Bingo the Kid was a famous cowboy of the Wild West in the late 19th century. Born in Texas in 1867, Bingo was the son of a cattle rancher and grew up around horses and cattle. He became a skilled rider and marksman at a young age, and by the age of 18, he had already gained a reputation as a sharpshooter.
Bingo’s real name was William Boyd, but he was better known by his nickname, which he earned as a child playing a popular game of chance. In 1917, Boyd made his first appearance in a silent film, playing a supporting role in a Western called “Beyond the Law.” He continued to appear in films throughout the 1920s and 1930s, often playing the hero in Westerns.
In 1935, Boyd was cast in the role that would make him a household name – Hopalong Cassidy. The character had first appeared in a series of popular novels by Clarence E. Mulford, and Boyd brought him to life on the big screen. The Hopalong Cassidy films were hugely successful, and Boyd became one of the most popular actors of his time.
Boyd continued to play Hopalong Cassidy throughout the 1940s, but by the early 1950s, the popularity of Westerns was waning. Boyd retired from acting in 1953 and purchased the rights to the Hopalong Cassidy character. He went on to produce a popular television series based on the character, which ran from 1952 to 1954.
Bingo the Kid, or William Boyd, died in 1972 at the age of 75. He is remembered as one of the great cowboy stars of the golden age of Hollywood. His legacy lives on through the Hopalong Cassidy character, which remains a beloved part of Western lore to this day.
