In westerns, the popular image of a villain was a fat mustachioed saloon
owner grinning over the barrel of a six-gun. In
a great many westerns, Charley King was that saloon owner and the man who
got the story moving. Texas-born Charley played heroes in "Strawberry
Roan," starring Ken Maynard, and "The Adventures of Sir Galahad," starring
George Reeves, but preferred villain roles. They were better drawn and much
more interesting to audiences than heroes, he said. Charley played
villains in more than 200 pictures and never got the big buildup studios
gave actors playing heroes. That was the fly in the buttermilk. If
he had gotten the big buildup or at least been more of a squeaky wheel, his
career would have lasted longer than those studios. A fact that should
have at least raised some eyebrows was the role Charley and Bob Steele played
in shaping the fighting style of heavyweight champ Joe Louis. The champ
said many times that the realistic on-screen fights between Charley and Bob
were a big influence. When television moved center stage, B-westerns and serials became time fillers on shows hosted by station announcers. A Cowboy Slim or a Sheriff John entertained the kids now at home. Saturday matinee favorites were forced to look for other work. Kane Richmond opened a clothing store. Leo Gorcey became Frank Sinatra's personal pilot. Pierce Lyden went to work at Disneyland. Charley, Kermit Maynard, Hoot Gibson, and others became extras. Charley's last appearance was as a corpse in an episode of Gunsmoke. He was "damn lucky to get that job," he said. "After 30 years in this business, I can't get a producer or director to talk to me. I don't understand it."