Chill Wills (July 18, 1902 – December 15, 1978) was a beloved American character actor and singer whose distinctive, gravelly voice and folksy, Western persona made him one of the most recognizable faces and voices of his era.
Wills began his career as a singer in the Avalon Boys quartet, even providing the deep bass notes for Stan Laurel’s rendition of “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine” in the classic Way Out West (1937). He is also famously remembered as the uncredited voice of Francis the Talking Mule in the popular seven-film comedy series, where his cynical and sardonic delivery became the character’s trademark.
A prolific and respected actor, he delivered a powerful performance as the wise and weathered Uncle Bawley in the epic drama Giant (1956). He later earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Beekeeper, Davy Crockett’s loyal companion, in John Wayne’s epic The Alamo (1960), cementing his legacy as a true icon of the Western genre.
