Andy Devine grew up in Arizona and followed his acting dreams to Hollywood after college and a brief swing at semipro football. Andy was one of those unique talents who could move back and forth between character roles and serious parts; though we know him best for his sidekick side.

He spent fifteen years at Universal Studios and made over four hundred films alongside stars like Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne in movies like Stagecoach, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and How The West Was Won. He got his start as a sidekick, replacing Gabby Hayes as Cookie Bullfincher in nine films with Roy Rogers. (Never knew Cookie’s last name before researching this piece. Not sure I’m better off for having found out. Bull-fincher? Really?)

Devine hit his stride as a sidekick playing Jingles Jones to Guy Madison’s Wild Bill Hickok on the 1950’s TV series by the same name. You can almost hear that raspy wheezy noise he passed off for a voice. Said to be caused by childhood throat injury, Andy’s voice nearly cost him his career. He broke into silent pictures. No one thought that scratchy high pitched ‘fingernails-on-a-blackboard’ sound would make it in talkies. Undaunted Devine did. He made it his trademark. He even had it insured by Lloyds of London for half a million dollars. That voice and Betty Grabel’s legs? Go figure.

Andy Devine never went Hollywood. He and his wife Dorthy remained happily married ever after their vows. They raised two boys safely tucked away from movie tinsel and glitz. Andy Devine died of leukemia February 18, 1977 at the age of seventy-one. You can find his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Next Week: Smiley Burnette
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Ride easy,
Paul