Billy Pearson
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Billy Pearson (1920 - November 28, 2002) was an American horse-racing jockey, a quiz-show winner and an art-dealer.
A successful jockey throughout the 40's and 50's credited with over 800 victories, Pearson developed his interest in art after a serious riding accident, and went on to win over $170,000 on the television quiz shows The $64,000 Question and The $64,000 Challenge in 1956-57.
The $64,000 Question had a series of contestants with what were considered to be unusual interests and a jockey who was also an art expert was of great public interest. He acquired celebrity status as a result.
He later appeared in an episode of Perry Mason called The Case of the Jilted Jockey, and had several small film parts in the next 20 years.
He assembled an extensive art collection and in later life became a dealer in pre-Colombian art.
Writer Sam Shepard dedicated his play, "Fool for Love" to Billy Pearson. Pearson was married six times.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Pearson, Billy and Stephen Longstreet (2003). NEVER LOOK BACK, The Autobiography of a Jockey, Simon and Schuster.
- Schorsch, David (1994). The Billy Pearson Collection of American Folk Art.
