William S. Hart

Hart was nicknamed "Two Gun Bill" by the Hollywood press.

According to Hollywood lore, Hart used to propose to all of his leading ladies.

Hart's spinster sister resided with him at his ranch until her death in 1943.

During his later years, Hart became good friends with French singer Maurice Chevalier who frequently stayed at his ranch when he was in Hollywood.

Father, NIcholas Hart, made his living setting up grist mill machinery.

Hart named his ranch "Casa de las Vientas."

Hart often hired real Native Americans to appear in his films.

Hart made his first movie at the age of 49.

Hart collected paintings from Western artists such as Charlie Russell and Frederic Remington.

Hart gave Lon Chaney his first big break in films by casting him as a villain in the 1918 western Riddle Gawne.

According to his autobiography, Hart lived in the Dakota Territory for a time as a young man.

Hart worked as a postal clerk in New York City for a time before getting into acting.

Hart has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6363 Hollywood Boulevard.

Hart owned a pair of guns allegedly used by legendary outlaw Billy the Kid.

Hart played Messala in the original Broadway stage production of Ben Hur.

Hart retired from films after his 1925 film Tumbleweeds, now considered a silent classic, flopped at the box office.

Hart got into films because he was appalled at the Westerns being produced for the screen at the time and was convinced he could do better because he had lived in the West as a young man.

Hart's autobiography entitled My Life East and West was published in 1929.

Hart is buried in Greenwood Cemetary in New York.

Hart was good friends with legendary Western lawman Wyatt Earp.

Hart was 6 feet, 2 inches tall.

Hart never made a talking picture but he did speak once on screen when he appeared in a prologue introducing his silent 1925 classic Tumbleweeds upon its re-release in 1938.

William S. Hart High School in Newhall, CA is named after Hart who lived nearby.

Upon his death, Hart left his ranch to the County of Los Angeles for use as a park. It's still being used as a park today.

Hart was married to Winifred Westover from 1921 to 1927. They had one son.

Hart's trademark character in his movies was the reformed bad man.

Hart's horse in his movies was a pinto pony named Fritz. Fritz is buried on his ranch which is now a park.