Jim Bannon, a renowned athlete, shone brightly during his time at Rockhurst College, laying the foundation for a storied career in the world of sports broadcasting. Following his graduation, he transitioned seamlessly to the role of sportscaster in Kansas City, before relocating to California in 1938. As he continued to hone his craft, Bannon's talents extended beyond the realm of sports, as he began to make a name for himself as a radio actor, securing small but pivotal roles in various film productions. His aptitude for the silver screen led him to take on the role of a movie stuntman in the early 1940s, before being cast in a detective movie series for Columbia, inspired by the popular radio show "I Love a Mystery". This breakthrough role served as a springboard for further opportunities, and in 1949, Bannon was bestowed the coveted title role of Red Ryder in the esteemed western series produced by Eagle Lion Productions. Throughout the 1950s, he continued to appear in various westerns and television shows, solidifying his status as a versatile and accomplished actor.
Personal Details
BornApr 9, 1911 Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Spouse
Barbara Cork
( Dec 31, 1969 to Dec 31, 1969 )Bea Benaderet
( Jul 16, 1938 to Dec 31, 1969 )
Biography
Career
{"id":32378,"title":"Good Neighbor Sam","year":"1964","character":"Policeman (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/good-neighbor-sam","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_32378.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_32378.jpg"},"released":1}
1964

Good Neighbor Sam as Policeman (uncredited)
{"id":30334,"title":"Man's Favorite Sport?","year":"1964","character":"Forest Ranger (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/mans-favorite-sport","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/1uej4ij2fdqg.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/1uej4ij2fdqg.jpg"},"released":1}

Man's Favorite Sport? as Forest Ranger (uncredited)
{"id":82186,"title":"A Gathering of Eagles","year":"1963","character":"","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/a-gathering-of-eagles","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82186.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82186.jpg"},"released":1}
1963
{"id":13523,"title":"They Came to Cordura","year":"1959","character":"Capt. Paltz","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/they-came-to-cordura","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/22btcjrgkstg.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/22btcjrgkstg.jpg"},"released":1}
1959

They Came to Cordura as Capt. Paltz
{"id":94740,"title":"Chicago Confidential","year":"1957","character":"Pilot (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/chicago-confidential","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_94740.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_94740.jpg"},"released":1}
1957

Chicago Confidential as Pilot (uncredited)
{"id":10510,"title":"Lassie","year":1956,"character":"","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/lassie-us","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_10510.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_10510.jpg"},"released":1}
1956
{"id":103839618,"title":"The Adventures of Champion","year":1955,"character":"Sandy North","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/the-adventures-of-champion","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103839618.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103839618.jpg"},"released":1}
1955

The Adventures of Champion as Sandy North
{"id":67786,"title":"The Great Jesse James Raid","year":"1953","character":"Bob Ford","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-great-jesse-james-raid","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67786.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67786.jpg"},"released":1}
1953

The Great Jesse James Raid as Bob Ford
{"id":3975,"title":"War Arrow","year":"1953","character":"Capt. Roger Corwin (as James Bannon)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/war-arrow","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_3975.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_3975.jpg"},"released":1}

War Arrow as Capt. Roger Corwin (as James Bannon)
{"id":67679,"title":"Phantom from Space","year":"1953","character":"Police Sergeant","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/phantom-from-space","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67679.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67679.jpg"},"released":1}

Phantom from Space as Police Sergeant
{"id":67756,"title":"Jack Slade","year":"1953","character":"Farnsworth","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/jack-slade","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67756.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67756.jpg"},"released":1}

Jack Slade as Farnsworth
{"id":82744,"title":"Unknown World","year":"1951","character":"Andrew \"Andy\" Ostergaard","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/unknown-world","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82744.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82744.jpg"},"released":1}
1951

Unknown World as Andrew "Andy" Ostergaard
{"id":174473,"title":"Wanted: Dead or Alive","year":"1951","character":"U. S. Marshal Jim Bannon","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/wanted-dead-or-alive-1951","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_174473.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_174473.jpg"},"released":1}

Wanted: Dead or Alive as U. S. Marshal Jim Bannon
{"id":186886,"title":"Lawless Cowboys","year":"1951","character":"Jim Bannon","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/lawless-cowboys","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_186886.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_186886.jpg"},"released":1}

Lawless Cowboys as Jim Bannon
{"id":68593,"title":"Ridin' the Outlaw Trail","year":"1951","character":"Ace Donley","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/ridin-the-outlaw-trail-1951","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68593.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68593.jpg"},"released":1}

Ridin' the Outlaw Trail as Ace Donley
{"id":201206,"title":"Nevada Badmen","year":"1951","character":"Jim Bannon","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/nevada-badmen","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_201206.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_201206.jpg"},"released":1}

Nevada Badmen as Jim Bannon
{"id":174486,"title":"Stagecoach Driver","year":"1951","character":"Jim Bannon","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/stagecoach-driver","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_174486.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_174486.jpg"},"released":1}

Stagecoach Driver as Jim Bannon
{"id":186893,"title":"Canyon Raiders","year":"1951","character":"Jim Bannon","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/canyon-raiders","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_186893.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_186893.jpg"},"released":1}

Canyon Raiders as Jim Bannon
{"id":68532,"title":"The Texas Rangers","year":"1951","character":"Jeff Barton - Outlaw (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-texas-rangers","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68532.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68532.jpg"},"released":1}

The Texas Rangers as Jeff Barton - Outlaw (uncredited)
{"id":201222,"title":"Jiggs and Maggie Out West","year":"1950","character":"'Snake-Bite' Carter (as Jim 'Red' Bannon)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/jiggs-and-maggie-out-west","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_201222.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_201222.jpg"},"released":1}
1950

Jiggs and Maggie Out West as 'Snake-Bite' Carter (as Jim 'Red' Bannon)
{"id":82816,"title":"Sierra Passage","year":"1950","character":"Jud Yorke","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/sierra-passage","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82816.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82816.jpg"},"released":1}

Sierra Passage as Jud Yorke
{"id":69033,"title":"The Fighting Redhead","year":"1949","character":"Red Ryder","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-fighting-redhead","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69033.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69033.jpg"},"released":1}
1949

The Fighting Redhead as Red Ryder
{"id":186993,"title":"Roll, Thunder, Roll!","year":"1949","character":"Red Ryder","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/roll-thunder-roll","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_186993.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_186993.jpg"},"released":1}

Roll, Thunder, Roll! as Red Ryder
{"id":174671,"title":"Ride, Ryder, Ride!","year":"1949","character":"Red Ryder","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/ride-ryder-ride","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_174671.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_174671.jpg"},"released":1}

Ride, Ryder, Ride! as Red Ryder
{"id":102517,"title":"Cowboy and the Prizefighter","year":"1949","character":"Red Ryder","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/cowboy-and-the-prizefighter","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_102517.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_102517.jpg"},"released":1}

Cowboy and the Prizefighter as Red Ryder
{"id":68978,"title":"Daughter of the Jungle","year":"1949","character":"Kenneth Richards","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/daughter-of-the-jungle","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68978.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68978.jpg"},"released":1}

Daughter of the Jungle as Kenneth Richards
{"id":96637,"title":"Frontier Revenge","year":"1948","character":"Henchman Brant","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/frontier-revenge","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_96637.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_96637.jpg"},"released":1}
1948

Frontier Revenge as Henchman Brant
{"id":201280,"title":"Trail to Laredo","year":"1948","character":"Dan Parks","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/trail-to-laredo","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_201280.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_201280.jpg"},"released":1}

Trail to Laredo as Dan Parks
{"id":69267,"title":"The Man from Colorado","year":"1948","character":"Nagel","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-man-from-colorado","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2h2seops9j3g.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2h2seops9j3g.jpg"},"released":1}

The Man from Colorado as Nagel
{"id":69512,"title":"Dangers of the Canadian Mounted","year":"1948","character":"Sgt. Chris Royal, RCMP","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/dangers-of-the-canadian-mounted","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69512.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69512.jpg"},"released":1}

Dangers of the Canadian Mounted as Sgt. Chris Royal, RCMP
{"id":69639,"title":"Johnny O'Clock","year":"1947","character":"Chuck Blayden","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/johnny-oclock-1947","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69639.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69639.jpg"},"released":1}
1947

Johnny O'Clock as Chuck Blayden
{"id":69686,"title":"The Corpse Came C.O.D.","year":"1947","character":"Det. Lt. Mark Wilson","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-corpse-came-cod","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69686.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69686.jpg"},"released":1}

The Corpse Came C.O.D. as Det. Lt. Mark Wilson
{"id":69601,"title":"Framed","year":"1947","character":"Jack Woodworth","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/framed-1947","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69601.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69601.jpg"},"released":1}

Framed as Jack Woodworth
{"id":82885,"title":"The Thirteenth Hour","year":"1947","character":"Jerry Mason","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-thirteenth-hour","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82885.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82885.jpg"},"released":1}

The Thirteenth Hour as Jerry Mason
{"id":69570,"title":"T-Men","year":"1947","character":"Agent Lindsay","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/t-men","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69570.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69570.jpg"},"released":1}

T-Men as Agent Lindsay
{"id":69941,"title":"The Unknown","year":"1946","character":"Jack Packard","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-unknown-1946","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69941.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69941.jpg"},"released":1}
1946

The Unknown as Jack Packard
{"id":70014,"title":"Renegades","year":"1946","character":"Cash Dembrow","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/renegades-1946","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70014.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70014.jpg"},"released":1}

Renegades as Cash Dembrow
{"id":70036,"title":"The Devil's Mask","year":"1946","character":"Jack Packard","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-devils-mask-1946","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70036.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70036.jpg"},"released":1}

The Devil's Mask as Jack Packard
{"id":70213,"title":"Tonight and Every Night","year":"1945","character":"Life Photographer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/tonight-and-every-night","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70213.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70213.jpg"},"released":1}
1945

Tonight and Every Night as Life Photographer
{"id":175163,"title":"The Gay Senorita","year":"1945","character":"Phil Dolan","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-gay-senorita","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_175163.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_175163.jpg"},"released":1}

The Gay Senorita as Phil Dolan
{"id":70233,"title":"I Love a Mystery","year":"1945","character":"Jack Packard","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/i-love-a-mystery","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70233.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70233.jpg"},"released":1}

I Love a Mystery as Jack Packard
{"id":70671,"title":"The Soul of a Monster","year":"1944","character":"Dr. Roger Vance","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-soul-of-a-monster","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70671.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70671.jpg"},"released":1}
1944

The Soul of a Monster as Dr. Roger Vance
{"id":187231,"title":"The Missing Juror","year":"1944","character":"Joe Keats","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-missing-juror","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_187231.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_187231.jpg"},"released":1}

The Missing Juror as Joe Keats
{"id":187239,"title":"Sergeant Mike","year":"1944","character":"Lt. Patrick Henry","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/sergeant-mike","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_187239.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_187239.jpg"},"released":1}

Sergeant Mike as Lt. Patrick Henry
{"id":83086,"title":"Sport Chumpions","year":"1941","character":"Various","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/sport-chumpions","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_83086.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_83086.jpg"},"released":1}
1941

Sport Chumpions as Various
{"id":175737,"title":"I Married Adventure","year":"1940","character":"Narrator","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/i-married-adventure","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_175737.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_175737.jpg"},"released":1}
1940

I Married Adventure as Narrator
{"id":201523,"title":"Confederate Honey","year":"1940","character":"Various (voice) (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/confederate-honey","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_201523.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_201523.jpg"},"released":1}

Confederate Honey as Various (voice) (uncredited)