History Creator / ChillWills

* ''Film/BoomTown'' (1940) as Deputy Harmony Jones

* ''Film/TheOverTheHillGangRidesAgain'' (1970) as Gentleman George Askew

Provided Stan Laurel's deep singing voice in ''Film/WayOutWest''. Not to be confused with WesternAnimation/ChillyWilly.

He was a performer from early childhood, forming and leading the Avalon Boys singing group in the 1930s. After appearing in a few westerns he disbanded the group in 1938, and struck out on a solo acting career. One of his more memorable roles was providing the distinctive voice of Francis the Talking Mule in a series of popular comedy films in the 1950s.

A native of Texas, Wills was cast in numerous serious film roles, including "the city of Chicago" as personified by a phantom police sergeant in the FilmNoir ''City That Never Sleeps'' (1953) and Uncle Bawley in the classic {{Western}} ''Film/{{Giant}}'' (1956). Wills was nominated for the UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Supporting Actor, for his role as Davy Crockett's companion "Beekeeper" in ''Film/{{The Alamo|1960}}'' (1960). However, his aggressive campaigning for the award was regarded as tasteless by many in Hollywood (including the film's producer, director, and star Creator/JohnWayne, who publicly apologized for Wills).

He was a performer from early childhood, forming and leading the Avalon Boys singing group in the 1930s. After appearing in a few westerns he disbanded the group in 1938, and struck out on a solo acting career. One of his more memorable roles was providing the distinctive voice of Francis the Talking Mule in a series of popular '50s films.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chill_wills.jpg]]

Wills was cast in numerous serious film roles, including as "the city of Chicago" as personified by a phantom police sergeant in the FilmNoir ''City That Never Sleeps'' (1953), and that of Uncle Bawley in ''Film/{{Giant}}'' (1956). Wills was nominated for the UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Supporting Actor, for his role as Davy Crockett's companion "Beekeeper" in the film ''Film/{{The Alamo|1960}}'' (1960). However, his aggressive campaign for the award was considered tasteless by many, including the film's star/director/producer Creator/JohnWayne, who publicly apologized for Wills.

Wills was cast in numerous serious film roles, including as "the city of Chicago" as personified by a phantom police sergeant in the FilmNoir ''City That Never Sleeps'' (1953), and that of Uncle Bawley in ''Film/{{Giant}}'' (1956). Wills was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for his role as Davy Crockett's companion "Beekeeper" in the film ''Film/TheAlamo1960''. However, his aggressive campaign for the award was considered tasteless by many, including the film's star/director/producer Creator/JohnWayne, who publicly apologized for Wills.

* ''Film/TheAlamo1960'' as Beekeeper

He was a performer from early childhood, forming and leading the Avalon Boys singing group in the 1930s. After appearing in a few westerns he disbanded the group in 1938, and struck out on a solo acting career. One of his more memorable roles was that of the distinctive voice of Francis the Mule in a series of popular films.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chill_wills.jpg]]

Provided Stan Laurel's deep singing voice in ''Film/WayOutWest''.

* ''Series/FrontierCircus'' as Colonel Casey Thomson''

* ''Film/WayOutWest'' (1937) as one of the Avalon Boys Quartet. Also provided Stan's singing voice.

* ''Film/{{Giant}} (1956) as Uncle Bawley