Ben Johnson was a famous actor who won an Academy Award for his role in The Last Picture Show (1971). He was also a champion rodeo performer and a skilled horseman. He appeared in over 300 films, mostly westerns, and worked with some of the most renowned directors in Hollywood, such as John Ford and Howard Hughes. But how did he die and what was the cause of his death? Here is what we know.
Early Life and Career
Ben Johnson was born on June 13, 1918, in Foraker, Oklahoma, to a rancher father and a schoolteacher mother. He grew up working on the ranch and competing in rodeos. He was a natural athlete and excelled at steer roping, winning several championships.
In 1939, he was hired by Howard Hughes to deliver a truckload of horses to California for his film The Outlaw (1941), which starred Jane Russell. Johnson decided to stay in Hollywood and found work as a stuntman, horse wrangler, and double for actors like John Wayne, Gary Cooper, and James Stewart.
He caught the attention of John Ford, who cast him as a cavalryman in several of his classic westerns, such as Fort Apache (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), and Rio Grande (1950). Ford also gave Johnson his first starring role in Wagon Master (1950), where he played Travis Blue, a wagon train leader.
Oscar-Winning Performance
Johnson left Hollywood in 1953 to return to rodeo, where he won a world roping championship. However, he realized that the movies paid better and were less risky, so he came back to the film industry in 1955. He continued to appear in westerns and action films, such as Shane (1953), The Wild Bunch (1969), and Junior Bonner (1972).
His breakthrough performance came in 1971, when he played Sam the Lion, the owner of a pool hall and a movie theater in The Last Picture Show, directed by Peter Bogdanovich. The film was a nostalgic look at life in a small Texas town in the 1950s, based on the novel by Larry McMurtry.
Johnson initially turned down the role because he did not like the script’s language and nudity. He agreed to do it only as a favor to John Ford, who persuaded him that it was a great opportunity. Johnson also rewrote his part to remove any offensive words.
He won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Sam the Lion, beating his co-star Jeff Bridges. He also won a Golden Globe Award and several other honors. He later said that the role changed his life and made him more respected in Hollywood.
Final Years and Death
Johnson continued to work steadily throughout the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in films such as The Sugarland Express (1974), The Train Robbers (1973), and Red Dawn (1984). He also did some television work, such as The Sacketts (1979) and The Shadow Riders (1982).
He married Carol Elaine Jones in 1941, who was also a rodeo performer. They remained married until her death in 1994. They had no children.
Johnson died on April 8, 1996, at the age of 77. He suffered a heart attack while visiting his mother’s home in Mesa, Arizona. He was taken to a hospital but could not be revived. An autopsy confirmed that he died of natural causes.
He was buried at his ranch in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, next to his wife. He left behind a legacy of being one of the most authentic and charismatic actors of his generation.
According to IMDb, he had two trademarks: his plain-spoken Southern characters and his great athletic ability with horses. He once said: “I can’t act but I can ride.”
