Buck Jones
Actor

Buck Jones Net Worth

Buck Jones was a legendary "B" western star, born in Indiana but reportedly growing up on a ranch in Oklahoma. He served in the US-Mexican border and the Moro uprising in the Philippines before joining the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show. During WWI, he trained horses for the Allied armies, and after the war, he and his wife toured with the Ringling Brothers circus before settling in Hollywood. William Fox put him under contract and promoted him as a new Western star, and he quickly became one of the most successful and popular actors in the genre. Tragically, he died in the Coconut Grove nightclub fire in 1942. Although legend has it that he died returning to the blaze to rescue others, the actual evidence indicates that he was trapped with all the others and succumbed trying to escape. He remains a hero to thousands who followed his film adventures.
Buck Jones is a member of Actor

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor, Producer, Director
Birth Day December 12, 1891
Age 128 YEARS OLD
Died On November 30, 1942(1942-11-30) (aged 50)\nBoston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Birth Sign Capricorn
Cause of death Fire burns
Other names Charles Jones
Occupation Actor
Years active 1914–1942
Spouse(s) Odille Osborne (1915-1942) (his death) (1 child)
Children Maxine Jones (b. 1918) married Noah Beery Jr (1940–1966)

💰 Net worth

Buck Jones, a renowned figure in the entertainment industry, is widely recognized for his multifaceted roles as an actor, producer, and director. Born in 1891, he carved a niche for himself during his illustrious career. As of 2024, his net worth is estimated to be between $100K and $1M, a testament to his talent and success in the field. Buck Jones' contributions to the world of cinema will forever be remembered, as he continues to leave an indelible mark on the industry.

Biography/Timeline

1891

Charles Frederick Gebhart was born on the outskirts of Vincennes, Indiana, on December 12, 1891 (some sources indicate December 4, 1889, but Jones' marriage license and his military records confirm the 1891 date.) In 1907 Jones joined the United States Army a month after his 16th birthday: his mother had signed a consent form that gave his age as 18. He was assigned to Troop G, 6th Cavalry Regiment, and was deployed to the Philippines in October 1907, where he served in combat and was wounded during the Moro Rebellion. Upon his return to the US in December 1909, he was honorably discharged at Fort McDowell, California.

1910

Jones had an affection for race cars and the racing industry, and became close friends with early race-car driver Harry Stillman. Through his association with Stillman he began working extensively as a test driver for the Marmon Motor Car Company. Yet by October 1910 he had re-enlisted in the United States Army. Because he wanted to learn to fly, he requested a transfer to the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps in 1913, without knowing that only an officer could become a pilot. He received his second honorable discharge from the Army in October 1913.

1915

Following his military Service he began working as a Cowboy on the 101 Ranch near Bliss, Oklahoma. While attending Equestrian shows he met Odille "Dell" Osborne, who rode horses professionally. The two became involved and married in 1915. Both had very little money, so the producers of a Wild West Show they were working on at the time offered to allow them to marry in an actual show performance, in public, which they accepted.

1918

Buck Jones's daughter, Maxine Jones (born 1918) was married to Noah Beery, Jr. from 1940 to 1966.

1920

While in Los Angeles, and with his wife pregnant, Jones decided to leave the Cowboy life behind and get a job in the film industry. He was hired by Universal Pictures for $5 per day as a bit player and stuntman. He later worked for Canyon Pictures, then Fox Film Corporation, eventually earning $40 per week as a stuntman. With Fox his salary increased to $150 per week, and company owner william Fox decided to use him as a backup to Tom Mix. This led to his first starring role, The Last Straw, released in 1920.

1925

In 1925 Jones made three films with a very young Carole Lombard. He had more than 160 film credits to his name by this time, and he had joined Hoot Gibson, Tom Mix and Ken Maynard as the top Cowboy actors of the day. By 1928 he formed his own production company, but his independently produced film The Big Hop (a non-Western) failed. He then organized a touring Wild West show, with himself as a featured attraction, but this expensive venture also failed due to the faltering economy of late 1929.

1930

His star waned in the late 1930s when singing Cowboys became the rage and Jones, then in his late 40s, was uncomfortably cast in conventional leading-man roles. He rejoined Columbia in the fall of 1940, starring in the serial White Eagle (an expansion of his 1932 feature of the same name). The new serial was a hit, and Jones was again re-established. His final series of Western features, co-produced by Jones and his friend Scott R. Dunlap of Monogram Pictures, featured The Rough Riders trio: Buck Jones, Tim McCoy and Raymond Hatton.

1937

In 1937 Jones starred in Hoofbeats, a 15-minute radio program syndicated via electrical transcription. The program was produced in the studios of Recordings, Inc., with Grape Nuts Flakes as sponsor.

1942

Buck Jones was one of the 492 victims of the Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston, Massachusetts on November 28, 1942. He died two days later on November 30, at age 50.

1960

In 1960, Jones was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the motion picture industry. The star is located at 6834 Hollywood Blvd.

1970

On his album When I Was a Kid, Bill Cosby has a routine called "Buck Jones," in which he talks about seeing Buck Jones movies as a kid. He says that Jones had a horse named Silver, like the Lone Ranger, and that he would chew gum to signal that he was getting angry. Cosby mentions a specific movie in which a saloon tough picks a fight by pouring "redeye" liquor over Jones. On "Merv Griffin's '60s Retrospective" DVD release, John Wayne in 1970 states that Buck Jones is his hero. He also states that Jones went in the fire to help people.

1997

In 1997 a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.

Some Buck Jones images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.