He made a reported 336 films between 1910 and 1935, all but nine of which were silent features...
, Ken Maynard
Ken Maynard
Ken Maynard was an American motion picture stuntman and actor.-Biography:Born Kenneth Olin Maynard in Vevay, Indiana, he was one of five children. His younger brother, Kermit Maynard, also became a stuntman and actor....
, Buck Jones
Buck Jones
Buck Jones was an American motion picture star of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, best known for his work starring in many popular western movies...
, and Johnny Mack Brown
Johnny Mack Brown
Johnny Mack Brown was an All-American college football player and film actor originally billed as John Mack Brown at the height of his screen career.-Early life:...
. In 1936, he worked with John Wayne for the first time and struck up a personal and business relationship that would remain strong for three decades. Wayne was influential in getting Lyons his first work as a second-unit director and in introducing Lyons to John Ford, for whom Lyons would do some of his finest work. Lyons's reputation as a stunt coordinator is comparable to that of acknowledged master Yakima Canutt
Yakima Canutt
Yakima Canutt , also known as Yak Canutt, was an American rodeo rider, actor, stuntman and action director.-Biography:...
, with whom Lyons partnered on numerous occasions. Lyons's most noted work was the massive and dynamic battle sequences of Wayne's The Alamo
The Alamo (1960 film)
The Alamo is a 1960 American historical epic released by United Artists. The film was directed by John Wayne, who also starred as Davy Crockett. The cast also includes Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey as William B...
.
Lyons was married from 1938 to 1955 to actress Beth Marion
Beth Marion
Beth Marion, born Betty Goettsche, in Clinton, Iowa, was a B-movie actress of the 1930s, starring in westerns, her career spanning only about five years, mostly in 1936....
, with whom he had two sons. Cliff Lyons died in 1974 at 72, not long after coordinating stunts for Wayne's The Train Robbers
The Train Robbers
The Train Robbers is a 1973 Western film starring John Wayne, Ann-Margret, Rod Taylor, and Ben Johnson. The movie was written and directed by Burt Kennedy....
.
Selected filmography
- The Phantom RiderThe Phantom Rider (Republic serial)The Phantom Rider is a Republic Movie serial. It was later re-released under the new title Ghost Riders of the West.-Plot:Dr Jim Sterling attempts to create a police force on the Big Tree Indian Reservation...
(19461946 in filmThe year 1946 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*November 21 - William Wyler's The Best Years of Our Lives premieres in New York featuring an ensemble cast including Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, and Harold Russell.*December 20 - Frank Capra's It's a...
) - The Purple Monster StrikesThe Purple Monster StrikesThe Purple Monster Strikes is a Republic Movie serial. It was also released as a television film under the title D-Day on Mars .The original production title for the serial was The Purple Shadow Strikes...
(19451945 in filmThe year 1945 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Paramount Studios releases theatrical short cartoon titled The Friendly Ghost, featuring a ghost named Casper.* With Rossellini's Roma Città aperta, Italian neorealist cinema begins....
) - Winners of the WestWinners of the West (1940 serial)Winners of the West is a Universal movie serial. It stars Dick Foran and Anne Nagel in a plot about the construction of a railroad and a local ganglord who opposes it. This was Universal's 115th serial release ....
(19401940 in filmThe year 1940 in film involved some significant events, including the premieres of the Walt Disney classics Pinocchio and Fantasia.-Events:*February 7 - Walt Disney's animated film Pinocchio is released....
) - Mystery MountainMystery Mountain (serial)Mystery Mountain is a Mascot movie serial.It was a remake of Mascot's own The Hurricane Express .-Plot overview:Detective Ken Williams tries to capture the master of disguise, The Rattler, who is attacking a railroad.-Cast:...
(19341934 in film-Events:*January 26 - Samuel Goldwyn purchases the film rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the L. Frank Baum estate for $40,000.*February 19 - Bob Hope marries Dolores Reade...
) - The Voice from the SkyThe Voice from the SkyThe Voice from the Sky is a science fiction film serial directed by Ben F. Wilson. The film was considered to be a lost film, but was recently rediscovered. This is the first serial film to have full sound.-Cast:...
(19301930 in film-Events:* November 1: The Big Trail featuring a young John Wayne in his first starring role is released in both 35mm, and a very early form of 70mm film and was the first large scale big-budget film of the sound era costing over $2 million. The film was praised for its aesthetic quality and realism...
)