Sheb Wooley

• Birth name:

  Shelby F. Wooley

• Date of Birth:

  16 September 1921 Erick, Oklahoma, USA

• Height:

  6' 2" (1.88 m)

American character actor in many Westerns, he was also a figure in country-western music. Born and raised in Oklahoma, he spent his youth as a cowhand. Wooley's musical ability led to radio work and subsequently movies. He played minor supporting roles for a dozen years starting in 1950, including one of the villains of High Noon (1952). In 1958, he had a giant hit record with his own song The Purple People Eater and he followed it with a string of similar humorous country ditties, often recorded un... more

American character actor in many Westerns, he was also a figure in country-western music. Born and raised in Oklahoma, he spent his youth as a cowhand. Wooley's musical ability led to radio work and subsequently movies. He played minor supporting roles for a dozen years starting in 1950, including one of the villains of High Noon (1952). In 1958, he had a giant hit record with his own song The Purple People Eater and he followed it with a string of similar humorous country ditties, often recorded under the name Ben Colder. For a number of years appeared as scout Pete Nolan on the hit TV series "Rawhide" (1959). He worked infrequently as an actor after that, concentrating on the music business.