About Ben Johnson (actor)
Francis Benjamin Johnson Jr. (June 13, 1918 – April 8, 1996) was an American actor, stuntman, and professional rodeo cowboy. The son of an Oklahoma rancher, Johnson arrived in Hollywood to deliver a consignment of horses for a film. He worked as a stuntman and horse wrangler, before breaking into acting with the help of John Ford. His droll manner and expert horsemanship brought authenticity to his many roles in Westerns. An elegiac portrayal of a former cowboy theater owner in the coming-of-age drama The Last Picture Show won Johnson the 1971 Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. In addition to his film career, he won the 1953 Rodeo Cowboys Association's (RCA) Team Roping World Championship, and was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1979. An elegiac portrayal of a former cowboy theater owner in the 1950s-set coming-of-age drama The Last Picture Show won Johnson the 1971 Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. His first credited role was in Ford's 3 Godfathers; the film is notable for the riding skills demonstrated by both Johnson and star Pedro Armendáriz. To date, he is the only person to have won both a world rodeo championship and an Oscar. Johnson brought authenticity to many roles in Westerns with his droll manner and expert horsemanship.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.