Actor William Boyd, best known as western star Hopalong Cassidy, died September 12, 1972. He was 74.

Boyd was born June 5, 1898 in Cambridge, Ohio. The son of a farm worker, he quit school to work in the oil fields of Oklahoma. In 1919 Boyd moved to Hollywood and became a film extra for Cecil B. DeMille.

His film debut was in silent movies, appearing in Why Change Your Wife in 1919. He graduated to beefier roles in 1926 when he performed in The Volga Boatman. Soon Boyd was a silent movie star, making $100,000 a year.

But a freak occurrence in 1931 brought his career to a standstill. Another actor by the name of William Boyd got involved in criminal activity and the publicity rubbed off on the innocent Boyd.

For the next three years, Boyd appeared in low budget B western movies, but when he was cast as Hopalong Cassidy in 1934, his career again took a turn for the better.

Cassidy’s film reputation was that of a clean cut, non-drinking, non-smoking, non-cussing good guy who was a role model for children. Boyd went on to make 54 Hopalong movies, making Boyd and his character one of the most recognized names of the time.

Some of his Hopalong credits include Three On The Trail, Partners Of The Plains and Heart Of Arizona.

With the advent of television, Boyd purchased the TV rights to bring Hopalong Cassidy to millions of fans on the smaller screen. The previous movies were cut into serials and 52 new half hour segments were made for television. He and his horse Topper became one of the most popular western acts in the world.

So successful was the venture that in the early 1950’s Hopalong Cassidy products were being sold by 108 manufacturers. A comic strip was also produced that ran in over 150 newspapers.

When Boyd retired in 1953, he was able to spend a comfortable retirement because of his investments. He became a philanthropist who contributed money to children’s causes, especially hospitals.

He was married four times, the last to Grace Bradley in 1953 with whom he was living when he died on September 12, 1972.