Don Collier's impressive career spanned over 70 years, with more than 200 credited movie and television appearances. He had the privilege of working alongside legendary actors such as John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Anthony Quinn, Dean Martin, Tom Selleck, James Arness, and even Elvis Presley.
Collier's first role was as an extra in the 1948 western film Massacre River, which was released in 1949. He later appeared in two more westerns, Davy Crockett, Indian Scout in 1950 and Fort Apache in 1948, alongside John Wayne. He went on to appear in three more John Wayne movies.
In 1959, Collier landed the leading role of U.S. Deputy Marshal Will Foreman in the NBC series Outlaws, which aired from 1960 to 1961. The show also starred Barton MacLane and Jock Gaynor, and Collier's character became a full-fledged Marshal in the second season.
Throughout his career, Collier made appearances on numerous western TV shows, including Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, Branded, and Death Valley Days. In 1968, he was cast as the foreman of the ranch in The High Chaparral, a role that was crucial to the show's success. The show ran until 1971 and featured an experienced cast.
Collier's commercials also capitalized on his cowboy persona, as he became a 1980s icon as The Gum Fighter for Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum. He continued to work in television, taking on the recurring role of William Tompkins in The Young Riders in 1989.
In addition to his television work, Collier appeared in several films, including Tombstone in 1993. He also worked on a western radio drama series titled West of the Story and was sidekick to Fred Imus on Sirius Radio's weekly show, Fred's Trailer Park Bash, until Imus' death in 2011.
Collier remained active in the entertainment industry, attending Western and nostalgia shows such as Western Legends Roundup in Kanab, Utah, Territorial Days in Tombstone, Arizona, and the 50th Anniversary of The High Chaparral event in Hollywood in 2017.
