Edmund Richard Gibson was the son of Hiram J. Gibson and Ida Bell Richards. He was born on August 6, 1892 and grew up in a rural setting and his early years were marked by a rugged lifestyle. Gibson's family was involved in farming, and he spent much of his childhood working on the family farm. Gibson's nickname "Hoot" came from his childhood fascination with owls.
After his early years in Oklahoma, Gibson moved to California in his late teens, where he initially worked as a stuntman and later transitioned into acting. He was originally a rodeo champion, and later became a prominent figure in early Hollywood Westerns.
Starting his career as a rodeo star, Gibson won titles like the all-around championship at the Pendleton Round-Up in 1912. His rodeo skills seamlessly translated to film, where he began as a stuntman and extra in silent Westerns. His breakthrough came with the 1915 film "The Squaw Man," directed by Cecil B. DeMille.
In the 1920s, Gibson emerged as a major Western star with Universal Pictures, featuring in popular silent films like "The Ramblin' Kid" (1923) and "The Thrill Hunter" (1926). He successfully transitioned to sound films with hits like "Spirit of the West" (1932) and continued to star in Westerns into the 1940s.
Hoot Gibson was married four times. His first marriage, to Helen Johnson, lasted from 1913 to 1917. His second wife, Helen Gibson (née Rose August Wenger), a rodeo performer and stuntwoman, was married to him from 1917 to 1920. His third marriage, to actress Sally Eilers, lasted from 1930 to 1933. Gibson's fourth and final marriage was to Dorothy Dunstan in 1942, and they remained together until his death in 1962.
Despite a slowdown in the 1950s and facing financial difficulties, Gibson remained a cherished Western icon, making occasional film appearances and participating in rodeo events.
On August 23, 1962 Edmund "Hoot" Gibson passed away in Woodland Hills, California. Read more about his life and career at Edmund "Hoot" Gibson: Obituary.
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