Denver Pyle

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Denver Pyle
Birth name	Denver Dell Pyle
Born	May 11, 1920 Bethune, Colorado, USA
Died	December 25, 1997
Notable roles	Uncle Jesse - The Dukes of Hazzard Mad Jack - The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams Frank Hammer-Bonnie and Clyde (film)

Denver Dell Pyle (May 11, 1920 – December 25, 1997) was an American actor. Born in Bethune, Colorado, he was the nephew of Ernie Pyle and had one brother, Willis. After graduating from high school, Denver briefly attended college before choosing to pursue a career in show business. He worked as a drummer and band member until the start of the Second World War, when he entered the Merchant Marine.

After the close of World War II, Pyle began his film career and starred in several motion pictures throughout the 1950s and 1960s, making several appearances as "Briscoe Darling", the gruff patriarch of a clan of musical hillbillies, on The Andy Griffith Show. He also appeared in a number of Westerns by John Ford, including The Horse Soldiers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. One of his early roles was a villain in an Adventures of Superman TV episode called "Beware the Wrecker".

Denver Pyle would claim in later life that he was a Navy veteran, who had been wounded in action at Guadalcanal. However the National Personnel Records Center stated in 1991 that there was no evidence that Denver Pyle had ever served on active duty in the United States Navy. Denver Pyle’s statements were not resolved prior to his death, however as a Merchant Mariner with veteran status, the exact extent of his military service remains unclear to this day.

His best known television role was that of Uncle Jesse Duke in the series The Dukes of Hazzard (1979–1985). In addition, Pyle played the role of Mad Jack in the television series The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (1977–1978), the antagonist in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Buck Webb (Doris Day's father) on The Doris Day Show (1968–1970), and Briscoe Darling on the Andy Griffith Show (1960-68.)

In his later life, Pyle played mostly cameo television roles and retired from full time acting. His last cinematic movie role was alongside Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and James Garner in the 1994 film Maverick. His last known acting role was a reprisal of Jesse Duke in the 1997 made-for-TV movie The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!.

Pyle died of lung cancer on Christmas Day in 1997.