Bud Osborne

The 'brains' and 'action' heavies who had meaty roles and lots of dialog ... and the players who were fathers, ranch owners, lawman, mayors, judges, lawyers, storekeepers, newspaper editors, wardens, etc.

(Courtesy of Bart Romans)

Above is an exhibitor/vending card showing a very young (and thin) Bud Osborne, circa mid to late 1920s. The Ex. Sup. Co., U.S.A. marking stands for the Exhibit Supply Company of Chicago, a firm which manufactured vending machine novelties from the 1920s to the mid-1960s. It went out of business around 1970.

Bud Osborne was in Hollywood doing bits and supporting roles beginning around 1915. Because of his rough/tough looking appearance and unique voice, Osborne was generally a member of the posse or a member of the gang or second-in-command to the brains heavy. And he did so in hundreds of films from the 1920s through the 1950s at Universal, Columbia, Republic, Monogram, PRC, and most of the Poverty Row independent production outfits.

In silents, Osborne appeared in westerns starring the likes of Leo Maloney, Hoot Gibson, Jack Perrin and others.

One of Bud Osborne's greatest skills was the ability to drive a stagecoach, and you'd often see him handling the reins of a four or six-horse team.

In early 1950s TV, Osborne can be spotted in episodes of ANNIE OAKLEY, WILD BILL HICKOK, RIN TIN TIN and other shows.

When he was given credit on the screen or ad/art work, Osborne's last name was often misspelled --- Bud Osborne vs. Bud Osbourne. (There were several others who had the same problem including George Chesebro, Cheseboro, etc., Chief Thunder Cloud, Thunder-Cloud, Thundercloud, and Edmond vs. Edmund vs. Edwin Cobb.)

Les Adams has Osborne identified in about 475 sound era films, and that includes 407 westerns and 38 chapterplays. Among these films are about 65 appearances in Republic oaters and serials during the period 1936-1952.

You may want to go to the In Search Of ... page on the Old Corral, and do a search on the California Death Records database and the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), and you should find records for Osborne. The California Death Records shows: Lennie B. Osborne, born 7/20/1884 in Oklahoma, and he passed away on 2/2/1964.

Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) has information on Bud Osborne. Click HERE.

(Courtesy of Jack Tillmany)

One of Bud Osborne's most requested and remembered movie jobs --- driving a stage.

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above from L-to-R are Max Terhune, Bud Osborne, unidentified player, Art Dillard and Ray Corrigan in the Three Mesquiteers' RIDERS OF THE BLACK HILLS (Republic, 1938).

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above from L-to-R are Bob Steele, Ted Adams and Bud Osborne in Steele's last for Metropolitan and Harry S. Webb, WILD HORSE VALLEY (Metropolitan, 1940).

(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above from L-to-R are Bud Osborne, Kermit Maynard, Charlie King and Lynton Brent. Scene is from Range Busters episode #18, probably THE TRAIL RIDERS (Monogram, 1942).

From L-to-R are a very grey Bud Osborne, Tommy Farrell and Clayton Moore in the serial, SON OF GERONIMO (Columbia, 1952). Depending on which birth year is used, Osborne was about 70 years old when he appeared in this cliffhanger.