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
Acted in 80
1970s
- 1970
1960s
- 1968
- 1967
- 1965
Marco the Magnificent
(uncredited)
- 1961
Two Rode Together
William McCandless (uncredited)
- 1960
Sergeant Rutledge
Sam Beecher (uncredited)
1950s
- 1959
The Young Land
Reynolds - Jury Foreman (uncredited), Jury Foreman
- 1957
Apache Warrior
Trooper (uncredited)
The Abductors
Secret Service Agent
The Wings of Eagles
Officer in Brawl (uncredited)
- 1956
- 1955
The Prodigal
Harun (uncredited)
- 1953
- 1952
- 1951
The Red Badge of Courage
Soldier (uncredited)
- 1950
Wagon Master
Marshal of Crystal City
When Willie Comes Marching Home
Churchgoer (uncredited)
1940s
- 1949
- 1948
- 1946
- 1943
Wagon Tracks West
Henchman Matt
- 1942
The Silver Bullet
Barfly, Stage Driver
- 1940
Winners of the West
Indian / Henchman
1930s
- 1939
Renegade Trail
Henchman
- 1937
Hollywood Round-Up
Saloon Set Brawler
Black Aces
Rider
- 1936
Trailin' West
Gambler (uncredited)
The Lawless Nineties
Henchman Davis
- 1935
The Eagle's Brood
Cowhand
Stormy
Cowhand (uncredited)
The Last Days of Pompeii
Ostorius - a Gladiator (uncredited)
The Crimson Trail
Barroom Cowhand
- 1934
- 1933
Gordon of Ghost City
Rider
- 1932
The Devil Horse
Cowhand (uncredited)
The Rainbow Trail
Horseman
- 1931
Riders of the Purple Sage
Jed
Three Rogues
Deputy (uncredited)
Red Fork Range
'Skeeter' Beldon
- 1930
Under Texas Skies
Mustang - Henchman (uncredited)
The Last of the Duanes
Henchman
Canyon Hawks
Tom Hardy
The Lone Rider
Henchman
The Oklahoma Sheriff
Movie
Near the Rainbow's End
Lefty - Henchman
The Canyon of Missing Men
Brill Lonegran
The Cheyenne Kid
Cowhand (uncredited)
The Hunted Men
Henchman Red (uncredited)
The Call of the Desert
Nate Thomas
Firebrand Jordan
Pete
O'Malley Rides Alone
Henchman
Crusaders of the West
Movie
1920s
- 1929
The Voice from the Sky
Henchman 'Humpy'
Code of the West
Leary Henchman
The Cowboy and the Outlaw
Slim Saxon
The Law of the Plains
Henchman
The Fighting Terror
Movie
The Last Roundup
Jimmy Blyth
Headin' Westward
Pat Carle
- 1928
Manhattan Cowboy
Tex Spaulding
Across the Plains
Chuck Lang
- 1927
Hell Hounds of the Plains
Henchman (uncredited)
- 1926
Blue Streak O'Neil
Movie
Desert Greed
Gillis - Henchman (uncredited)
- 1925
The Road Agent
Movie
Wild Horse Canyon
Ranch Hand
Other crew 56
1970s
- 1973
1960s
- 1967
- 1965
- 1964
Cheyenne Autumn
Stunts
- 1963
- 1962
- 1961
Two Rode Together
Stunts
- 1960
Sergeant Rutledge
Stunts
1950s
- 1959
- 1958
- 1957
The Wings of Eagles
Stunts
- 1956
- 1955
The Prodigal
Stunts
- 1952
- 1950
Wagon Master
Stunts
1940s
- 1949
- 1948
- 1946
The Phantom Rider
Stunts
- 1945
The Purple Monster Strikes
Stunts
- 1943
Death Valley Manhunt
Stunts
- 1942
The Old Chisholm Trail
Stand In
- 1941
Riders of Death Valley
Stunts
- 1940
Winners of the West
Stunts
The Man from Tumbleweeds
Stunts
1930s
- 1939
The Light That Failed
Stunts
Destry Rides Again
Stunts
Renegade Trail
Stunts
Three Texas Steers
Stunts
- 1938
- 1937
- 1936
The Phantom Rider
Stunts
Three Godfathers
Stunts
- 1935
The Singing Vagabond
Stunts
Bar 20 Rides Again
Stunts
The Miracle Rider
Stunts
- 1934
Love Time
Stunts
The Red Rider
Stunts
- 1932
Robbers' Roost
Stunt Double
The Devil Horse
Stunts
The Texas Bad Man
Stunts
Mystery Ranch
Stunts
- 1931
The Vanishing Legion
Stunts
- 1930
Fighting Thru
Stunts
1920s
- 1928
The Phantom City
Stunts
- 1927
Somewhere in Sonora
Stunts
- 1926
The Border Sheriff
Stunts
Directed 11
1970s
- 1973
1960s
- 1967
- 1965
- 1962
- 1960
1950s
- 1956
- 1950
Wagon Master
Second Unit Director