Ten fun facts about Ben Johnson

Fact 1
Ben 'Son' Johnson was born on June 13, 19818 in Foraker, Oklahoma.

Fact 2
He was also a rancher, stunt artist and a world champion rodeo cowboy.

Fact 3
The first name of his character has been Travis, in three of his movies which released consecutively- She wore a yellow ribbon - Sergeant Travis Tyree, Wagon Master - Travis Blue and Rio Grande - Trooper Travis Tyree.

Fact 4
When he was visiting Houston, his prize belt buckle was stolen from his car, which he had won for calf roping. When he visited Houston a decade later, as guest on the radio station KIKK, a caller returned the belt buckle to him.

Fact 5
Ben was hired by Howard Huges in 1940 to take a load of horses to California. He then decided to continue that work since he had a good pay, and worked for a few years as a stunt man, horse wrangler and doubled for famous actors including Gary Cooper, James Stewart and John Wayne.

Fact 6
He got his big break, when John Ford took notice of him and offered him a part in a new film and eventually a big part in Wagon Master.

Fact 7
John has his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard, for his contribution to cinema.

Fact 8
He was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame, in 1982 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

Fact 9
Tom Thurman, made a film 'Ben Johnson: Third Cowboy on the Right' which documented the actor's life, in 1996. It was co-written by Thurman and Tom Marksbury.

Fact 10
Ben Johnson suffered from a massive heart attack when he was visiting his mother in the retirement community where he lived as well.

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