Slim Pickens

Slim Pickens
Slim Pickens in 1972
Born	Louis Burton Lindley, Jr. (1919-06-29)June 29, 1919 Kingsburg, California, U.S.
Died	December 8, 1983(1983-12-08) (aged 64) Modesto, California, U.S.
Years active	1946–83
Spouse(s)	Margaret (née Harmon) Lindley

Louis Burton Lindley, Jr. (June 29, 1919 – December 8, 1983), better known by his stage name Slim Pickens, was an American rodeo performer and film and television actor. During much of his career Pickens played mainly cowboy roles, and is perhaps best remembered today for his comic roles in Dr. Strangelove and Blazing Saddles.

Pickens was born Louis Burton Lindley, Jr., in Kingsburg, California, the son of Sally Mosher (née Turk) and Louis Bert Lindley, Sr., a Texas-born dairy farmer. Young Lindley was an excellent horse rider from an early age. Known as "Bert" to his family and friends, he grew bored with dairy farming and began to make a few dollars by riding broncos and roping steers in his early teens. His father found out and forbade this activity. Lindley took no notice, went to compete in a rodeo and was told by the doubtful rodeo manager that there would be "slim pickin's" for him. To prevent his father from discovering that he had competed, he entered his name as Slim Pickens and won $400 that afternoon. Lindley graduated from Hanford High School, Hanford, California and was a member of the Future Farmers of America. He joined the rodeo, billed as Slim Pickens and eventually became a well-known rodeo clown.

After nearly 20 years of rodeo work, his distinctive Oklahoma–Texas drawl (even though he was a lifelong Californian), his wide eyes, moon face and strong physical presence gained him a role in the western film Rocky Mountain (1950) starring Errol Flynn. He appeared in many more westerns, playing both villains and comic sidekicks to the likes of Rex Allen.