Hal Taliaferro was an American actor known for his roles in Western films, particularly under the names Wally Wales and Hal Taliaferro. He was recognized for his work in silent Westerns and later took on character roles as his career evolved.
Personal and Family Life
Born Floyd Taliaferro Alderson on November 13, 1895, in Sheridan, Wyoming, he grew up in Montana on a ranch. He was a skilled horseman and served in World War I. Taliaferro was married to Mary Bell Towers and later to Gwendolyn Costello. His father was Lewis Allen Alderson, and his mother was Emma Elizabeth Roberts.
Career
Taliaferro began his film career as an extra in 1915 after working as a wrangler for Universal Pictures. By the 1920s, he had adopted the stage name Wally Wales and starred in numerous silent Westerns. In the 1930s, he shifted to smaller roles under the name Hal Taliaferro, continuing to work primarily in Westerns until his retirement in the 1950s, when he turned to landscape painting.
Death and Legacy
Hal Taliaferro passed away on February 10, 1980, in Sheridan, Wyoming, due to pneumonia and stroke complications. His contributions to cinema, especially in the Western genre, have been remembered, and his papers are preserved at the University of Wyoming.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Red River | 1948-08-26 | Old Leather |
| Silent Valley | 1935-05-02 | Fred Jones |
| American Empire | 1942-12-11 | Malone |
| Ambush Valley | 1936-10-24 | Joel |
| Bad Man of Deadwood | 1941-09-05 | Ripper |
| Cowboy and the Senorita | 1944-05-13 | Matt Ferguson |
| The Border Legion | 1940-12-05 | Amos Link |
| In Old Cheyenne | 1941-04-04 | Henchman Pete |
| Red River Valley | 1941-12-12 | Murdock |
| Ridin’ Down the Canyon | 1942-12-30 | Henchman Pete |
| The Yellow Rose of Texas | 1944-06-24 | Ferguson |
| Song of Texas | 1943-06-14 | Henchman |
| Rootin’ Tootin’ Rhythm | 1937-05-12 | Buffalo Brady |
| Lucky Terror | 1936-02-20 | Henchman Shake |
| The Desert of the Lost | 1927-12-17 | Jim Drake |
| The Vanishing Riders | 1935-07-03 | Wolf Lawson |
| The Pecos Kid | 1935-04-03 | Eric Grayson |
| Hair-Trigger Casey | 1936-03-01 | Dave Casey |
| Law and Lead | 1936-11-14 | Steve Bradley, posing as The Juarez Kid |