Denver Pyle – Biography, Family, Height, Death, Other Facts

Quick Facts

Before he joined the entertainment train, Denver Pyle, American artist, wandered from job to job in search of a means of livelihood, he even joined a band as a drummer. In fact, Denver did everything from working on shrimp boats in Texas to taking a job in the oilfield in Oklahoma. The advent of the Second World War then made him enlist in the United States Merchant Marines.

His first acting experience was in the theater as an amateur artist, however, he was fortunate to be spotted by a talent scout and later trained under the tutelage of notable tutors like Michael Chekhov, as well as Maria Ouspenskaya. His debut in the movies was made on the set of The Guilt of Janet Ames which was released in 1947. Until his demise, he made appearances in several movies and series like; Bonanza (1959), Gunsmoke (1955), The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (1977) and The Dukes of Hazzard (1979).

Biography

The late artist was born on the 11th of May 1920 in Bethune, Colorado United States of America. He was of American nationality with white ethnicity. He was born as the son of Ben H. Pyle who earned a living as a farmer and his mother’s name was Maude. Denver Pyle had a brother named Willis Pyle who worked with UPA and Walt Disney Animation Studios as an animator. After his high school graduation, he joined Colorado State University for further studies but eventually dropped out after a short while. He made the conscious decision to enter into showbiz and before his death, he had worked his way to become one of the household names in entertainment.

Family

The family life of the late actor can be summarized in two marriages. His first attempt at matrimony was in 1955 when he tied the knot with Marilee Carpenter. The duo had two sons – David and Tony Pyle before the end of their union in 1970. Denver got married to Tippie Johnson in 1983 and their union endured till his death in 1997.

About his sons, David joined the US Navy and is currently a Master Chief Petty Officer. He lives in Newport Beach, CA and has four children – Annie, Henry, Willie, and Mary Lynn. His second son also lives in Orange County CA and owns a successful corporate transportation company. He is the one with the inclination towards the performing arts, he is into writing and voice over.

The Death Of Denver Pyle

The famed actor’s death occurred on the Christmas day of 1997 in Burbank, California, USA at age 77. His cause of death is cancer of the lungs. His commemorative service was held at First Baptist Church located in Waxahachie, Texas, on the 6th of January 1998. Interment was at the Forreston Cemetery in Forreston Ellis County in an unmarked grave beside that of his in-laws (his second wife’s mum and dad). Denver’s Christmas gifts for that year went to auction at eBay with the proceeds donated to charitable organizations.

Height And Other Facts

Charitable Works

Denver had been a sponsor of Uncle Jesse’s Fishing Tournament. The contest which is always staged in Lamar County, Texas has raised over $160,000 in support of children’s programs in the first 10 years of its operation. It made its debut in 1988 and is still functional, in 2017, it celebrated its 30 years of existence and has been steadfast in the support of charitable organizations for kids, especially in Lamar County.

Recognition

Denver has a star in his honor at the Motion Picture Unit of the Hollywood Walk of Fame which was dedicated on the 12th of December 1997 at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard. A resolution was passed by Texas Senate, honoring him and his spouse for their good work with the Denver Pyle’s Children’s Charities, as well as Special Olympics.

Height

Although his body weight is not known, Denver’s height was listed as 6 feet 1 inch. He had brown eyes and hair which was completely white.

Net Worth

As at the time of his death, Denver Pyle had accumulated a healthy net worth of 5 million dollars as published by a reliable source. His wealth is believed to have come mainly from his acting career. The actor’s annual income was never published but from the amount of wealth he garnered, it would be right to surmise that he was paid handsomely.

Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in the world with full biography and details.