Hoot Gibson was one of the most popular and successful western film stars of the silent era and the early sound era. He was also a rodeo champion, a World War I veteran, and a pilot. But how did he die and what were the circumstances of his death? Here is a brief overview of his life and his final days.
Early Life and Career
Hoot Gibson was born Edmund Richard Gibson on August 6, 1892, in Tekamah, Nebraska. He learned to ride a horse as a young boy and moved to California with his family when he was seven years old. He worked as a ranch hand and competed in rodeos, winning several championships. He got his nickname “Hoot” from his habit of hunting owls in caves as a child.
He entered the film industry as a stuntman and an extra, working with stars like Harry Carey and director John Ford. He gradually rose to fame as a leading man in westerns, often playing a good-natured cowboy who relied on his wit and charm rather than his guns. He also produced and directed some of his own films, such as The Texas Streak (1926) and King of the Rodeo (1929).
He served in the U.S. Army during World War I as a sergeant in the Tank Corps. He was married four times, first to fellow western star Helen Gibson, then to Helen Johnson, Sally Eilers, and Dorothea Dunstan. He had one daughter, Lois Charlotte Gibson, with Helen Johnson.
Plane Crash and Illness
Hoot Gibson was an avid pilot who owned several planes and participated in air races. On July 3, 1933, he was involved in a plane crash in Los Angeles during a race with fellow actor Ken Maynard. He suffered serious injuries, including a broken jaw, a fractured skull, and internal bleeding. He was hospitalized for several weeks at Cedars of Lebanon hospital (now Cedars-Sinai Medical Center), where he was visited by actress June Gale, who later became his co-star in several films.
He recovered from the crash but his career declined in the 1930s due to the changing tastes of audiences and the emergence of new western stars like John Wayne and Gene Autry. He continued to make low-budget films for minor studios, often playing supporting roles or villains. He also appeared on radio and television shows, such as The Roy Rogers Show and You Bet Your Life.
In the late 1950s, he was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent surgery and radiation therapy, but the disease spread to his lungs and bones. He died on August 23, 1962, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. He was 70 years old. He was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
Legacy and Honors
Hoot Gibson was one of the pioneers of the western genre and influenced many later actors and filmmakers. He was known for his naturalistic acting style, his comedic skills, and his stunt work. He made over 200 films in his career, some of which are considered classics of the genre, such as The Boomerang (1919), The Fighting Parson (1920), The Lone Hand (1922), The Last Outlaw (1927), and Wild Horse (1931).
He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1765 Vine Street for his contributions to motion pictures. He was also inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City in 1979.
According to Wikipedia, he is also honored by a statue in Tekamah, Nebraska; a street named after him in Las Vegas; and an annual film festival held in his honor in Bakersfield, California.
Hoot Gibson was a legend of the silver screen who entertained millions of fans with his cowboy adventures. His life was full of achievements and challenges, but he never lost his sense of humor or his love for flying. He remains one of the most beloved icons of American cinema history.
