Denver Pyle:
One of America's Greatest Character
Actors
by: Ed G. Lousararian
Three actors made the most of their time as they waited to shoot
the next scene. One sat chatting with the female lead. Another read
a book in the solitude of his dressing room. Denver Pyle was with
the crew, helping them lift heavy equipment.
Throughout his career, Pyle has taken the initiative to offer a
helping
hand, even when his volunteer work lay outside his job description.
One of the most highly recognizable characters of film and television
to date, Pyle is a team player--the truest definition of "supporting
actor."
His contribution to the 1960 epic, The Alamo, for
example, was
more than a superb performance as one of Davy Crockett's loyal
Tennesseans. His involvement included public relations, second-unit
directing, and being the eyes and ears for John Wayne on the set.
"I was always in awe of Wayne," says Denver, "and I gave him a
wide berth whenever I could. We had worked together the year
before in The Horse Soldiers, but it wasn't until The Alamo that
we got close, and he let me do a lot of work for him."
Interestingly, Wayne was impressed with Pyle's photography,
and made special arrangements with the public relations office
to designate Pyle as the official set photographer for The Alamo.
Pyle fulfilled this
duty.......................................................................
