Chill Wills

Chill Theodore Wills, born in 1902, was an American actor and singer who rose to prominence in the 1930s with the Avalon Boys Quartet. Disbanding the group in 1938, he carved out a solo career in films, notably voicing the sardonic Francis the Mule and playing blustery characters like General Ben Kaye. Wills' deep, Western-accented voice lent a unique edge to his performances, from the phantasmal Chicago police sergeant in "City That Never Sleeps" to the cantankerous Uncle Bawley in "Giant." His Academy Award nomination for "The Alamo" remains a highlight, though his aggressive campaign for the award was met with disapproval. Throughout his career, Wills also appeared in television series like "The Texan" and "Frontier Circus," and was politically active, notably supporting George C. Wallace's 1968 presidential run.