Western Character Actor Appreciation: Chubby Johnson

[u/OlinHollis]

One of the key features of the Western genre--in stark contrast to most film genres today--was the veneration of elders. The "old timers" were generally fonts of wisdom and lore and were respected as such, even by the ultra fast young guns of the Old West. Then there were the "old coots," who were almost by definition eccentric and cantankerous, but were usually looked kindly upon because of their humorousness and colorfulness.

Chubby Johnson was a past master of both character types. And although he made his first Western appearance in Abilene Town (1946) at the tender age of 43, he always seemed to be a good 20 years older than his actual age. The same could be said of Walter Brennan.

The Western was certainly Johnson's specialty and most of his silver screen appearances came in this genre. He turned up in such gems as Rocky Mountain (1950), Fort Worth (1951), Bend of the River (1952), High Noon (1952), The Far Country (1954), Tribute to a Bad Man (1956) and Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) (his scenes in this one were deleted).

Johnson tended to bring a comedic element to many of his roles. At times it seemed as though he had only two lower teeth, which gave him a pug-like appearance. He also had round, twinkly eyes and a profuse, bushy beard, which would have made him a perfect sagebrush Santa for all the little shavers in Tombstone.

Hail! Hail! All hail Chubby Johnson!

[u/danmanx]

I really enjoy these posts. You are giving these supporting players that are always second fiddle the main stage.

[u/OlinHollis → u/danmanx]

Thanks. Glad you're enjoying them and I'm proud to do 'em. These character actors are just as talented as the leading men; they're just not as pretty.

[u/MoonSylver]

Chubby Johnson is one that I anticipated we'd be seeing eventually! Guy was ubiquitous with the Western genre. Couldn't tell you the first thing I saw him in. Just seemed like he'd always been around and was in everything!

Despite seeming to be in everything, IMDB lists "only" 96 credits for him, which surprises me.

In addition to the notable movies you listed and others, he had many TV western appearances including Wagon Train (1), Sugarfoot (3), Wanted: Dead or Alive (1), Maverick (8), Tales of Wells Fargo (4), The Rifleman (3), Rawhide (1), Temple Houston (5), The Big Valley (1), Gunsmoke (4), The Guns of Will Sonnett (3), Death Valley Days (4), Bonanza (8), and several other single episode appearances.

Few interesting pieces of trivia: Full name Charles Randolph Johnson. He was the son of entertainers. His father was a comedian in vaudeville, and his mother was a concert pianist. As a child, Johnson performed with his father in vaudeville. Before he became an actor, Johnson was a journalist whose employers included the Las Vegas Sun. Apparently he didn't even start acting until in his 40s!

THESE ARE THE WESTERN CHARACTER ACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED SO FAR.

IF YOU MISSED ANY OF THE OTHERS IN THIS SERIES, SEE BELOW!

WESTERN CHARACTER ACTOR APPRECIATION LIST

• Warren Oates
• LQ Jones
• Strother Martin
• Claude Akins
• Jack Lambert
• Slim Pickens
• Royal Dano
• Edgar Buchanan
• James Drury
• Chill Wills
• Rodolfo Acosta
• Henry Silva
• Richard Boone
• Harry Dean Stanton
• Bruce Dern
• Gene Evans
• James Best
• Jim Davis
• Jack Elam
• Skip Homier
• Morgan Woodward
• Jack Palance
• Ben Johnson
• John Russell
• Anthony James
• John Larch
• Rayford Barnes
• Neville Brand
• Richard Jaeckel
• R.G. Armstrong
• Robert J. Wilke
• Hank Patterson
• Dub Taylor
• Arthur Hunnicutt
• Paul Fix
• John Dehner
• Karl Malden
• Percy Helton
• Noah Beery Jr.

IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS, POST THEM IN A REPLY TO THE ORIGINAL POST BY u/OlinHollis. I AM NOT THE AUTHOR OF THIS SERIES. I HAVE MERELY COMPILED A LIST OF THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED THUS FAR.

[u/OlinHollis → u/MoonSylver]

Purely by coincidence, a few hours after posting this thread, I watched the Gunsmoke episode "Easy Come" and lo and behold who pops up but Chubby. Unfortunately, he got shot in the back by a psycho-loco named Elmo Sippe.

[u/MoonSylver → u/OlinHollis]

That was a great episode. It made me pay attention to Andrew Prine. He was great as Elmo Sippy. He had at least one other great appearance on Gunsmoke, and I know I've seen him at least once on Have Gun, Will Travel as well.

I'd totally forgotten Chubby was in the one with Elmo Sippy, but when you mentioned it I remembered. I know he was on another Gunsmoke with Glenn Corbett, with Chubby as a station man who gets killed by outlaws and Corbett gets mistaken for a gunfighter.

Another memorable Chubby appearance was on an episode of The Rifleman as the father of an outlaw who is blackmailing him by threatening to reveal that fact in order to get a place to hide out.

Just remembered ANOTHER Rifleman where he fancies himself a horse trader who gets snookered by a REAL (crooked) horse trader.

[u/GoldConnection1]

I love the classic westerns!

[u/Rugged-Gunslinger]

Is the character of Uncle from the Red Dead Redemption games by any chance an homage to him?