Floyd Taliaferro Alderson, a renowned American actor, embarked on a remarkable career, initially starring in silent Westerns under the moniker Wally Wales, before transitioning to character roles and bit parts under the name Hal Taliaferro.
Born in Sheridan, Wyoming, Floyd was raised on a ranch in Rosebud County, Montana, where he honed his exceptional horseman skills. He later served in World War I, after which he traveled to California, where he secured work as a wrangler for Universal Pictures.
Floyd's cinematic journey began in 1915, when he appeared as an extra in films. By the 1920s, he had established himself as a leading figure in silent Westerns, starring under the stage name Wally Wales. However, his career's momentum slowed, and in the mid-1930s, he opted to rebrand himself as Hal Taliaferro, taking on supporting roles and bit parts, primarily in Westerns, for the remainder of his career.
In the 1950s, Floyd retired to his family's property in Montana, now known as the Bones Brothers Ranch, where he devoted himself to landscape painting. Unfortunately, a series of strokes severely impaired his abilities, and he eventually passed away in an nursing home in his birthplace, Sheridan, Wyoming, in 1980.
Floyd's legacy lives on, with his papers archived at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, serving as a testament to his remarkable life and career.
