Slim Pickens

Rodeo bronc rider to rodeo clown turned Western movie star, Pickens was as authentic as you’d get riding his beloved blue roan gelding, Dear John, on the big screen.

Growing Up

Slim Pickens was born Louis Burton Lindley, Jr., on June 29, 1919, in Kingsburg, California to dairy farmer parents, Sally Mosher and Louis Bert Lindley. Growing up, family and friends called him Burt. He first sat on a horse at age 4, and even at such a young age, it was clear he was a natural. By the time he was a teen, he was more interested in roping cows than milking them, much to his father’s dismay. He wanted a son to work the farm, not ride the rodeo circuit. Though his father disapproved, Burt would sneak out and compete whenever he could. Angered by his son’s disobedience, his father warned Burt that if he saw his name on a rodeo entry list again, he’d kick him out of the house. But the grit and dust of the arena were irresistible. At age 16, he quit high school to ride rodeo. Worried that his father would find out, he stared at the entry form, agonizing over a fake name for himself. An old cowboy observing his distress, shouted out, “Why don’t you call yourself, Slim Pickings, ‘cause that’s what your prize money’ll be.” The newly christened Slim Pickens won $400 that day, and his future as a dairy farmer was officially over. For the next decade, or so, he rode broncs and bulls, and broke just about every bone in his body, including his back twice. He was also a well-known and loved rodeo clown, able to engage the audience and distract the bulls from trampling or goring fallen riders.

The Call to Arms

Pickens enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II, and a simple misunderstanding kept him stateside. The application asked for his occupation, so he wrote “rodeo.” The recruiter read, “radio,” and Pickens spent his enlistment years assigned to a Midwest Army radio station.

…And Action!

In 1950, Hollywood director William Keighley saw him perform at a rodeo. Impressed by his skill, charisma, and 6-foot, 3-inch imposing stature, he offered Pickens a screen test. After more than 20 years of busting broncs, fighting bulls and charming audiences, Pickens traded the rodeo arena for a Hollywood backlot. He was astounded to find out that stunt actors were paid to fall off horses, whereas he was “paying rodeo fees to get my neck broke.”

But thanks to his many years of rodeo, he was proud to be one of the few actors who could do his own stunts. His first credited role was in Rocky Mountain, directed by Keighley, and starring Errol Flynn. Over 100 film and television appearances followed, including notable films, The Outcast, The Sheepman, One-Eyed Jacks,The Glory Guys, Stagecoach,  An Eye for an Eye, Will Penny, Blazing Saddles (1974), The Sacketts, The Cowboys, Tom Horn—One of Pickens’ favorites, and the role of Major T. J. “King” Kong, in which Pickens takes the ride of his life, not on a horse, but—on a bomb—in the satirical dark comedy, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964). His television credits include episodes of Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Cheyenne, Wagon Train and The Virginian, among many others.

Dear John

No, Pickens wasn’t unceremoniously dumped by a girlfriend. Dear John was his beloved blue roan Appaloosa gelding. He spotted the horse in Montana in 1954 and bought him for $150. After training John to do tricks, such as sit like a dog and buck on cue, Pickens had a reliable and loyal film and performance horse.

Awards

Pickens was recognized for his work as a cowboy, rodeo competitor, and Western actor.

In 1982 he was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

In 1986, he was posthumously inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame of the Rodeo Historical Society, followed by the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2005, the Pendelton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2020.

Swept Off His Feet (Almost Literally) by the Love of His Life!

Slim Pickens and Margaret Harmon met at the Madera County Fair. She was galloping a horse when Slim walked onto the racetrack, directly in front of her. She swerved her horse to avoid trampling him and nearly had a nasty fall herself. Maggi was furious, but Slim must have charmed her because they married on March 22, 1950. Pickens raised Maggi’s daughter from a previous marriage, Daryle Ann, as his own, and the couple had two children together, Thomas Michael, and Margaret Lou. He kept his family out of the spotlight, and the children and their families continue to keep a low profile. Daryle Ann, however, is dedicated to promoting the Western lifestyle and sharing memories of her famous dad.

Slim and Maggi remained devoted to each other until his death from cancer on Dec. 8, 1983. He was 64.