Norton Earl Worden, a renowned American character actor, primarily excelled in Westerns, often portraying comedic or rustic roles. Born during his parents' visit to a relative's home in Rolfe, Iowa, Worden spent his childhood on a cattle ranch near Glendive, Montana.
He pursued higher education at Stanford and the University of Nevada, initially studying engineering. However, his academic path took a different turn when he trained as an Army pilot, only to be unsuccessful in flight school.
Worden's adventurous spirit led him to tour the country as a saddle bronc rider in rodeos. Unfortunately, a horse fall in his 20s resulted in a broken neck, but he remained unaware of the injury until his 40s.
In a remarkable turn of events, Worden was chosen, along with Tex Ritter, from a rodeo at Madison Square Garden in New York to appear in the Broadway play "Green Grow the Lilacs." This play later served as the inspiration for the iconic musical "Oklahoma."
Following his Broadway stint, Worden drove a cab in New York City before working as a wrangler on dude ranches and as a guide on the renowned Bright Angel trail of the Grand Canyon.
Worden's professional connections were largely facilitated by his friendship with Billie Burke, who recommended him to several movie producers. He went on to form lasting bonds with John Wayne, Howard Hawks, and John Ford, all of whom provided him with a steady stream of work.
In his personal life, Worden was married to Louise Eaton, who sadly predeceased him. In the years following his wife's passing, he generously shared his home with young actor Jim Beaver, helping him establish himself in Hollywood.
Worden lived a long and fulfilling life, passing away peacefully at the age of 91. He was survived by his adopted daughter, Dawn Henry.
