Chick Hannan

Chester William Hannan, known professionally as Chick Hannan, was born on May 24, 1901, in Iron River, Michigan, and died on August 14, 1980, in San Fernando, California, at the age of 79. An American actor and rodeo performer, Hannan accumulated more than 370 film and television appearances over the course of his career.

Hannan's early professional life centered on rodeo performance. In 1924, he traveled to England as part of the Tex Austin Rodeo. He later relocated to California in the 1930s, and it was during this period that he transitioned into stage and screen work. In 1931, he appeared on Broadway in the play Green Grow the Lilacs. His screen career began in 1933 with the serial film The Three Musketeers, which featured John Wayne and Ruth Hall.

Hannan became a fixture in Western films throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Among his notable screen roles was Yucca Bill Thompson in the 1937 film Stars Over Arizona. His other film appearances included The Red Rider (1934) with Buck Jones, Trouble in Texas (1937) and The Utah Trail (1938) both starring Tex Ritter, and The Lone Ranger Rides Again (1939) with Robert Livingston. He appeared alongside Sammy Baugh in King of the Texas Rangers (1941) and with Johnny Mack Brown in West of the Rio Grande (1944) and Raiders of the South (1947). Return of the Bad Men (1948) featured a cast that included Randolph Scott, Robert Ryan, Anne Jeffreys, George "Gabby" Hayes, and Jacqueline White. Additional credits include Lone Texas Ranger (1945) with Wild Bill Elliott, Roaring Rangers (1946) with Charles Starrett and Smiley Burnette, Across the Rio Grande (1949) with Jimmy Wakely, Code of the Silver Sage (1950) with Allan Lane, The Brass Legend (1956) with Hugh O'Brian, and The Gunfight at Dodge City (1959) with Joel McCrea. His final film appearance came in the 1966 production A Big Hand for the Little Lady, starring Henry Fonda, Joanne Woodward, and Jason Robards. During his film career, Hannan also served as a stunt double for Dorothy Fay, the wife of actor and musician Tex Ritter, as well as for other actresses.

Hannan's television work was equally extensive, spanning series such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wagon Train, The Virginian, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, The Deputy, Bat Masterson, Tales of Wells Fargo, Death Valley Days, The Restless Gun, Sugarfoot, and The Adventures of Kit Carson. In addition to his performing work, he served as an on-set representative for the American Humane.