Sheb Wooley was a multifaceted American character actor who made a significant impact in the Western genre, while also carving out a notable career in country-western music.
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Wooley spent his formative years as a cowhand, developing a strong foundation in the rugged and unforgiving world of the American West.
As his musical abilities became more refined, Wooley began to pursue a career in radio and subsequently, film. He played a plethora of minor supporting roles for over a decade, starting in 1950, and made a memorable appearance as one of the Frank Miller gang in the classic Western, High Noon, released in 1952.
However, it was in 1958 that Wooley experienced a major breakthrough with his own song, "The Purple People Eater," which became a massive hit and catapulted him to fame. This success was followed by a string of humorous country ditties, often recorded under the pseudonym Ben Colder.
For several years, Wooley had a recurring role as scout Pete Nolan on the popular TV series Rawhide, which premiered in 1959. Although he continued to work as an actor sporadically, his focus gradually shifted towards the music industry, where he maintained a strong presence.
Pete Nolan
