Chill Wills

Chill Wills, born as Theodore Childress Wills, was an American actor and a talented singer as part of the Avalon Boys quartet. His career spanned decades, from the 1930s to the late 1970s, starting with the formation of the Avalon Boys. Notably, he provided a deep voice for Stan Laurel's performance in Way Out West. His acting career kicked off after disbanding the group and landing roles in various Westerns. Beyond Westerns, Wills expanded his profile with a number of dramatic roles, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his Beekeeper character in The Alamo. However, his controversial campaign for the Academy Award led to public apologies from John Wayne.

Known for his distinctive deep and rough voice, Wills ventured into voice acting as Francis the Talking Mule in a popular film series. Despite not being credited for his vocal work, he had a on-screen role as General Ben Kaye in one of the series entries. An avid poker player, Wills took part in the inaugural World Series of Poker. In the political sphere, he was a vocal supporter of George C. Wallace's presidential campaign. Wills' last role was as a janitor in Stubby Pringle's Christmas in 1978. Tragically, he passed away from cancer in the same year.