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.
Hopalong Cassidy Returns (1936) is a Western film sequel starring William Boyd, the seventh of the "Hopalong Cassidy" westerns.
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.
Forty Thieves is a 1944 American Western film starring William Boyd in the lead role of Hopalong Cassidy. It was directed by Lesley Selander, produced by Harry Sherman and released by United Artists. This was the last Hopalong Cassidy film that producer Harry Sherman produced for United Artists.
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.
Hoppy Serves a Writ is a 1943 Western film directed by George Archainbaud and starring William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy, the 43rd of 66 Cassidy features. The supporting cast features his regular sidekicks Andy Clyde and Jay Kirby, as well as Victor Jory and George Reeves. The film remains noteworthy today as one of the earliest screen performances of unshaven newcomer Robert Mitchum, who made an impression upon the studio by generating a surprising fan mail response exactly as Clark Gable had after playing an extremely similar unshaven role in The Painted Desert, a Western starring William Boyd produced a dozen years earlier.
The Leather Burners is a 1943 American Western film directed by Joseph Henabery and written by Jo Pagano. The film stars William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Jay Kirby, Victor Jory, George Reeves, George Givot and Ellanora Needles. The film was released on May 28, 1943, by United Artists. The on-screen title is simply Leather Burners without the definite article.
Riders of the Deadline is a 1943 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Bennett Cohen. The film stars William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Jimmy Rogers, Frances Woodward, Robert Mitchum, Richard Crane, Anthony Warde and William Halligan. The film was released on December 3, 1943, by United Artists.
The Dead Don't Dream is a 1948 American Western film directed by George Archainbaud and written by Francis Rosenwald. The picture stars William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Rand Brooks, Mary Ware, John Parrish and Leonard Penn, and was released in 1948 by United Artists.
Strange Gamble is a 1948 American Western film directed by George Archainbaud, written by Doris Schroeder, Bennett Cohen and Ande Lamb, and starring William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Rand Brooks, Elaine Riley, James Craven and Robert Williams. It was released on October 8, 1948, by United Artists.
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.
Bar 20 Justice is a 1938 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Arnold Belgard and Harrison Jacobs. The film stars William Boyd, George "Gabby" Hayes, Russell Hayden, Gwen Gaze, William Duncan and Pat J. O'Brien. The film was released on June 28, 1938, by Paramount Pictures. This was the 16th entry in the "Hopalong Cassidy" western series.
Pride of the West is a 1938 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Nate Watt. The film stars William Boyd, George "Gabby" Hayes, Russell Hayden, Earle Hodgins, Charlotte Field and Billy King. The film was released on July 8, 1938, by Paramount Pictures. Pride of the West was the 17th installment in the Hopalong Cassidy series.
In Old Mexico is a 1938 American Western film directed by Edward D. Venturini and written by Harrison Jacobs. The film stars William Boyd, George "Gabby" Hayes, Russell Hayden, Paul Sutton, Al Ernest Garcia, Jan Clayton and Trevor Bardette. The film was released on September 9, 1938, by Paramount Pictures.
Riders of the Timberline is a 1941 American western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by J. Benton Cheney. The film stars William Boyd, Andy Clyde, Tom Tyler, Brad King, Victor Jory, Eleanor Stewart, J. Farrell MacDonald and Anna Q. Nilsson. The film was released on September 17, 1941, by Paramount Pictures. This was the 38th entry in the "Hopalong Cassidy" western series.
Harry "Pop" Sherman was an American film producer known for his work in the Western genre during the 1930s and 1940s. He introduced the character Hopalong Cassidy to the silver screen, and is the father of screenwriter Teddi Sherman.
