Jimmy Wakely and his sidekick, Dub 'Cannonball' Taylor

Dub 'Cannonball' Taylor

Another of those extremely familiar character actors whose names we sometimes forget, Dub Taylor's credits are unbelievable. He has appeared in hundreds of film and TV shows in a career of over 60 years. Squat, grizzled, with a bald head and tousled fringe of hair and a heavy southern accent he charmed the public in his roles. Born Walter Clarence Taylor II in Georgia on February 26, 1907. His performing career began as a saxophonist and vaudevillian. His film debut came in 1938 with an appearance in Frank Capra's classic "You Can't Take It With You" as Ed Carmichael. His film credits are too numerous to mention but include: "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939) uncredited as a Reporter; "What's Buzzin', Cousin?" (1943) as Jed; "Riding High" (1950) as Joe; "The Will Rogers Story" (1952) as an Actor; "Dragnet" (1954) as Miller Starkie; "Them!" (1954) uncredited as Railroad Yard Watchman; "A Star is Born" (1954) with Judy Garland, as Driver; "Auntie Mame" (1958) as Veterinarian; "No Time for Sergeants" (1958) as McKinney; "Sweet Bird of Youth" (1962) as Dan Hatcher; "A Pocketful of Miracles"; "Spencer's Mountain" (1963) as Percy Cook; "Major Dundee" (1965) as Benjamin Priam; "The Cincinnati Kid" (1965) as Card Dealer; "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967) as Ivan Moss; "The Reivers" (1969) as Dr. Peabody and "Junior Bonner" (1972) as Dell, with Steve McQueen; "Back to the Future III" (1990) as Saloon Old Timer and "Maverick" (1994) with Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster, as Room Clerk. On TV he was a regular on "Casey Jones" (1957-58) as Willie Sims and "Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1965-66) as Ed Hewley. He guest starred on "Hee Haw"; "Gunsmoke"; "The Big Valley"; "Bonanza"; "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."; "Little House on the Prairie"; "Designing Women" and many other series and shows. He appeared as "Cannonball Taylor" in a series of westerns from 1939-49. He appeared in TV movies including: "Something for a Lonely Man" (1968); "Menace on the Mountain" (1970); "The Delphi Bureau" (1972) and "The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw" (1991). He died on October 3, 1994 of congestive heart failure in Los Angeles, California at age 87.