Bob Steele

Bob Steele, born Robert North Bradbury Jr. on December 31, 1907 in York, Pennsylvania, was a prolific American actor best known for his work in low‑budget Westerns during the 1930s and 1940s. He grew up in a family entrenched in the film industry; his father, director Robert N. Bradbury, introduced him to the silent‑era sets where he first appeared as an extra. By the age of fifteen Steele had secured his first credited role in the 1925 silent film The Prairie Mystery, and he quickly adopted the stage name “Bob Steele” to capitalize on his rugged, cowboy persona. Throughout the 1930s he became one of the most recognizable faces of Poverty Row studios, starring in a string of B‑Western series such as The Trail of the Lonesome Pine and The Lone Rider for Republic Pictures, where his swift horse riding and dead‑eye shooting earned him a devoted fan base. Steele’s on‑screen charisma was amplified by his willingness to perform his own stunts, a trait that endeared him to directors seeking economical productions. In the 1940s he transitioned to supporting roles in larger studio pictures, appearing alongside icons like John Wayne in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (though uncredited) and later moving into television where he guest‑starred on series such as The Lone Ranger and Maverick. Steele’s career stretched well into the 1970s, culminating with a memorable cameo in the cult classic The Great Escape (1976), which showcased his enduring appeal to both audiences and fellow actors. Off‑screen, Steele was known for his modest lifestyle, charitable work with veterans’ groups, and a quiet retirement in his native Pennsylvania where he passed away on December 21, 1988. His legacy endures in the lexicon of classic Western cinema, where his name remains synonymous with the intrepid, good‑natured cowboy hero of early Hollywood.