- Received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California just two weeks before his death. Despite his weakened condition, caused by the cancer that would eventually kill him, he managed to attend the ceremony.
- While working with John Wayne on The Alamo (1960), Wayne became impressed with Pyle's photography and made special arrangements with his public relations office to designate Pyle as the official set photographer for the picture.
- Brother of Willis Pyle, an animator and painter. Cousin of Ernie Pyle. Pyle's immediate family had longevity in their genes. His brother died at the age of 101 in 2016. Their mother lived to be 104.
- During World War II, he enlisted in the United States Navy, was wounded in the battle for Guadalcanal and received a medical discharge in 1943.
- Was originally cast to play Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke (1955) after James Arness turned down his first request to audition for the role.
- Met James Best in the movie The Left Handed Gun (1958). Some 21 years later, he would later co-star opposite him on The Dukes of Hazzard (1979), as his sheriff.
- Best friends with James Best from 1958 to 1997.
- Has the distinction of playing the last murder victim in the original Perry Mason (1957) series (and in the same episode, "The Case of the Final Fade-Out", Mason's second-to-last client).
- Best known for his role as Uncle Jesse Duke on the television series The Dukes of Hazzard (1979).
- His middle name was "Dell", the name of his parents' favorite city.
- Is one of twelve actors who played the trifecta - the victim, the defendant, and the murderer - in various episodes of Perry Mason (1957).
- Although he played O.Z. Whitehead's father in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), he was nine years his junior in real life.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content