Jump to content

Bill Nestell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bill Nestell
Born
William Eugene Nestel

(1893-03-03)March 3, 1893
San Francisco California, U.S.
DiedOctober 18, 1966(1966-10-18) (aged 73)
Bishop, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1926–1950
Spouses
  • Sophie M. Prewitt
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1911; died 1922)​
  • Clara Butterbredt
    ​
    (m. 1923)​
Children2

Bill Nestell (born William Eugene Nestel or Eugene William Nestel;[1][2][3][4] March 3, 1893 – October 18, 1966) was an American supporting actor seen most frequently in the westerns of Republic and Universal Studios,[5][6] and also a radio singer.[7] He appeared in more than 125 films between 1926 and 1950, uncredited in all but a handful.[8]

Early life and career

[edit]

Born in San Francisco, California, Nestell was the son of Katherine "Katie" Drake and stage actor Edward "Ned" Westell,[9][10][11] who died just two years later, at age 56.[9] His mother remarried shortly thereafter, to blacksmith Alfred Connors.[12] By 1910, however, Nestell had moved out. Having evidently picked up the essentials of blacksmithing and thus, at least temporarily, followed in the footsteps of his stepfather, he had nonetheless resumed use of his birth father's name.[13]

During the late 1920s, Nestell gained some prominence as "California's singing cowboy." Initially heard as a solo act, featured at least semi-regularly on KELW in Burbank, California,[14][15][7] he later expanded the act to what became known as the Trail Herd Quartet, led by Nestell and featuring Gilbert "Pee Wee" Holmes, Everett Cheetham, and Drew Stanfield. Aside from the radio station, the group was reportedly featured in the 1930 western Bar-L Ranch, both on the soundtrack and in assorted non-musical supporting roles onscreen.[16]

Personal life and death

[edit]

From November 1911 until her death in 1922, Westell was married to Sophie M. Prewitt,[2] with whom he had two children, a daughter and a son, prizefighter Robert Edward "Bob" Westell.[4][17] In September 1923, he married Clara Butterbredt.[18]

Following a series of strokes, Westell died at his home in Bishop, California on October 18, 1966 from a heart attack. He was survived by his wife and children.[5][6]

Selected filmography

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Aaker, Everett (1995). Silent Film Necrology: Births and Deaths of Over 9000 Performers, Directors, Producers, and Other Filmmakers of the Silent Era, Through 1993. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 247. ISBN 9780786401321.
  2. ^ a b "Vital Record: Marriage Licenses". Los Angeles Times. June 6, 1911. p. 16. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  3. ^ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1953", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8K8-4X1 : Wed Jul 10 00:41:11 UTC 2024), Entry for Jack Moffatt and Leroy Moffatt, 08 Dec 1946.
  4. ^ a b "Deaths: Robert E. Nestell". Bridgeport Chronicle-Union. p. 14. January 1, 1976. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Jones, Ken (November 1974). "What's In a Picture". Western Film Collector. p. 17. Retrieved November 12, 2024. "Although “Sunset” doesn't appear in the still we see from left to right the following players: BILL NESTELL, featured player in many westerns of Republic and Universal. He retired from films in 1954 and died of a stroke at his home in Bishop, California on October 18, 1966 at the age of 71."
  6. ^ a b "Obituaries: Bill Nestell". Variety. October 26, 1966. p. 71. ProQuest 1017149166. Bill Nestell, 71, former featured western actor who retired 12 years ago to make his home in Bishop, Calif., scene of many of his pictures, died in that Sierra Nevada mountain town Oct. 18 after a series of strokes and a heart attack. He had spent most of his career at Republic and Universal. Surviving are his widow, a son, Bob, former heavyweight fighter, and daughter.
  7. ^ a b "Matter of Making Phonograph Records Told to Optimists". Burbank Evening Review. December 1, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  8. ^ Brooker, John (April 2017). The Happiest Trails. CP Entertainment Books. p. 299. ISBN 978-1-365-74122-7.
  9. ^ a b "Ned Nestell Dead". The San Francisco Examiner. November 15, 1895. p. 16. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  10. ^ "Gleanings". The Sacramento Bee. May 27, 1892. p. 2. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  11. ^ "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVKB-G4L : Sun Mar 10 02:46:20 UTC 2024), Entry for William E Nestell, 1910.
  12. ^ "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9P6-H36 : Thu Apr 11 20:01:44 UTC 2024), Entry for Alfred Connors and Kitty Connors, 1900.
  13. ^ "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVKB-G4L : Sun Mar 10 02:46:20 UTC 2024), Entry for William E Nestell, 1910.
  14. ^ "Activities in the Air". Burbank Evening Review. October 13, 1927. p. 6. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  15. ^ "Radio Program". Burbank Evening Review. November 19, 1927. p. 5. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "Famous Radio Quartet on Pastime Film". Albuquerque Journal. January 18, 1931. p. 7. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  17. ^ Cronin, R. A. (May 26, 1937). "As the Crow Flies". Los Angeles Daily News. pp. 21, 23. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  18. ^ "Marriage Licenses". The Los Angeles Times. September 18, 1923. p. 18. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
[edit]
Stub icon

This article about a United States film actor born in the 1890s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=Bill_Nestell&oldid=1257045490"