Grant Withers (January 17, 1905 – March 27, 1959) was a rugged American actor whose Hollywood career followed a dramatic arc, from a handsome leading man in early talkies to a prolific character actor in B-Westerns and serials.
Withers began his career as a promising young star, but his trajectory was forever altered by his scandalous 1930 elopement with a 17-year-old Loretta Young. Though the marriage was quickly annulled, the controversy affected his standing as a romantic lead.
He reinvented himself as a durable character actor, signing a long-term contract with Republic Pictures and becoming a staple of the Western genre. His close friendship with John Wayne led to supporting roles in nine of the Duke’s films, including Fort Apache (1948) and Rio Grande (1950). After a long career and years of declining health, Withers’ life ended tragically in 1959 at 54 years old.
