Riley Hill (born Roy Lawrence Harris, March 20, 1914 – September 16, 1993) was an American actor who appeared in both film and television. Over the span of his career he appeared in 71 feature films and over a dozen television series.

Biography

Born Roy Lawrence Harris on March 20, 1914, in Fort Worth, Texas, his parents were Charlie Morris Harris and Mary Irene Bowers. He began acting under his real name with a small role in the 1937 film, '' The Firefly''. By the beginning of the next decade he was getting significant roles in Hollywood westerns such as ''

Law of the Range ''Law of the Range'' is a 1941 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Ray Taylor (director), Ray Taylor using a screenplay by Sherman L. Lowe which is based on a story by Charles E. Barnes. The film starred Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy K ...

'' (1941), ''

Men of the Timberland ''Men of the Timberland'' is a 1941 American film starring Richard Arlen and Andy Devine. It was part of their Aces of Action series at Universal. Paul Jarrico worked on the script. He later said the film "dealt with the fight Richard Arlen, And ...

'' (1941), ''

Rawhide Rangers ''Rawhide Rangers'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor and written by Ed Earl Repp. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Kathryn Adams Doty, Nell O'Day, Riley Hill and Harry Cording. The film was released on Jul ...

'' (1941), ''

Texas Trouble Shooters ''Texas Trouble Shooters'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by S. Roy Luby and written by Arthur Hoerl. The film is the fifteenth in Monogram Pictures' "Range Busters" series, and it stars Ray "Crash" Corrigan as Crash, John "Dusty" Ki ...

'' (1942), and ''

Arizona Stage Coach ''Arizona Stage Coach'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by S. Roy Luby. The film is the sixteenth in Monogram Pictures' "Range Busters" series, and it stars Ray "Crash" Corrigan as Crash, John "Dusty" King as Dusty and Max "Alibi" Te ...

'' (1942). ''Arizona Stage Coach'' would be the last picture he appeared in before, in 1942, his film career was interrupted by

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, when he was drafted into the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

. It would also be the last film he would use his real name in. After being released from military service he took up the stage name of Riley Hill, and had a significant role in 1944's ''

Ghost Guns ''Ghost Guns'' is a 1944 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer.Martin, p. 168. This is the thirteenth film in the "Marshal Nevada Jack McKenzie" series, and stars Johnny Mack Brown as Jack McKenzie and Raymond Hatton as his sidekick ...

''. During the remainder of the 1940s he had significant roles in numerous films, including '' Flame of the West'' (1945), ''

Sheriff of Cimarron ''Sheriff of Cimarron'' is a 1945 American Western film directed by Yakima Canutt, written by Bennett Cohen, and starring Sunset Carson, Linda Stirling, Olin Howland, Riley Hill, Jack Ingram and Tom London. It was released on February 28, 1945 ...

'' (1945), '' Gun Smoke'' (1945), ''

Border Bandits Border Bandits is a 1946 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer. It is the nineteenth film in the "Marshal Nevada Jack McKenzie" series, and stars Johnny Mack Brown as Jack McKenzie and Raymond Hatton as his sidekick Sandy Hopkins, w ...

'' (1946), '' Under Arizona Skies'' (1946), '' The Haunted Mine'' (1946), '' Trigger Fingers'' (1946), ''

Flashing Guns ''Flashing Guns'' is a 1947 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by Frank H. Young. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, Riley Hill, Jan Bryant, Douglas Evans and James Logan. The film was released on July ...

'' (1947), '' Code of the Saddle'' (1947), ''

Range Renegades ''Range Renegades'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by Ronald Davidson and William Lively. The film stars Jimmy Wakely, Dub Taylor, Jennifer Holt, Riley Hill, Dennis Moore and John James. The film ...

'' (1948), and '' The Rangers Ride'' (1948). He finished the decade with featured roles in seven films in 1949, including ''

Shadows of the West ''Shadows of the West'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor and written by Adele Buffington. The film stars Whip Wilson, Andy Clyde, Riley Hill, Reno Browne, Bill Kennedy and Pierce Lyden. The film was released on January ...

'', '' Across the Rio Grande'', ''

Range Justice ''Range Justice'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor and written by Ronald Davidson. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Max Terhune, Tris Coffin, Riley Hill, Sarah Padden and Eddie Parker. The film was released on July 1 ...

'', ''

Law of the West ''Law of the West'' is a 1985 graphic adventure set in the American Old West developed by Accolade for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and Nintendo Entertainment System. It was one of the company's launch titles and the only game from Accolade ...

'', and ''

Lawless Code ''Lawless Code'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Oliver Drake and written by Basil Dickey. The film stars Jimmy Wakely, Dub Taylor, Ellen Hall, Tris Coffin, Riley Hill and Kenne Duncan. The film was released on December 4, 1949, ...

''. The 1950s saw Hill continue in major supporting roles, along with the occasional starring role in B westerns, as well as lesser roles. He had one of the starring roles in 1950's ''

Law of the Panhandle ''Law of the Panhandle'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Johnny Mack Brown, Jane Adams and Riley Hill. Plot Cast *Johnny Mack Brown as U.S. Marshal Johnny Mack Brown * Jane Adams as Margie Kendal ...

'', and significant roles that same year in ''

Six Gun Mesa ''Six Gun Mesa'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Wallace Fox and written by Adele Buffington. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Gail Davis, Riley Hill, Leonard Penn, Marshall Reed and Milburn Morante. The film was released on Apri ...

'' and ''

Fence Riders ''Fence Riders'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Wallace Fox and written by Eliot Gibbons. The film stars Whip Wilson, Andy Clyde, Reno Browne, Riley Hill, Myron Healey and Ed Cassidy. The film was released on January 19, 1950, b ...

''. After 1951 his roles began to diminish, although he did have a significant supporting role in the 1952 western, ''

Target Target may refer to: Physical items * Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports ** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports ** Aiming point, in field artillery, fi ...

'', and 1953's '' White Lightning''. With the advent of television, Hill began to transition to that medium. He appeared in ''

The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in ...

'', ''

Dick Tracy ''Dick Tracy'' is an American comic strip featuring Dick Tracy (originally Plainclothes Tracy), a tough and intelligent police detective created by Chester Gould. It made its debut on Sunday, October 4, 1931, in the ''Detroit Mirror'', and it ...

'', ''

The Gene Autry Show ''The Gene Autry Show'' is an American western/cowboy television series which aired for 91 episodes on CBS from July 23, 1950 until August 7, 1956, originally sponsored by Wrigley's Doublemint chewing gum. Overview Series star Gene Autry had alr ...

'', and ''

The Range Rider ''The Range Rider'' is an American Western television series that was first broadcast in syndication from 1951 to 1953. A single lost episode surfaced and was broadcast in 1959. ''The Range Rider'' was also broadcast on British television durin ...

'' during the early 1950s. He had the significant role of the apostle

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

in the 1952 series, ''

The Living Bible The Living Bible (TLB or LB) is a personal paraphrase, not a translation, of the Bible in English by Kenneth N. Taylor and first published in 1971. Taylor used the American Standard Version of 1901 as his base text. Origin In a 1979 interview ...

''. The remainder of the decade saw him continue to appear on television, mostly in westerns such as ''

The Roy Rogers Show ''The Roy Rogers Show'' is an American western television series starring Roy Rogers. 100 episodes were broadcast on NBC for six seasons between December 30, 1951 and June 9, 1957. The episodes were set in the prevailing times (1950s) in the st ...

'', ''

The Cisco Kid The Cisco Kid is a fictional character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in '' Everybody's Magaz ...

'', '' Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok'', and ''

The Adventures of Kit Carson ''The Adventures of Kit Carson'' is an American Western that aired from 1951 to 1955. The show ran for four seasons and consisted of 104 episodes over four years. The original air date was Saturday, August 11, 1951. It concluded on January 22, 19 ...

''. His last significant part was in a recurring role in ''

Mackenzie's Raiders ''Mackenzie's Raiders'' is an American Western television series starring Richard Carlson that aired thirty-nine episodes in syndication between 1958 and 1959. The series is narrated by Art Gilmore, and was produced by Ziv Television Programs. ...

'' during 1958–59. At some point in the early 1960s Hill moved to

Tucson, Arizona , "(at the) base of the black ill , nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town" , image_map = , mapsize = 260px , map_caption = Interactive map ...

. He only appeared in films which were shot in Arizona after this time. He had a significant role in ''

The Trial of Billy Jack ''The Trial of Billy Jack'' is a 1974 Western action film starring Delores Taylor and Tom Laughlin. It is the sequel to the 1971 film ''Billy Jack'' and the third film overall in the series. Directed by Laughlin, the film has a running time of ...

'' in 1974, and smaller roles in 1976's '' The Last Hard Men'' and several other films in the 1960s and 1970s. His last significant role, and second to last performance, was in ''

When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder? ''When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?'' is a play by Mark Medoff. The setting is Foster's Diner, a New Mexico rest stop that lost most of its clientele when a new highway bypass opened. Employees include restless cook Stephen (nicknamed "Red Ryder ...

'' (1979).

Filmography

(Per

AFI AFI may refer to: * ''Address-family identifier'', a 16 bit field of the Routing Information Protocol * Ashton Fletcher Irwin, an Australian drummer * AFI (band), an American rock band ** ''AFI'' (2004 album), a retrospective album by AFI rele ...

database) * '' The Firefly'' (1937) credited as Roy Harris - Lieutenant * ''

Oklahoma Frontier ''Oklahoma Frontier'' is a 1939 American Western film written and directed by Ford Beebe. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Bob Baker, Fuzzy Knight, Anne Gwynne, James Blaine and Bob Kortman. The film was released on October 10, 1939, by Univer ...

'' (1939) credited as Roy Harris - Trooper * ''

The Flame of New Orleans ''The Flame of New Orleans'' is a 1941 comedy film directed by René Clair and starring Marlene Dietrich and Bruce Cabot in his first comedy role. The supporting cast features Roland Young, Andy Devine and Franklin Pangborn. It was the last of t ...

'' credited as Roy Harris (1941) * '' Mob Town'' (1941) credited as Roy Harris - Boy * ''

San Antonio Rose "San Antonio Rose" is a swing instrumental introduced in late 1938 by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. Quickly becoming the band's most popular number, Wills and band members devised lyrics, which were recorded on April 16, 1940, and releas ...

'' (1941) credited as Roy Harris - Jimmy * ''

'' (1941) credited as Roy Harris - Withers * ''

Flying Cadets ''Flying Cadets'' is a 1941 American adventure film directed by Erle C. Kenton and written by George Waggner, Roy Chanslor and Stanley Rubin. The film stars William Gargan, Edmund Lowe, Peggy Moran, Frank Albertson, Frankie Thomas and Riley H ...

'' (1941) credited as Roy Harris - Barnes * ''

Nice Girl? ''Nice Girl?'' is a 1941 American musical film directed by William A. Seiter, and starring Deanna Durbin, Franchot Tone, Walter Brennan, Robert Stack, and Robert Benchley. Based on the play ''Nice Girl?'' by Phyllis Duganne, the film is about a y ...

'' (1941) credited as Roy Harris - Doug * ''

'' (1941) credited as Roy Harris - Wolverine Kid * ''

'' (1941) credited as Roy Harris - Steve Calhoun * ''

Meet the Chump ''Meet the Chump'' is a 1941 American film starring Hugh Herbert. Plot A man desperately attempts to avoid giving up the ten million dollar trust that he's been administering so well that there's barely any money left. Cast * Hugh Herbert as H ...

'' (1941) credited as Roy Harris - Clerk * ''

Bombay Clipper ''Bombay Clipper'' is a 1942 aviation drama film directed by John Rawlins and starring William Gargan and Irene Hervey. The film features Maria Montez in an early role. Turhan Bey also appears. The film was based on the exploits of oceanic fl ...

'' (1942) credited as Roy Harris - Steward * '' North to the Klondike'' (1942) credited as Roy Harris - Ben Sloan * '' Top Sergeant'' (1942) credited as Roy Harris - Roy * ''

'' (1942) credited as Roy Harris - Bret Travis * ''

'' (1942) credited as Roy Harris - Ernie * ''

'' (1944) - Ted Connors * ''

What Next, Corporal Hargrove? ''What Next, Corporal Hargrove?'' is a 1945 black-and-white comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Robert Walker and Keenan Wynn. It was distributed by MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ...

'' (1945) - Private * '' Flame of the West'' (1945) - Jack Midland * ''

'' (1945) - Ted Cartwright * '' Gun Smoke'' (1945) - Joel Hinkley * ''

The Navajo Trail ''The Navajo Trail'' is a 1945 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Frank H. Young. This is the fourteenth film in the "Marshal Nevada Jack McKenzie" series, and stars Johnny Mack Brown as Jack McKenzie and Raymond ...

'' (1945) - Paul * '' The Lost Trail'' (1945) - Ned Turner * ''

The Desert Horseman ''The Desert Horseman'' is a 1946 American Western film directed by Ray Nazarro and written by Sherman L. Lowe. The film stars Charles Starrett, Adele Roberts, Walt Shrum and Smiley Burnette. The film was released on July 11, 1946, by Columbia ...

'' (1946) - Eddie * ''

'' (1946) - Steve Halliday * '' Under Arizona Skies'' (1946) - Bill Simpson * '' The Haunted Mine'' (1946) - Dan McLeod * '' Trigger Fingers'' (1946) - Jimmy Peters * ''

'' (1947) - Fred Shelby * '' Code of the Saddle'' (1947) - Bill Stace * '' Jiggs and Maggie in Court'' (1948) - Dennis Malone * ''

Frontier Agent ''Frontier Agent'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by J. Benton Cheney. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, Reno Browne, Kenneth MacDonald, Dennis Moore and Riley Hill. The film was relea ...

'' (1948) - Joe Farr * ''

'' (1948) - Larry Jordan * '' The Rangers Ride'' (1948) - Vic Sanders * ''

'' (1949) - Carl Davis * '' Across the Rio Grande'' (1949) - Steven Blaine * ''

'' (1949) - Glenn Hadley * ''

Western Renegades ''Western Renegades'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Wallace Fox and written by Adele Buffington. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Max Terhune, Poni Adams, Hugh Prosser, Riley Hill and Marshall Reed. The film was released on Octo ...

'' (1949) - Joe Gordon * ''

'' (1949) - Charley Lane * ''

'' (1949) - Curly Blake * '' Bride for Sale'' (1949) credited as Roy Harris - Clerk * ''

Gunslingers Gunfighters, also called gunslingers (), or in the 19th and early 20th centuries gunmen, were individuals in the American Old West who gained a reputation of being dangerous with a gun and participated in gunfights and shootouts. Today, the t ...

'' (1950) - Tim Cramer * ''

Radar Secret Service ''Radar Secret Service'' is a 1950 action film starring John Howard, produced by Barney A. Sarecky and directed by Sam Newfield. The film was featured on the American television show ''Mystery Science Theater 3000''. Plot In the post-World War T ...

'' (1950) - Blacky * '' Short Grass'' (1950) - Randee Fenton * '' Silver Raiders'' (1950) - Bill * '' Jiggs and Maggie Out West'' (1950) - Bob Carter * ''

'' (1950) - Dave Emmett * ''

'' (1950) - Tom Stocker * ''

'' (1950) - Hutch * ''

Valley of Fire Valley of Fire State Park is a public recreation and nature preservation area covering nearly located south of Overton, Nevada. The state park derives its name from red sandstone formations, the Aztec Sandstone, which formed from shifting sa ...

'' (1951) - Colorado * ''

Canyon Raiders ''Canyon Raiders'' is a 1951 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Whip Wilson, Fuzzy Knight and Phyllis Coates. Cast *Whip Wilson as Whip Wilson *Fuzzy Knight as Texas Milburn *Jim Bannon as Jim Banno ...

'' (1951) - Lou Banks * ''

Nevada Badmen ''Nevada Badmen'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Lewis D. Collins and written by Joseph O'Donnell. The film stars Whip Wilson, Fuzzy Knight, Jim Bannon, I. Stanford Jolley, Phyllis Coates and Marshall Reed. The film was released ...

'' (1951) - Jess * ''

Navy Bound ''Navy Bound'' is a 1951 American drama film directed by Paul Landres and written by Samuel Roeca. The film stars Tom Neal, Wendy Waldron, Regis Toomey, John Abbott, Murray Alper and Paul Bryar. The film was released on March 4, 1951, by Monogra ...

'' (1951) - Officer * ''

The Vanishing Outpost ''The Vanishing Outpost'' is a 1951 American Western film produced and directed by Ron Ormond starring Lash LaRue and Al "Fuzzy" St. John. It was the tenth of LaRue's films for Ormond's Western Adventures Productions Inc. The film was the fou ...

'' (1951) - Walker * ''

I Was an American Spy ''I Was An American Spy'' is a 1951 American war drama film dramatizing the true story of Claire Phillips, an American of Filipino descent who spied on the Japanese during World War II and was captured, tortured, and sentenced to death before bei ...

'' (1951) - Thompson * ''

Outlaw Women ''Outlaw Women'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and Ron Ormond and starring Marie Windsor, Richard Rober and Carla Balenda.Pitts p.239 It is set in a remote small town run entirely by women. The film was made in Cinec ...

'' (1952) - John Ringo * '' The Raiders'' (1952) - Clarke Leftus * ''

Night Stage to Galveston ''Night Stage to Galveston'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by George Archainbaud and written by Norman S. Hall. The film stars Gene Autry, Virginia Huston, Thurston Hall, Judy Nugent, Robert Livingston and Harry Cording. The film w ...

'' (1952) - Police lieutenant * ''

Here Come the Marines ''Here Come the Marines'' is a 1952 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on June 29, 1952 by Monogram Pictures and is the twenty-sixth film in the series. Plot After Slip is drafted into the Marines, the rest of the gang ...

'' (1952) - Captain Harlow * ''

The Lusty Men ''The Lusty Men '' is a 1952 Western film released by Wald-Krasna Productions and RKO Radio Pictures starring Susan Hayward, Robert Mitchum, Arthur Kennedy and Arthur Hunnicutt. The picture was directed by Nicholas Ray and produced by Jerry W ...

'' (1952) - Hoag * '' Wagons West'' (1952) - Gaylord Cook * ''

'' (1952) - Foster * ''

Fort Vengeance ''Fort Vengeance'' (aka ''Royal Mounted Police'') is a 1953 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and starring James Craig, Rita Moreno and Keith Larsen.White Lightning'' (1953) - Horwin * ''

Buchanan Rides Alone ''Buchanan Rides Alone'' is a 1958 American Western film directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Randolph Scott, Craig Stevens, and Barry Kelley. Based on the 1956 novel ''The Name's Buchanan'' by Jonas Ward, the film is about a Texan return ...

'' (1958) - Juror * '' The Threat'' (1960) - Police Sergeant * ''

Ma Barker's Killer Brood ''Ma Barker's Killer Brood'' is a neo noir crime film, released in 1960. The low-budget film was directed by Bill Karn and starred Lurene Tuttle as the title character, Ma Barker. The film is a highly fictionalized account of the life of Ma B ...

'' (1960) - Deputy * ''

'' (1974) - Stuart Posner * '' The Last Hard Men'' (1976) - Gus * ''

Wanda Nevada ''Wanda Nevada'' is a 1979 American Western film starring Peter Fonda and Brooke Shields as the title character. (archive) It was also directed by Peter Fonda. Henry Fonda makes a cameo appearance as an Arizona prospector, making it the only fi ...

'' (1979) - Reporter #2 * ''

'' (1979) - Junior Ferguson

References

External links

*
Riley Hill's page on B-Westerns

Riley Hill's page on Western Clippings
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hill, Riley 1914 births 1993 deaths Male actors from Fort Worth, Texas Male Western (genre) film actors