Jack Buetel was an American actor who rose to fame in the 1940s for his role as Billy the Kid in the controversial film The Outlaw. He was hailed as a handsome and promising newcomer, but his career was soon stalled by his contract with the eccentric producer Howard Hughes, who refused to let him work on other projects. Buetel faded into obscurity and died in 1989 at the age of 73. What was the cause of his death and what happened to his life after The Outlaw?
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The Outlaw: A Breakthrough and a Curse
Jack Buetel was born on September 5, 1915 in Dallas, Texas. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1930s with the intention of pursuing a film career, changing his name from Beutel to Buetel. He worked as an insurance clerk until he was discovered by an agent who was impressed by his looks. He was introduced to Howard Hughes, who was about to start filming The Outlaw, a western about the notorious outlaw Billy the Kid and his relationship with a sultry woman named Rio, played by Jane Russell.
Hughes signed Buetel to play the lead role of Billy the Kid, dropping the previously cast David Bacon. He also signed another newcomer, Jane Russell, for the female lead, and hired veteran actors Thomas Mitchell and Walter Huston for supporting roles. Buetel was given a standard seven-year contract at $150 per week and was assured by Hughes that he would become a major star.
The Outlaw was filmed in late 1940 and early 1941, but it faced many difficulties in production and distribution. The film was notorious for its suggestive scenes of sexual intercourse and its violation of the Production Code, which enforced moral standards in Hollywood films. The film also featured Jane Russell’s ample cleavage, which Hughes emphasized with a specially designed bra and camera angles. The film was banned by several state censors and faced legal battles with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).
The film officially premiered in 1943, but it was not widely released until 1946. It was a box office success, thanks to the publicity generated by the controversy and Hughes’ marketing campaign. The film also made Jane Russell a star, despite the poor reviews of her performance. However, Buetel’s performance was also criticized, and he did not receive the same attention or opportunities as Russell.
The Lost Years: A Career in Limbo
Buetel’s career was effectively ruined by his contract with Hughes, who refused to let him work on other films. Hughes owned the rights to Buetel’s image and voice, and he did not want to share his discovery with other producers. He also did not offer Buetel any roles in his own productions, leaving him in limbo for years.
Buetel missed several chances to revive his career, such as the role of Matthew Garth in Red River (1948), which was offered to him by the director Howard Hawks. However, Hughes vetoed the offer, and the role went to Montgomery Clift, who became a star. Buetel also served in the US Navy during World War II, which interrupted his film career.
Buetel did not appear in another film until 1951, when he starred in Best of the Badmen, a western about the Younger brothers. He played Bob Younger, one of the outlaws who joined forces with Jesse James after the Civil War. The film was a moderate success, but it did not revive Buetel’s career. He appeared in five more films in the 1950s, mostly low-budget westerns and B-movies. He also made some guest appearances on television shows, such as Maverick, Lawman, and Wagon Train.
In 1956, he landed a regular role in the syndicated western series Judge Roy Bean, starring Edgar Buchanan as the legendary frontier judge. Buetel played Jeff Taggert, the deputy and sidekick of Judge Bean. The series ran for 39 episodes and was filmed in color. It was Buetel’s last significant role in his career.
The Final Years: A Quiet Retirement
Buetel’s last acting role was in a 1961 episode of Wagon Train, in which he played a former outlaw who tried to reform his life. He also appeared as himself in the 1982 Night of 100 Stars television special, a charity event that featured many celebrities from the film and television industry.
Buetel retired from acting and moved to Portland, Oregon sometime in the 1970s. He lived a quiet and private life, away from the spotlight. He was married four times and had two children. His first wife was Cereatha Browning, whom he married in 1937 and divorced sometime later. His second wife was Jill Meredith, whom he married and divorced in 1947. His third wife was Gloria Jean Bailey, whom he married in 1947 and divorced in 1959. They had a son named Jack Jr. His fourth and last wife was Joann Jensen, whom he married in 1962 and remained with until her death in 1984. They had a daughter named Jana.
Buetel died on June 27, 1989 in Portland, Oregon. The cause of his death was not disclosed, but it was reported that he had been ill for some time. He was buried at Portland Memorial Mausoleum.
Jack Buetel Cause of Death: A Mystery Unsolved
Jack Buetel’s cause of death remains a mystery, as no official statement or obituary was released. According to some sources, he died of natural causes, while others speculated that he died of cancer or heart failure. However, there is no conclusive evidence to support any of these claims.
Buetel’s death was largely unnoticed by the public and the media, as he had been out of the public eye for decades. He was also overshadowed by the death of his former co-star Jane Russell, who died in 2011 at the age of 89. Russell had a long and successful career in films, television, and music, and was remembered as one of the sex symbols of the 1940s and 1950s.
Buetel’s legacy as an actor is also overshadowed by his role in The Outlaw, which is considered a cult classic and a landmark in film history. The film is still admired for its daring and innovative cinematography, its provocative and sensual scenes, and its influence on the western genre. Buetel’s performance as Billy the Kid is also praised by some critics and fans, who see him as a charismatic and natural actor, who captured the essence of the legendary outlaw.
However, Buetel’s career and life after The Outlaw are largely forgotten and ignored, as he never achieved the fame and success that he deserved. He was a victim of his contract with Hughes, who exploited him and then abandoned him. He was also a victim of the Hollywood system, which did not give him the opportunities or the recognition that he needed. He was a talented and handsome actor, who had the potential to become a star, but he was denied his chance by fate and circumstance.
Jack Buetel’s cause of death may remain a mystery, but his life and career should not be. He was a man who had a dream, who worked hard, who faced challenges, and who tried to make the best of his situation. He was a man who loved and was loved, who had a family and friends, who had joys and sorrows. He was a man who lived and died, and who deserves to be remembered.
