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, Smiley, Singer, Rammer |
| 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.
BlogHub Articles:
Smiley Burnette Quotes:
Prof. Ezekial Daniels: Five thousand dollar reward for the capture of Gene Autry, wanted dead or alive for the murder of Jefferson Lee.
Frog Millhouse: Jefferson Lee? Don't he own that ranch where we're goin'?
Gene Autry aka Tex Smith: yes and he was one of the best friends I ever had. Wolf Benson must have gone to the dude ranch masquerading as me and when Lee couldn't be fooled he killed him.
Prof. Ezekial Daniels: Well, the murderer has certainly placed you in an exceedingly dangerous position, Gene. You have to capture him before you can identify yourself.
Frog Millhouse: That's right! The star packers in this part of the country shoot first and talk later.
[while Gene got directions to the bad guys hideout over the phone, Smiley transcribed the conversation]
Frog Milhouse: I got every word. Now look, you go to the, yeah, turn right, yeah, over to the, I see, I got it, thanks. You know if we follow this, we're lost before we even get started.
Gene Autry aka Tex Smith: But I tell you, I'm Gene Autry!
Deputy Sheriff: And I'm Bing Crosby.
[singing]
Deputy Sheriff: Boo-boo-boo-boo!
Frog Millhouse: Boo-boo yourself.
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