Russell "Lucky" Hayden

 Russell "Lucky" Hayden (June 12, 1912- June 9, 1981)

He was best known for his portrayal as Lucky Jenkins in Paramount's popular Hopalong Cassidy film series. Hayden's screen debut was in Hills of Old Wyoming (1937), a Hopalong Cassidy film. In 27 films, he played Lucky Jenkins, one of a trio of heroes in the Cassidy westerns starring William Boyd, then co-starred with Charles Starrett in other westerns. In 1947, he played both the main hero and villain in the film Trail of the Mounties. In 1950, Hayden appeared as "Marshal #1" in several episodes of the live-broadcast and short-lived ABC series The Marshal of Gunsight Pass. In the 1952–1953 season, Hayden teamed with Jackie Coogan, a former child actor in the 39-episode syndicated series Cowboy G-Men. Hayden and fellow western actor Dick Curtis helped to develop Pioneertown, a western movie set near Palm Springs, which has been used in western films and television episodes.

Hayden was married from 1938 to 1943 to actress Jan Clayton, who was later cast as the first mother on the Lassie television series on CBS. The couple had a daughter, Sandra Hayden. In 1946 Hayden wed screen actress Lillian Porter, who retired from pictures. They remained together until his death in 1981, from pneumonia. Hayden is interred at Oakwood Cemetery in Chatsworth, CA.