The Late Glen Campbell’s Roll in 1969’s True Grit

The late singer and entertainer Glen Campbell made his mark on Westerns when he starred as Texas Ranger La Boeuf in 1969’s “True Grit.”   Director Henry Hathaway later groused that he’d been forced to hire Campbell to capitalize on his popularity and to get a hit theme song recorded. Hathaway thought Campbell’s performance was wooden.

Campbell actually appeared (briefly) in two movies and a TV drama prior to his starring turn.  But later he joked, “I’d never acted in a movie before, and every time I see True Grit I think my record’s still clean!”