Gordon Nance, later known as "Wild Bill Elliott," was born in 1904 on a farm in Pattonsburg, Missouri, a small town approximately 60 miles northeast of Kansas City. Growing up surrounded by horses, Elliott's father was a commissioner at the Kansas City Stockyards, where he would later win a first-place ribbon at the annual "American Royal Horse and Livestock Show" at the age of 16.
After moving to California, Elliott began his acting career at the Pasadena Playhouse, where he was discovered by a talent scout. He made his film debut in 1925, initially appearing in silent movies and later transitioning to talkies. Throughout his career, Elliott played a diverse range of roles, often billed as "Gordon Elliott."
In 1938, Columbia Pictures cast Elliott as the lead in their 15-chapter serial, "The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok," marking the beginning of his association with Westerns. He started adopting the names "Bill" or "Wild Bill" and became famous for using the line, "I'm a peaceable man...," which was often followed by an outburst of violence.
Elliott reached the peak of his popularity at Columbia, where he was paired with Tex Ritter in a series of films. In 1943, he left Columbia for Republic Pictures, where his Westerns had larger budgets. He later moved to Monogram Pictures (later Allied Artists) in 1951, returning to low-budget B-Westerns. His last Western was released in 1954, followed by five B-pictures in which he played a Los Angeles police detective.
Elliott attempted to transition to television, filming "pilots" for two potential series, "Marshal of Trail City" and "Parson of the West," but neither sold. He eventually settled in Las Vegas, hosting a weekly TV show where he interviewed guests and showcased some of his old movies. Elliott also worked as a pitchman for a cigarette company.
In 1961, his 34-year marriage to Helen Josephine Meyer ended, and he married Dolly Moore. Elliott passed away from lung cancer in 1965 and is buried at Palm Memorial Park in Las Vegas.
