Facts About Denver Pyle

In addition to acting, he made a lot of money in oil.

Denver PylePhoto byCreative Commons: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region

If you watch a lot of old TV shows, Denver Pyle has a huge presence. He’s perhaps most known as Uncle Jessie from The Dukes of Hazzard though he did a lot of work on Gunsmoke. In addition, he had a significant role as Mad Jack in The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams.

However, I think my favorite Denver Pyle role was Briscoe Darling from The Andy Griffith Show. Briscoe was the head of the Daling clan. The Darlings were rustic, even by Mayberry’s standards. They were backwards, but generally good people who were surprisingly musically talented. Now, on to some things you didn’t know about Denver Pyle.

1: Perhaps Pyle’s most notable film role was Texas Ranger, Frank Hamer in “Bonnie and Clyde.”

Of course, ultimately Hamer tracked down Bonnie and Clyde and killed them. Back then, Hamer Time was a serious thing.

2: When I was a kid, my big three TV westerns were, “The Lone Ranger,” “The Roy Rogers Show,” and “The Gene Autry Show.” And Denver guest starred on all three of them.

And he played the usual array of western characters including a lawman, an outlaw and a man wrongly accused of murder. Admittedly, there weren’t a lot of diverse characters in westerns back then.

3: He appeared in “Have Gun Will Travel” seven times.

He must have been a cash cow for Paladin.

4: Denver was cast as Matt Dillion in Gunsmoke when James Arness initially refused to test for the role.

So, after the show saw Denver as Matt Dillion did they call James Arness again?

5: In addition to playing in a ton of westerns, he also saw a lot of action on Perry Mason.

Denver got a panoramic view of the legal system, playing a defendant, the victim, and the murder.

6: From 1958–1997 he was best friends with James Best.

If you were best friends with James Best, isn’t saying he saying he’s your Best friend redundant?

7: A few years after The Andy Griffith Show wrapped up, Denver made a bunch of money in the oil industry.

He bought wells they were thought to be on their last legs. However, advances in drilling technology and an oil crisis combined to make Pyle rich. So, Denver made a Pyle of money in oil.

8: Denver really was a talented musician.

Despite his appearances as Briscoe Darling, he didn’t play the washboard or jug, instead he played the drums.

9: Between 1951–53 he was a guest star on The Range Rider 14 times.

I hope he had a range pass.

10: Denver also did some writing for a short-lived TV series called, “Dirty Sally.”

No, it wasn’t that type of series. Sally was an old lady who was physically dirty.