Colorful character actor of American Westerns. Named "Chill" as an ironic comment on his birth date being the hottest day of 1903. A musician from his youth, he performed from the age of 12 with tent shows, in vaudeville, and with stock companies. While performing in vaudeville in Kansas City, he married ballet dancer Betty Chappelle...See full bio »
1942Stand by for Action
(performer: "I'm a Sailor Man" - uncredited / "The Oceana Roll" 1911 - uncredited)
1940Boom Town
(performer: "Polly Wolly Doodle" - uncredited)
1939Racketeers of the Range
(performer: "Caboose on the Red ball Train" 1939, "Red River Valley", "'Cause I'm the Man", "Sleepy Wrangler" 1939 / "Red River Valley")
1939Arizona Legion
(performer: "I'd Rather Be Footloose" - uncredited)
1937Nobody's Baby
(writer: "The West Ain't Wild and Woolly Anymore")
1937Way Out West
(performer: "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" 1913 - uncredited)
Voiced Saddle Sore Swanson (a turkey) in the Disneyland show "America Sings" singing "The Old Chisholm Trail". He never actually saw the show on account of being afraid of the rotating theater.
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While campaigning for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1960, Wills took out a series of ads with the declaration "Win, lose or draw, you're all my cousins and I love you."It was signed "Your cousin, Chill Wills". One member of the Academy placed a response ad stating: "Dear Mr. Chill Wills, I am delighted to be your cousin but I voted for Sal Mineo. "It was signed, Groucho Marx.
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