Kermit Maynard (September 20, 1897 – January 16, 1971) was an American actor and stuntman. He appeared in 280 films between 1927 and 1962.

Kermit Maynard
Maynard from the 1922 Arbutus
Born(1897-09-20)September 20, 1897
Vevay, Indiana, United States
DiedJanuary 16, 1971(1971-01-16) (aged 73)
Resting placeValhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Other namesTex Maynard
Occupation(s)Actor, stuntman
Years active1927–1962
SpouseEdith Jessen (married 1924–1971, his death) 1 child

Early years

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Born in Vevay, Indiana, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Maynard[1] and a lookalike younger brother of actor Ken Maynard; they were frequently assumed to be identical twins.[citation needed]

Maynard was a 1916 graduate of Columbus High School in Columbus, Indiana.[2] He graduated with a degree in engineering from Indiana University[3] and played college football as a lineman for the Indiana Hoosiers in the early 1920s. While at the university, he lettered in three sports in one year.[4]

After he finished college, Maynard worked as a claims agent for the George H. Hormel Meat Packing Company.[5] Maynard also competed as a rider in rodeo competition. In 1933, he won a Pacific Coast trick-riding championship in the Pendleton Round-Up.[6] Early in his career, promoters disdained Maynard's given name of Kermit and marketed him as "Tex Maynard."[3]

Career

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From 1935 to 1937 Kermit Maynard starred in films produced by Ambassador Pictures, which producer Maurice Conn established in 1934. He starred in 18 Ambassador films, the last one being Roaring Six Guns.

Unlike his more famous brother Ken Maynard, who was often argumentative and difficult to work with, the mild-mannered and more agreeable Kermit Maynard continued to work steadily in pictures,[5] appearing in the supporting casts of dozens of westerns, serials, Hollywood features, and TV episodes through 1962. When producers would cast multiple cowboy stars in a single feature, Kermit Maynard joined the posse in Trail of Robin Hood and Once Upon a Horse.

Death

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On January 16, 1971, Maynard died at his home in North Hollywood, California, from a heart attack. He was 72 years old.[7] Survivors included his wife and a son.[8]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
1927 Gun-Hand Garrison Tex Maynard
1930 The Lone Defender Reverend Purdy serial, uncredited
1931 The Phantom of the West Peter Drake serial
1933 The Wolf Dog stunts serial
1933 Drum Taps Scoutmaster Earl Cartwright
1934 Fighting Trooper Burke
1935 Red Blood of Courage Jim Sullivan
1935 Code of the Mounted Corporal Jim Wilson
1935 Wilderness Mail Rance Raine / Keith Raine
1935 Trails of the Wild Jim McKenna
1935 Northern Frontier Mack MacKenzie
1935 Timber War Jim Dolan
1936 Phantom Patrol Jim Sullivan
1936 Song of the Trail Jim Carter
1936 Wildcat Trooper Gale Farrell
1936 Wild Horse Round-Up Jack Benson
1937 Rough Riding Rhythm Jim Langley
1937 Valley of Terror Bob Wilson
1937 Roaring Six Guns Buck Sinclair
1937 Galloping Dynamite Jim Dillon
1937 Whistling Bullets Larry Graham
1937 The Fighting Texan Glenn Oliver
1938 The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok Kit Lawson serial
1938 Western Jamboree Ranch Hand Slim
1939 The Night Riders Sheriff Chuck Pratt
1939 Colorado Sunset Cyrus Drake
1940 The Range Busters Wyoming
1940 The Showdown Henchman Johnson
1940 Pony Post Whitmore
1941 Billy the Kid Thad Decker
1941 Sierra Sue Jarvis
1941 Stick to Your Guns Henchman Layton
1941 Man from Montana Chris
1941 The Royal Mounted Patrol Sgt. Coburn
1941 Below the Border Jeff
1942 Rock River Renegades Marshal Luke Graham
1942 The Lone Prairie Henchman with Large Hat uncredited
1942 Perils of the Royal Mounted Const. Collins serial
1942 Texas Trouble Shooters Pete
1942 Arizona Stage Coach Strike Cardigan
1942 Trail Riders Ace Alton
1942 Sheriff of Sage Valley Henchman Slim Jankins
1942 The Mysterious Rider Henchman Joe
1942 Prairie Pals Henchman Crandall
1942 Home in Wyomin' Sam Hatcher Uncredited
1942 Along the Sundown Trail Curly Morgan
1942 Arabian Nights Guard Uncredited
1943 Western Cyclone Ticklish Henchman Hank
1943 Beyond the Last Frontier Henchman Clyde Barton
1943 Death Rides the Plains Jed
1943 Raiders of Red Gap Bradley
1943 Fugitive of the Plains Henchman Spence
1943 Blazing Frontier Deputy Pete
1943 Devil Riders Henchman Red
1943 The Blocked Trail Henchman Reese
1943 Santa Fe Scouts Rancher Ben Henderson
1943 The Texas Kid Alex
1943 The Stranger from Pecos Bud Salem
1944 Frontier Outlaws Henchman Wallace
1944 The Drifter Jack
1944 Wild Horse Phantom Link Daggett
1944 Oath of Vengeance Ranch Foreman Red
1944 Brand of the Devil Gripper Joe
1944 Thundering Gun Slingers Ed Slade
1944 Gunsmoke Mesa Sam Sneed
1945 Gangster's Den Henchman Curt
1945 Stagecoach Outlaws Vic Dawson
1945 Fighting Bill Carson Cass
1945 Prairie Rustlers Vic
1945 Jungle Raiders Cragg serial
1945 Enemy of the Law Mike
1946 Chick Carter, Detective Williams, detective serial, Chapter 11
Uncredited
1946 Terrors on Horseback Wagner
1946 Prairie Badmen Lon
1946 Badman's Territory Carson Uncredited
1946 Stars Over Texas Henchman Knuckles
1946 'Neath Canadian Skies Stony Carter
1946 Under Arizona Skies Joe Forbes
1946 Tumbleweed Trail Bill Ryan
1946 Ambush Trail Walter Gordon
1946 Galloping Thunder Henchman Krag
1947 The Law Comes to Gunsight Jim
1947 Ridin' Down the Trail Allen
1949 The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend Poker Game Onlooker Uncredited
1949 Range Land Shad Cook
1950 The Traveling Saleswoman Townsman Uncredited
1950 Trail of Robin Hood Himself
1950 Law of the Panhandle Luke Winslow
1950 Silver Raiders Hank Larkin
1951 Fort Dodge Stampede Wagon Train Scout
1952 Rancho Notorious Deputy in Gunsight Uncredited
1952 The Black Lash Lem Woodruff
1953 The Charge at Feather River Trooper Zebulon Poinsett Uncredited
1954 Gunfighters of the Northwest Mountie August serial, Chapters 5–8, 14, 15
Uncredited
1955 Wichita Man in Saloon Uncredited
1956 Blazing the Overland Trail Al serial
1956 The Fastest Gun Alive Silver Rapids Deputy Uncredited
1956 Gunslinger Barfly
1957 The Phantom Stagecoach Henchman Uncredited
1958 Once Upon a Horse... Himself
1959 Good Day for a Hanging Townsman Uncredited
1960 Toby Tyler Bit role Uncredited
1960 Cimarron Setter
1961 Pocketful of Miracles Newspaper Editor Uncredited
1962 Birdman of Alcatraz Alcatraz Captain of Guards Uncredited
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1950 The Lone Ranger Sheriff Gilbert
Deputy Sheriff Sam
2 episodes
1951 Saturday Roundup Different role each week unknown episodes
1952 The Range Rider In episode "Jimmy the Kid"
1952–1955 The Cisco Kid various roles 9 episodes
1953 Death Valley Days Boarding House Diner 1 episode
1956 The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin Show Patron 1 episode
1956 Gunsmoke Barfly "Hack Prine" (S1E26)
1957 Tales of the Texas Rangers Henchman 1 episode
1958 The Texan Barfly 1 episode
Sugarfoot Townsman 2 episode
The Californians Horseman 1 episode
1959 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Outlaw 1 episode
Hotel de Paree Man at Saloon 1 episode
1960 Riverboat Trooper 1 episode
1960 Bat Masterson Bartender (uncredited) S2E21 "Cattle and Canes"
1961 Outlaws Juror 1 episode
1962 Tales of Wells Fargo Townsman
Barfly
2 episodes, uncredited
Gunsmoke Prisoner & Bartender 2 episodes, uncredited

References

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  1. ^ "Visit Sons in Movie Studios at Hollywood". The Republic. Indiana, Columbus. April 7, 1927. p. 15. Retrieved December 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "Graduates Are Ready To Quit". The Republic. Indiana, Columbus. May 24, 1919. p. 1. Retrieved December 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ a b Katchmer, George A. (2009). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. p. 240. ISBN 9781476609058. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  4. ^ "Kermit Maynard in Movies at Hollywood". The Republic. Indiana, Columbus. June 22, 1926. p. 6. Retrieved December 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ a b Pitts, Michael R. (2005). Poverty Row Studios, 1929–1940: An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies, with a Filmography for Each. McFarland. pp. 29–32. ISBN 9781476610368. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  6. ^ "Riding Crown of Kermit Maynard to Go Undefended". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. August 27, 1934. p. 5. Retrieved December 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ "Film Actor Kermit Maynard, 72, Dies". The Republic. Indiana, Columbus. January 20, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved December 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.  
  8. ^ "Maynard". The Republic. Indiana, Columbus. January 20, 1971. p. 2. Retrieved December 30, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.  
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