Movie actor with over 100 credits in serious films, who is most famous for two of the all time great comedy movies

Cafe Society
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1

Take a guess, let us know how many of the hints you needed.
Please put your answer in a spoiler if the hints unspoiled.
Feel free to talk about him if you can avoid his name for the first 10 posts. After 10, no issue.

Hints:

  1. Mostly Westerns

  2. Over 60 TV credits also

  3. Started as Cowboy before shifting to acting.

  4. Served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II

  5. Was in mostly Westerns, so that early rodeo experience was very handy.

  6. Best known for Blazing Saddles & Dr. Strangelove (see #4) but not a pilot.

Answer: Are you sure? Slim Pickens

2

I got it after the first hint. I think one of the 2 movies is known more for being satire than comedy, but I suppose that’s a thin line of distinction, since satire is an element in both. Both are among my top ten favorite films of all time.

3

I was pretty sure that I knew the answer before revealing any hints. I was certain after hint #3.

4

Needed all 6 clues, (or rather clue 6 would probably have been sufficient in and of itself.)

5

I had absolutely no idea at all, and took a minute to remember who he was once I read the answer. Not proud; just honest. If you had asked me who he was, I’d have said “an old-time singer.”

6

I was thinking Leslie Nielsen - Airplane! and The Naked Gun

Before that, he was a serious actor. Supposedly.

7

My original thought was Leslie Nielsen , and then Cary Grant , both of which which evaporated after the first clue, but I had to read down to the third before I realized the answer. Probably should have thought more after the first clue, and changed eras as well.

8

Yeh that was my original thought before the hints

9

I guessed without looking at the clues first.

As for Slim Pickens… I’ve read that Stanley Kubrick didn’t tell Pickens Dr. Strangelove was a (very dark) comedy. He wanted him to play it straight, which made it even funnier.

10

Almost made the 10 without a spoiler. This clears the request.

11

Oops, sorry. Thanks for obscuring my last post.

12

All good.

13

Shoot! I thought “but not a pilot” in clue #6 meant a movie role in addition to what the OP was actually referring to.

14

Same.
I wouldn’t have gotten it anyways, I don’t much pay attention to celebrities’ lives. (not a flex, I just don’t)

15

So a costar of his in Blazing Saddles has 3 movies in National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant.

One being Blazing Saddles of course.

They are Madeline Kahn.

The other 2 movies are:


Young Frankenstein .

Tougher one to guess:

The Muppet Movie

16

I read a blurb that said that that was only partially true, that Pickens arrived on set not knowing it was a black comedy, but realized it or was told the deal after the first day.

17

Another rumor that is true is that Sellers was originally going to play Major Kong in addition to his other roles, but couldn’t do it because he broke his ankle. John Wayne was asked, but never responded. Dan Blocker (Hoss from Bonanza) was asked, but thought the film was “too pinko” and turned it down.

18

Got it with no hints, but it took me five minutes to think it through.

19

I’m still waiting for a critical reassessment of 1941 to make it “3 all time great comedies”.

20

I needed all six clues, but then didn’t need to unblur the answer.