Chill Wills: Movies & Box Office
- films
- 82
- on screen
- 1935–2004
- box office
- $32.9M
- Born
- July 18, 1902
- Birthplace
- Seagoville, Texas, U.S.
- Full name
- Theodore Childress Wills
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Actor, singer
- Years active
- 1934-1978
- Spouses
- Hattie Chappelle, Novadeen Googe
The Best Chill Wills Movies
The films of Chill Wills that made the most at the worldwide box office, biggest first: Giant (1956) leads with $32.9M. The full ranking adds the most awarded films and the newest releases.
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Worldwide box office: $32.9M Giant 1956 · Drama -
Worldwide box office: $8.46K Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid 1973 · Biography -
Worldwide box office: $6.33K The Alamo 1960 · Adventure -
Worldwide box office: $1.42K The Harvey Girls 1946 · Comedy -
Worldwide box office: $1.37K Leave Her to Heaven 1945 · Thriller
Chill Wills's Career in Numbers
Chill Wills's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Chill Wills works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Bar 20 Rides Again (1935) to Drive-In Movie Memories (2001), and the 1940s were the busiest decade.
Chill Wills Movies by Decade
- 1930s 6
- 1940s 35
- 1950s 23
- 1960s 9
- 1970s 5
- 1990s 1
- 2000s 1
The 1940s were Chill Wills's busiest decade, with 35 films.
Chill Wills Movies by Genre
- Western 24
- Comedy 17
- Drama 12
- Romance 7
- Action 5
- Documentary 3
- War 3
- Adventure 3
- Biography 1
- Fantasy 1
Western is the genre Chill Wills has worked in most, with 24 films, ahead of comedy (17).
Chill Wills Career Milestones
- First film
- Bar 20 Rides Again 1935
- Biggest box office hit
- Giant $32.9M worldwide
- Newest film
- Drive-In Movie Memories 2001
Chill Wills Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Chill Wills is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Chill Wills Movies as an Actor
80- 2001
Drive-In Movie Memories Documentary - 1992
John Wayne’s ‘The Alamo’ as Beekeeper · Documentary - 1977
Mr. Billion as Col. Clayton T. Winkle · Comedy - 1973 Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Biography Worldwide box office: $8.46K
- 1971
The Steagle as Tall Guy McCoy · Comedy - 1970
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again as Gentleman George Agnew · Western - 1970
The Liberation of L.B. Jones as Mr. Ike · Drama - 1966
Fireball 500 as Big Jaw · Action - 1963
The Cardinal as Monsignor · War - 1963
The Wheeler Dealers as Jay Ray Spinelby · Comedy - 1963
McLintock! Comedy - 1962
Young Guns of Texas as Preacher Sam Shelby · Western - 1961
The Deadly Companions as Turk · Western - 1961
Gold of the Seven Saints as Doc Wilson Gates, M.D. · Western - 1960
Where the Boys Are Drama - 1960 The Alamo as Beekeeper · Adventure Worldwide box office: $6.33K
- 1958
From Hell to Texas as Amos Bradley · Western - 1957
Gun Glory as Preacher · Western - 1956
Gun for a Coward as Loving · Western - 1956 Giant Drama Worldwide box office: $32.9M
- 1956
Santiago as Captain 'Sidewheel' Jones · Adventure - 1955
Francis in the Navy as Francis (voice) (uncredited) · Comedy - 1955
Kentucky Rifle as Tobias Taylor · Western - 1954
Francis Joins the WACS as Francis (as Francis the Talking Muke) · Fantasy - 1953
Tumbleweed as Sheriff Murchoree · Western - 1953
The Man from the Alamo as John Gage · Western - 1953
City That Never Sleeps as Sgt. Joe, the 'Voice of Chicago' · Drama - 1952
Ride the Man Down as Ike Adams · Western - 1952
Francis Goes to West Point as Francis (as Francis the Talking Mule) · Comedy - 1952
Bronco Buster as Dan Bream · Western - 1951
Cattle Drive as Dallas · Western - 1951
Francis Goes to the Races as Francis The Talking Mule (as Francis the Talking Mule) · Comedy - 1950
Rio Grande as Dr. Wilkins · Western - 1950
High Lonesome as Boatwhistle · Mystery - 1950
Stella as Chief Clark · Comedy - 1950
Rock Island Trail as Hogger McCoy · Western - 1950
Francis as Francis the Talking Mule (voice) · Family - 1950
The Sundowners as Sam Beers · Action - 1950
The Grass Is Always Greener as Windy · Drama - 1949
Tulsa as Pinky Jimpson (Narrator) · Drama - 1949
Red Canyon as Marshal G.T. Brackton · Western - 1948
Loaded Pistols as Sheriff Cramer · Western - 1948
Family Honeymoon as Fred · Comedy - 1948
That Wonderful Urge as Homer Beggs · Comedy - 1948
The Saxon Charm as Captain Chatham · Drama - 1948
Northwest Stampede as Mileaway · Western - 1948
The Sainted Sisters as Will Twitchell · Comedy - 1947
High Barbaree as Lars (uncredited) · War - 1947
The Yearling Drama - 1946
Gallant Bess as Chief Petty Officer · Drama - 1946 The Harvey Girls Comedy Worldwide box office: $1.42K
- 1945 Leave Her to Heaven as Leick Thome · Thriller Worldwide box office: $1.37K
- 1945
What Next, Corporal Hargrove? as Sgt. Cramp · Comedy - 1944
I’ll Be Seeing You as Swanson · Romance - 1944
Sunday Dinner for a Soldier as Mr. York · War - 1944
See Here, Private Hargrove as First Sgt. Cramp · Romance - 1943
Best Foot Forward as Chester Short · Comedy - 1943
A Stranger in Town as Charles Craig · Romance - 1942
Stand by for Action as Mate Jenks, Chef-Bootsmann · Action - 1942
Apache Trail as 'Pike' Skelton · Western - 1942
The Omaha Trail as Henry Hawkins · Western - 1942
Her Cardboard Lover as Judge · Romance - 1942
Mr. Gardenia Jones as Hotel Employee · Documentary - 1942
Tarzan’s New York Adventure as Manchester Montford · Action - 1942
The Bugle Sounds as Sgt. Larry Dillon · Drama - 1941
Honky Tonk as The Sniper · Crime - 1941
Belle Starr as Blue Duck · Western - 1941
Billy the Kid as Tom Patterson · Drama - 1941
The Bad Man as 'Red' Giddings · Western - 1941
Western Union as Homer Kettle · Western - 1940
Sky Murder as Sheriff Beckwith · Comedy - 1940
The Westerner Drama - 1940
Wyoming as Lafe · Western - 1940
Boom Town as Harmony Jones · Adventure - 1939
Allegheny Uprising as M'Cammon · Action - 1939
The Day the Bookies Wept as Man on Bus (uncredited) · Comedy - 1939
Sorority House as Mr. Johnson · Romance - 1938
Lawless Valley as Deputy Speedy McGow · Romance - 1936
At Sea Ashore as Leader of The Avalon Four (uncredited) · Comedy - 1935
Bar 20 Rides Again as Henchman · Romance
Chill Wills in Documentaries & Specials
2
Who Is Chill Wills?
Chill Wills was born in Seagoville, Texas, U.S. in 1902. Credited on films since 1935, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Chill Wills, born as Theodore Childress Wills, was an American actor and a talented singer as part of the Avalon Boys quartet. His career spanned decades, from the 1930s to the late 1970s, starting with the formation of the Avalon Boys. Notably, he provided a deep voice for Stan Laurel's performance in Way Out West. His acting career kicked off after disbanding the group and landing roles in various Westerns. Beyond Westerns, Wills expanded his profile with a number of dramatic roles, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his Beekeeper character in The Alamo. However, his controversial campaign for the Academy Award led to public apologies from John Wayne.
Known for his distinctive deep and rough voice, Wills ventured into voice acting as Francis the Talking Mule in a popular film series. Despite not being credited for his vocal work, he had a on-screen role as General Ben Kaye in one of the series entries. An avid poker player, Wills took part in the inaugural World Series of Poker. In the political sphere, he was a vocal supporter of George C. Wallace's presidential campaign. Wills' last role was as a janitor in Stubby Pringle's Christmas in 1978. Tragically, he passed away from cancer in the same year.
Who Chill Wills Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Chill Wills shares the most films with. John Wayne comes first, with 5 films together, followed by Henry O'Neill (5).
Chill Wills: Questions & Answers
How many movies Chill Wills has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Chill Wills been in?
Chill Wills is credited on 82 films, from 1935 to 2004. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is Chill Wills's highest-grossing movie?
Giant (1956) is Chill Wills's biggest box office hit, with $32.9M worldwide, ahead of Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973) ($8.46K). Across every film with box office figures, Chill Wills's movies have made $32.9M.
Chill Wills's biggest hits What is Chill Wills's newest movie?
The most recent film on Chill Wills's filmography is Sam Peckinpah’s West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade (2004), in the role of Self (archive footage).
Who does Chill Wills work with most often?
Chill Wills shares the most films with John Wayne (5 films), Henry O'Neill (5 films) and R.G. Armstrong (4 films).
The Best Chill Wills Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 82 credits.
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