Jess Willard - IMDb

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Boxer Jess Willard went down in history for three things: being the tallest world's heavyweight champion in history until Primo Carnera wrested that title from him; losing his championship belt to Jack Dempsey in a controversial title bout that saw him knocked down seven times in the first round... See full bio »

Born:

December 29, 1881 in St. Clere, Kansas, USA

Died:

December 15, 1968 (age 86) in Los Angeles, California, USA

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Filmography

Jump to: Actor | Self | Archive Footage

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Actor (2 titles)

1919 The Challenge of Chance
Joe Bates

1915 Heart Punch (short)

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Self (5 titles)

1933 The Prizefighter and the Lady
Himself - Ex-Heavyweight Champion (uncredited)

1919 Willard-Dempsey Boxing Contest (documentary)
Himself

1916 Willard-Johnson Boxing Match (documentary)

1916 Willard-Moran Fight (documentary short)
Himself

1915 Willard-Johnson, World's Championship Fight (documentary)
Himself

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Archive Footage (8 titles)

2004 Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (documentary)
Himself

2000 Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing (TV documentary)
Himself

1999 The Sweet Science (TV series documentary)

1977 Knockout (documentary)

1976 ABC's Wide World of Sports (TV series)

1970 Jack Johnson (documentary)
Himself

1968 Legendary Champions (documentary)
Himself

1941 The Great American Broadcast
Himself - Prizefighter (uncredited)

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Personal Details

Alternate Names:

Jess Myron Willard

Height:

6' 6½" (1.99 m)

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Did You Know?

Trivia:

Scored a stunning upset by knocking out champion Jack Johnson to win the heavyweight title in 1915, ending Johnson's 7-year reign. See more »

Nickname:

The Pottawatomie Giant See more »

Star Sign:

Capricorn