Charles Robert Starrett – The Durango Kid of Borrego Springs

The Life and Legacy of Charles Robert Starrett, The Durango Kid

Charles Robert Starrett was an American actor and singer, best known for his role as “The Durango Kid” in over 100 Western films. Born on March 28th, 1903 in Athol, Massachusetts, Starrett began his acting career in the silent era before transitioning to sound films. He passed away on March 22nd, 1986, in Borrego Springs, California.

Charles Robert Starrett’s Career

Charles Starrett was born into privilege, coming from a wealthy family, he was an heir to a giant tool and die company . He graduated Worcester Academy in 1922 and went on to study at Dartmouth College, where he was a member of the football team. He was hired to play a football extra in the film “The Quarterback” (1926) and after that, he pursued a career in acting. In 1935, Columbia Pictures featured him in westerns, and from then on, he became known as a western star, including being featured as the Durango Kid.

Some of Charles Starrett’s notable movies include:

1. The Durango Kid (1940)
2. The Kid Rides Again (1943)
3. Outlaws of Stampede Pass (1943)
4. The Lone Star Trail (1943)
5. Bandit Ranger (1944)
6. The Blazing Sun (1950)
7. Rodeo King and the Senorita (1951)
8. Along the Navajo Trail (1945)
9. Lightning Guns (1948)
10. Rustlers’ Hideout (1944)

Starrett is remembered for his contribution to the film industry and for being one of the founders of the Screen Actors Guild. He made 131 titles in his career, half of which were Durango Kid films for Columbia Pictures. With his faithful sidekicks and wearing a white hat, he brought justice to the screen and entertained audiences with his iconic performances.

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Marriage and Family

At the age of 24, Starrett married Mary Alice Mckinnon on September 28th, 1927 in Hanover, Grafton, New Hampshire. They were the parents of two children, Charles and David, who were born as twins in 1930.

Charles Robert Starrett’s Legacy

Charles Starrett’s legacy extends beyond his on-screen performances. He was one of the 17 actors who met secretly in Boris Karloff’s garage one day in 1933 to shape the charter of the Screen Actors Guild. Starrett was a member of the guild, which now has 60,000 members in 20 cities nationwide. Despite retiring from films in 1952, Starrett left behind a memorable film career that has been documented in a wonderful biography on the blog Gods and Foolish Grandeur, which features many photos from his career, including his 1932 feature role in “The Mask of Fu Manchu.”

“SAG first members: July 10: Group application for Guild membership signed by 17 SAG founders: Arthur Vinton, James Gleason, Lucile Webster Gleason, Clay Clement, Reginald Mason, Richard Tucker, Leon Waycoff [Ames], Charles Starrett, Ralph Morgan, Alan Mowbray, Claude King, Morgan Wallace, C. Aubrey Smith, Kenneth Thomson, Bradley Page, Willard Robertson, and Ivan Simpson. Alden Gay Thomson signs an individual application that someone dates “July 12″ in green felt tip pen.”  

Conclusion

The life and career of Charles Robert Starrett serves as a testament to the enduring impact that one person can have on the film industry. He was not just a talented actor but also a visionary who helped shape the future of the acting profession. Starrett will always be remembered as a pioneer of western cinema and a legend of the screen.