Cliff Lyons

Cliff Lyons

Personal Info

  • Name:

    Cliff Lyons

  • Birthday:

    1901-07-05

  • Place of Birth: Clarno Township, Lake County, South Dakota, USA
  • Gender:

    Male

  • Know For:

    Acting

  • Popularity: 0.1984
  • Also Known As

    Clifford William Lyons

    Tex

    Cliff "Tex" Lyons

Cliff Lyons

Biography

Cliff Lyons was an American actor, stuntman and second-unit director, primarily of Westerns, particularly the films of John Ford and John Wayne. Lyons, the son of Garrett Thomas Lyons and Wilhamena Johnson Lyons, was raised on a South Dakota farm, though his family lived for a time in Memphis, TN, where he attended business school. An expert horseman, he gave up the notion of a business career and opted for the rodeo arena instead, touring the country;y and eventually reaching Los Angeles at the age of 21. With accomplished cowboys in great demand, Lyons quickly became involved in movies, working both as a stuntman and an actor. After only a couple of bit parts, he was signed by producer Bud Barsky to do seven inexpensive Westerns directed by Paul Hurst, with Lyons and Al Hoxie alternating as the hero and the heavy. Lyons and Hoxie alternated in another Western series produced by Morris R. Schlank, and, as Cliff 'Tex' Lyons, he seemed headed for minor stardom as a B-Western lead. However, Lyons' voice was not well-suited for sound and the talkie revolution confined him to small roles. As his small shot at stardom faded, however, his career as a stunt double for stars big and small was on the rise. He doubled such cowboy stars as Tom Mix, Ken Maynard, Buck Jones and Johnny Mack Brown. In 1936 he worked with John Wayne for the first and struck up a personal and business relationship that would remain strong for three decades. Wayne was influential in getting Lyons his first work as a second-unit director and in introducing Lyons to John Ford, for whom Lyons would do some of his finest work. Lyons' reputation as a stunt coordinator is comparable to that of acknowledged master Yakima Canutt, with whom Lyons partnered on numerous occasions. Perhaps Lyons' most impressive work was the massive and dynamic battle sequences of Wayne's The Alamo (1960). He was married from 1938 to 1955 to actress Beth Marion, with whom he had two sons. Cliff Lyons died in 1974 at 72, not long after coordinating stunts for Wayne's The Train Robbers (1973).

Date of Birth 4 July 1901, near Clarno Township, Lake County, South Dakota

Date of Death 6 January 1974, Los Angeles, California

Top Movie Cast

Firebrand Jordan
Firebrand Jordantrue- Pete

1930-01-28

0.0
The Cheyenne Kid
The Cheyenne Kidtrue- Cowhand (uncredited)

1930-05-01

0.0
Stormy
Stormytrue- Cowhand (uncredited)

1935-10-21

0.0
7 Men from Now
7 Men from Nowtrue- Henchman

1956-07-24

6.8
Desert Greed
Desert Greedtrue- Gillis - Henchman (uncredited)

1926-12-11

0.0
Under Texas Skies
Under Texas Skiestrue- Mustang - Henchman (uncredited)

1930-11-15

4.0
The Oklahoma Sheriff
The Oklahoma Sherifftrue

1930-07-10

0.0
The Hunted Men
The Hunted Mentrue- Henchman Red (uncredited)

1930-04-01

0.0
Law of the Plains
Law of the Plainstrue- Henchman

1929-08-19

0.0
Wagon Master
Wagon Mastertrue- Marshal of Crystal City

1950-04-22

6.7
Manhattan Cowboy
Manhattan Cowboytrue- Tex Spaulding

1928-10-01

0.0
Hell Hounds of the Plains
Hell Hounds of the Plainstrue- Henchman (uncredited)

1927-05-07

0.0
The Young Land
The Young Landtrue- Reynolds - Jury Foreman (uncredited)

1959-05-01

6.4
The Last Days of Pompeii
The Last Days of Pompeiitrue- Ostorius - a Gladiator (uncredited)

1935-10-18

5.6
Apache Warrior
Apache Warriortrue- Trooper (uncredited)

1957-07-01

4.6
The Lawless Nineties
The Lawless Ninetiestrue- Henchman Davis

1936-02-15

5.2
The Green Berets
The Green Beretstrue- Hugh Parkinson (uncredited)

1968-07-04

5.7
Major Dundee
Major Dundeetrue- Trooper (uncredited)

1965-03-15

6.7
The Night Rider
The Night Ridertrue- Bert Logan

1932-08-22

0.0
Red Fork Range
Red Fork Rangetrue- 'Skeeter' Beldon

1931-01-12

0.0
The Painted Desert
The Painted Deserttrue- Rider

1931-01-18

5.1
The Rainbow Trail
The Rainbow Trailtrue- Horseman

1932-01-03

0.0
The Last of the Duanes
The Last of the Duanestrue- Henchman

1930-08-31

3.0
Chisum
Chisumtrue- Wrangler (uncredited)

1970-07-23

6.7
Blue Streak O'Neil
Blue Streak O'Neiltrue

1926-12-15

0.0
Canyon Hawks
Canyon Hawkstrue- Tom Hardy

1930-08-25

1.0
The Last Roundup
The Last Rounduptrue- Jimmy Blyth

1929-06-30

0.0
Code of the West
Code of the Westtrue- Leary Henchman

1929-11-01

0.0
Hollywood Round-Up
Hollywood Round-Uptrue- Saloon Set Brawler

1937-11-06

4.4
Sergeant Rutledge
Sergeant Rutledgetrue- Sam Beecher (uncredited)

1960-05-25

7.1
The Young Land
The Young Landtrue- Jury Foreman

1959-05-01

6.4
Gordon of Ghost City
Gordon of Ghost Citytrue- Rider

1933-08-13

4.0
Bend of the River
Bend of the Rivertrue- Willie

1952-01-23

6.9
When Willie Comes Marching Home
When Willie Comes Marching Hometrue- Churchgoer (uncredited)

1950-02-17

6.8
Wagon Tracks West
Wagon Tracks Westtrue- Henchman Matt

1943-08-18

0.0
Ben-Hur
Ben-Hurtrue- The Lubian (uncredited)

1959-11-18

7.9
Riders of the Purple Sage
Riders of the Purple Sagetrue- Jed

1931-10-22

0.0
Spartacus
Spartacustrue- Soldier (uncredited)

1960-10-13

7.5
Black Aces
Black Acestrue- Rider

1937-09-04

5.2
The Voice from the Sky
The Voice from the Skytrue- Henchman 'Humpy'

1929-12-01

0.0
Renegade Trail
Renegade Trailtrue- Henchman

1939-07-25

5.0
The Eagle's Brood
The Eagle's Broodtrue- Cowhand

1935-10-25

5.0
North of the Rio Grande
North of the Rio Grandetrue- Barfly

1937-06-28

6.0
The Devil Horse
The Devil Horsetrue- Cowhand (uncredited)

1932-11-01

4.0
Wild Horse Canyon
Wild Horse Canyontrue- Ranch Hand

1925-05-30

0.0
The Road Agent
The Road Agenttrue

1925-07-30

0.0
Winners of the West
Winners of the Westtrue- Indian / Henchman

1940-07-02

0.0
Across the Plains
Across the Plainstrue- Chuck Lang

1928-06-26

0.0
Rio Grande
Rio Grandetrue- Soldier (uncredited)

1950-11-15

6.8
The Red Badge of Courage
The Red Badge of Couragetrue- Soldier (uncredited)

1951-09-27

6.4
Trailin' West
Trailin' Westtrue- Gambler (uncredited)

1936-09-04

0.0
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khantrue- (uncredited)

1965-04-15

5.9
Two Rode Together
Two Rode Togethertrue- William McCandless (uncredited)

1961-05-24

6.4
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
She Wore a Yellow Ribbontrue- Trooper Cliff (uncredited)

1949-10-22

6.9
Headin' Westward
Headin' Westwardtrue- Pat Carle

1929-02-15

0.0
The Crimson Trail
The Crimson Trailtrue- Barroom Cowhand

1935-03-11

0.0
3 Godfathers
3 Godfatherstrue- Guard at Mojave Tanks (uncredited)

1948-12-31

6.7
The War Wagon
The War Wagontrue- Outrider (uncredited)

1967-05-26

6.8
The Silver Bullet
The Silver Bullettrue- Stage Driver

1942-08-05

4.0
The Silver Bullet
The Silver Bullettrue- Barfly

1942-08-05

4.0
Colt Comrades
Colt Comradestrue- Rancher

1943-06-18

5.6
Near the Rainbow's End
Near the Rainbow's Endtrue- Lefty - Henchman

1930-06-10

1.0
The Cowboy and the Outlaw
The Cowboy and the Outlawtrue- Slim Saxon

1929-10-01

0.0
The Fighting Terror
The Fighting Terrortrue

1929-08-01

0.0
The Abductors
The Abductorstrue- Secret Service Agent

1957-07-01

0.0
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christtrue- Charioteer (uncredited)

1925-12-25

7.3
The Oklahoma Cyclone
The Oklahoma Cyclonetrue- Henchman

1930-08-08

4.2
O'Malley Rides Alone
O'Malley Rides Alonetrue- Henchman

1930-01-01

0.0
The Horse Soldiers
The Horse Soldierstrue- Union Sergeant (uncredited)

1959-06-11

7.0

Top Movie Crew

Genghis Khan
Genghis Khantrue

Directing

1965-04-15

5.9
Three Texas Steers
Three Texas Steerstrue

Crew

1939-05-12

5.0
Bend of the River
Bend of the Rivertrue

Crew

1952-01-23

6.9
The Vanishing Legion
The Vanishing Legiontrue

Crew

1931-06-01

9.0
The Miracle Rider
The Miracle Ridertrue

Crew

1935-04-11

4.3
Winners of the West
Winners of the Westtrue

Crew

1940-07-02

0.0
The Purple Monster Strikes
The Purple Monster Strikestrue

Crew

1945-10-06

3.8
The Phantom Rider
The Phantom Ridertrue

Crew

1946-01-26

6.0
The Man from Tumbleweeds
The Man from Tumbleweedstrue

Crew

1940-05-02

3.0
The Phantom Rider
The Phantom Ridertrue

Crew

1936-07-06

0.0
Major Dundee
Major Dundeetrue

Directing

1965-03-15

6.7
Major Dundee
Major Dundeetrue

Crew

1965-03-15

6.7
The Border Sheriff
The Border Sherifftrue

Crew

1926-04-24

0.0
Death Valley Manhunt
Death Valley Manhunttrue

Crew

1943-11-25

5.0
Three Godfathers
Three Godfatherstrue

Crew

1936-03-06

6.8
The Missouri Traveler
The Missouri Travelertrue

Crew

1958-01-21

6.4
Riders of Death Valley
Riders of Death Valleytrue

Crew

1941-07-01

6.5
Renegade Trail
Renegade Trailtrue

Crew

1939-07-25

5.0
Fighting Thru
Fighting Thrutrue

Crew

1930-12-25

4.0
The Devil Horse
The Devil Horsetrue

Crew

1932-11-01

4.0
The Red Rider
The Red Ridertrue

Crew

1934-07-16

4.0
North of the Rio Grande
North of the Rio Grandetrue

Crew

1937-06-28

6.0
Cassidy of Bar 20
Cassidy of Bar 20true

Crew

1938-02-25

6.2
The Singing Vagabond
The Singing Vagabondtrue

Crew

1935-12-16

7.0
Bar 20 Rides Again
Bar 20 Rides Againtrue

Crew

1935-12-06

6.0
Three on the Trail
Three on the Trailtrue

Crew

1936-04-14

5.0
The Train Robbers
The Train Robberstrue

Directing

1973-02-01

6.3
The Train Robbers
The Train Robberstrue

Crew

1973-02-01

6.3
Dodge City
Dodge Citytrue

Crew

1939-04-08

6.9
Mystery Ranch
Mystery Ranchtrue

Crew

1932-06-07

6.0
The Conqueror
The Conquerortrue

Directing

1956-03-28

3.4
They Died with Their Boots On
They Died with Their Boots Ontrue

Crew

1941-11-20

6.6
Sergeant Rutledge
Sergeant Rutledgetrue

Crew

1960-05-25

7.1
The Old Chisholm Trail
The Old Chisholm Trailtrue

Crew

1942-12-11

7.0
3 Godfathers
3 Godfatherstrue

Crew

1948-12-31

6.7
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
She Wore a Yellow Ribbontrue

Directing

1949-10-22

6.9
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
She Wore a Yellow Ribbontrue

Crew

1949-10-22

6.9
The War Wagon
The War Wagontrue

Crew

1967-05-26

6.8
Wagon Master
Wagon Mastertrue

Directing

1950-04-22

6.7
Wagon Master
Wagon Mastertrue

Crew

1950-04-22

6.7
McLintock!
McLintock!true

Crew

1963-11-12

6.5
Cheyenne Autumn
Cheyenne Autumntrue

Crew

1964-10-15

6.7
Fort Apache
Fort Apachetrue

Directing

1948-06-14

7.0
Fort Apache
Fort Apachetrue

Crew

1948-06-14

7.0
The Searchers
The Searcherstrue

Crew

1956-05-16

7.7
How Green Was My Valley
How Green Was My Valleytrue

Crew

1941-10-28

7.3
How the West Was Won
How the West Was Wontrue

Crew

1962-11-02

7.0
Love Time
Love Timetrue

Crew

1934-11-03

0.0
Rio Grande
Rio Grandetrue

Directing

1950-11-15

6.8
Rio Grande
Rio Grandetrue

Crew

1950-11-15

6.8
Two Rode Together
Two Rode Togethertrue

Crew

1961-05-24

6.4
Destry Rides Again
Destry Rides Againtrue

Crew

1939-11-30

7.2
Red River
Red Rivertrue

Crew

1948-08-26

7.4
The Light That Failed
The Light That Failedtrue

Crew

1939-12-24

6.0
Taras Bulba
Taras Bulbatrue

Directing

1962-11-21

6.3
Robbers' Roost
Robbers' Roosttrue

Crew

1932-12-30

5.5
McLintock!
McLintock!true

Crew

1963-11-12

6.5
The War Wagon
The War Wagontrue

Directing

1967-05-26

6.8
The Horse Soldiers
The Horse Soldierstrue

Crew

1959-06-11

7.0

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