William Lawrence Boyd was an American film actor who is known for portraying the cowboy hero Hopalong Cassidy.
Hopalong Cassidy is a fictional cowboy hero created in 1904 by the author Clarence E. Mulford, who wrote a series of short stories and novels based on the character. Mulford portrayed the character as rude, dangerous, and rough-talking. He was shot in the leg during a gun fight which caused him to walk with a little "hop", hence the nickname.
From 1935 to 1948, 66 American Western films were produced featuring the character Hopalong Cassidy, played in all the films by actor William Boyd. The films were at the time collectively known as "Hoppies". In the films, Hopalong, or "Hoppy", and his white horse, Topper, travel through the Old West while dispensing justice, usually with two companions: one young and trouble-prone with a weakness for damsels in distress, the other older, comically awkward and outspoken.
Rustlers' Valley is a 1937 American Western film directed by Nate Watt and written by Harry O. Hoyt. The film stars William Boyd, George "Gabby" Hayes, Russell Hayden, Morris Ankrum, Muriel Evans and Lee J. Cobb. The film was released on July 23, 1937, by Paramount Pictures.
False Paradise is a 1948 American western film directed by George Archainbaud and starring William Boyd, Andy Clyde and Elaine Riley. Boyd plays as western character Hopalong Cassidy. This film was the sixty-fifth of sixty-six Hopalong Cassidy movies and was the 11th of 12 Hopalong Cassidy Westerns produced by William Boyd for United Artists release.
Undercover Man is a 1942 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and starring William Boyd. The film is a serial Western and part of the Hopalong Cassidy series. It is the 44th entry in a series of 66 films.
Unexpected Guest is a 1947 American Western film directed by George Archainbaud and starring William Boyd. The film is a serial Western and part of the Hopalong Cassidy series. It is the 57th entry in a series of 66 films.
Doomed Caravan is a 1941 American western film directed by Lesley Selander and starring William Boyd, Andy Clyde and Minna Gombell. The film is a Western and part of the Hopalong Cassidy series released by Paramount Pictures. It is the 32nd entry in a series of 66 films.
Texas Trail is a 1937 American Western film directed by David Selman and starring William Boyd, Russell Hayden, and George "Gabby" Hayes.
Trail Dust is a 1936 American Western film directed by Nate Watt, written by Al Martin, and starring William Boyd, James Ellison, George "Gabby" Hayes, Morris Ankrum, Gwynne Shipman, Britt Wood and Dick Dickson. It was released on December 11, 1936, by Paramount Pictures.
Borderland is a 1937 American Western film directed by Nate Watt and written by Harrison Jacobs. The film stars William Boyd, James Ellison, George "Gabby" Hayes, Morris Ankrum, John Beach, Nora Lane, and Charlene Wyatt. The film was released on February 26, 1937, by Paramount Pictures.
Hills of Old Wyoming is a 1937 American Western film directed by Nate Watt and written by Maurice Geraghty, the 10th film of the 66 Hopalong Cassidy movies. The film stars William Boyd, George "Gabby" Hayes, Morris Ankrum, Russell Hayden, Gail Sheridan, John Beach and Clara Kimball Young, Russell Hayden makes his first appearances. The film was released on April 16, 1937, by Paramount Pictures.
North of the Rio Grande is a 1937 American Western film directed by Nate Watt and written by Joseph O'Donnell. The film stars William Boyd, George "Gabby" Hayes, Russell Hayden, Morris Ankrum, Bernadene Hayes and Jack Rutherford. The film was released on June 25, 1937, by Paramount Pictures.
The Showdown is a 1940 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton, written by Donald Kusel and Harold Daniel Kusel, and starring William Boyd, Russell Hayden, Britt Wood, Morris Ankrum, Jan Clayton, Wright Kramer and Donald Kirke. It was released on March 8, 1940, by Paramount Pictures.
Three Men from Texas is a 1940 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander, written by Norton S. Parker, and starring William Boyd, Russell Hayden, Andy Clyde, Morris Ankrum, Morgan Wallace, Thornton Edwards and Esther Estrella. It was released on November 15, 1940, Paramount Pictures.
In Old Colorado is a 1941 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by J. Benton Cheney, Russell Hayden and Norton S. Parker. The film stars William Boyd, Russell Hayden, Andy Clyde, Margaret Hayes, Morris Ankrum, Sarah Padden and Cliff Nazarro. The film was released on March 14, 1941, by Paramount Pictures.
Border Vigilantes is a 1941 American Western film directed by Derwin Abrahams and written by J. Benton Cheney. The film stars William Boyd, Russell Hayden, Andy Clyde, Frances Gifford, Victor Jory, Ethel Wales and Morris Ankrum. The film was released on April 18, 1941, by Paramount Pictures.
Pirates on Horseback is a 1941 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Ethel La Blanche and J. Benton Cheney. The film stars William Boyd, Russell Hayden, Andy Clyde, Eleanor Stewart, Morris Ankrum and William Haade. The film was released on May 23, 1941, by Paramount Pictures.
Wide Open Town is a 1941 American western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Harrison Jacobs and J. Benton Cheney. The film stars William Boyd, Russell Hayden, Andy Clyde, Evelyn Brent, Victor Jory, Morris Ankrum and Cara Williams. The film was released on August 8, 1941, by Paramount Pictures.
Hopalong Cassidy is an American Western television series that ran from 1949 to 1952 on NBC, starring William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy, a fictional gunslinger who had been created by writer Clarence E. Mulford. It was the first Western television series. The series began as simply broadcasts of edited versions of previous Hopalong Cassidy films, all of which had starred Boyd. Eventually, the series transitioned to original episodes, with a new cast of characters and actors, notably Edgar Buchanan as Hopalong's sidekick Red Connors. The show was created and produced by Boyd.
