Slim Pickens

Slim Pickens, born Louis Burton Lindley Jr. in 1919, was an American rodeo performer and actor who navigated from the dusty arenas of the rodeo to the silver screen, appearing in dozens of films and television shows. Predominantly cast as cowboys, Pickens carved out a niche for himself in comedic roles, most memorably as Major "King" Kong in Stanley Kubrick’s "Dr. Strangelove" and as a lawless sheriff in "Blazing Saddles." He also lent his rugged charm to villainous parts, such as in the Anthony Quinn-directed "One-Eyed Jacks." His larger-than-life presence made him a staple of 1960s and 1970s cinema.