Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson

 Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson (August 6, 1892 – August 23, 1962)

He was a rodeo champion and a film actor, film director, and producer. While acting and stunt work began as a sideline to Gibson's focus on rodeo, he successfully transitioned from silent films to become a leading performer in Hollywood's growing cowboy film industry. During the period between WWI and WWII, he was second only to cowboy film legend Tom Mix as a box office draw. Gibson's career was temporarily interrupted with service in the United States Army during World War I as a sergeant in the Tank Corps. When the war ended, he returned to the rodeo business and became good friends with Art Acord, a fellow cowboy and movie actor. Gibson had secondary film roles (primarily in Westerns) with stars such as Harry Carey. By 1921, the demand for cowboy pictures was so great, Gibson began receiving offers for leading roles. Some of these offers came from up-and-coming film director John Ford, with whom Gibson developed a lasting friendship and working relationship. Despite his popularity and success, Gibson's years of substantial earnings did not see him through his retirement. He had squandered much of his income on high living and poor investments. By the 1950's, Gibson faced financial ruin, aided in part by costly medical bills from serious health problems. To get by and pay his bills, he earned money as a greeter at a Las Vegas casino. Hoot Gibson died of cancer at age 70 in 1962 in Woodland Hills, California. He is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California. He was married four times, and had one daughter by his second marriage.