Background
Born in New Jersey, Edwards began drawing horses as a child and continued drawing as he grew up on a Wyoming ranch.
Born in New Jersey, Edwards began drawing horses as a child and continued drawing as he grew up on a Wyoming ranch.
From this lifestyle Bill was to become a championship rodeo rider. Broken bones brought his riding career to a halt, and the 6-foot-5 Bill Edwards became a model in New York City. An agent brought him to Hollywood in the early 1940s.
He was under contract to Paramount Pictures for nearly a decade, after which he turned to art
In addition to Western films, the blonde, blue-eyed Edwards had featured roles in "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay" and "Hail the Conquering Hero" - both released in 1944. In the 1950s Edwards became a painter.
He did illustrations for Hanna-Barbera and Disney as well as creating the artwork for numerous book and novel covers. Bill was commissioned by the United States Air Force Art Programto paint recruiting posters and paintings of Air Force planes and combat scenes.
Several, such as one entitled "Generation Gap," were exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution, the Pentagon and a traveling Air Force exhibit.
Bill had an illustrious career as an artist, and he became best known for his paintings of the Old West. Bill died December 21, 1999 at the age of 81 in Newport Beach of pneumonia caused by an illness that affected his muscular system.