Jay Kirby

Jay Kirby (born William Bennett George, January 28, 1920 – July 30, 1964) was an American actor in films and television. He was best known for playing Johnny Travers, the youthful sidekick of Hopalong Cassidy in six films in the 1940s.

In 1948, he and his wife Carmelle George were divorced and the custody of their one-year-old son, Jeffrey, was given to his wife.[1]

Career

Kirby was born n Kansas City, Missouri. He began acting in films in 1942, when he was cast to replace Russell Hayden as the boyish partner to cowboy hero Hopalong Cassidy. He was an aviation cadet in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II but does not appear to have served long, as his screen appearances are continuous throughout the war and afterward for several years. In 1949 he reverted to his real name, Bill George, for his last feature film and his subsequent television roles. He died at 44 and was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1942Undercover ManBreezy Travers
1942Lost CanyonJohnny Travers
1943Hoppy Serves a Writ
1943Border PatrolTexas Ranger Johnny
1943The Leather BurnersJohnny Travers
1943Colt Comrades
1944Marshal of RenoDanny Boyd
1944Zorro's Black WhipRandolph MeredithSerial, [Ch.1]
1944Sheriff of Las VegasTom Blackwell
1944Sundown RidersJay Kirby
1945Rockin' in the RockiesRusty Williams
1945Wagon Wheels WestwardBob Adams
1946Days of Buffalo BillJim Owens
1946King of the Forest RangersHale - Forest Ranger at Assayer's OfficeSerial, [Ch. 11], Uncredited
1946Conquest of CheyenneTom Dean
1947Bells of San AngeloRiderUncredited
1948Oklahoma BadlandsKen Rawlins
1948Partners of the SunsetDan Thompson
1948Son of God's CountryFrank Thornton
1949Masked RaidersLuke Trevitt

He starred in an episode of The Cisco Kid.

References
  1. "Hubby's Chord Off Key for Actress' Harmony," Los Angeles Times, Wednesday, December 1, 1948, page 16
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