Johnny Carpenter (Jasper Carpenter; June 25, 1914 – February 27, 2003) was an American film actor, screenwriter and producer. He was known mostly for his work in Westerns and for his association with filmmaker Ed Wood. He used the stage names John, Johnny, Josh, and John Forbes.
Johnny began working in Hollywood in the mid-1940s, mostly in bit parts in B-Westerns. By 1950, Johnny had graduated to larger roles in films produced by Jack Schwarz, including Border Outlaws and Cattle Queen, his breakout film. He starred in several more B-westerns, all the while continuing to do stunt work in higher profile films.
From 1953 to 1956, Carpenter produced four movies independently; Son of the Renegade (1953), The Lawless Rider (1954), Outlaw Treasure (1955) and I Killed Wild Bill Hickok (1956). These four films have drawn comparisons between Carpenter and his friend Ed Wood, who actually helped produce The Lawless Rider and may have worked on Son of the Renegade, as well. Carpenter would also make a featured appearance in Wood's 1959 film, Night of the Ghouls.
By the 1960s, western film work had dried up and Carpenter's output decreased, with his last film role being in 1961's Tomboy and the Champ.
Besides his work in westerns, Carpenter had a great love of horses and tried to share his enthusiasm with all who cared. One way in which he spread his love of the outdoors was through his "Heaven on Earth" ranch. First located in Glendale, California (later moved Lake View Terrace), the ranch was available for handicapped children (mostly from Los Angeles) to come and spend a day with the horses and enjoy the mock western town that served as the ranch's backdrop. The ranch began in the mid-1940s and ran until Carpenter was evicted in 1994, having run for around fifty years.
Actor
1967
Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (TV Series) as
Walter Travis (1972) (as John Carpenter)
1961
The 7th Commandment as
Mike - Tent Meeting Worker (as John Carpenter)
1961
Tomboy and the Champ as
Fred Anderson (as John Carpenter)
1960
The Rifleman (TV Series) as
Stagecoach Driver
- Nora (1960) - Stagecoach Driver (as John Carpenter)
1960
Overland Trail (TV Series) as
Gus
- West of Boston (1960) - Gus (uncredited)
1959
Night of the Ghouls as
Captain Robbins (as John Carpenter)
1959
Death Valley Days (TV Series) as
Clown / Briggs / Soldier / ...
- Pioneer Circus (1959) - Clown
- Stagecoach Spy (1959) - Briggs
- Sailor on a Horse (1959) - Soldier (as John Carpenter)
- A Bullet for the Captain (1959) - Corporal Harrison (as John Carpenter)
1958
No Place to Land as
Lepley (as John Carpenter)
1958
Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series) as
Second Outlaw
- The Gambler (1958) - Second Outlaw (as John Forbes)
1958
Wild Heritage as
Trail Drive Cowhand (uncredited)
1958
26 Men (TV Series) - The Parrish Gang (1958)
1956
Judge Roy Bean (TV Series) as
Reno / Garth Davis / Bentril / ...
- Desperate Journey (1956) - Reno
- Vinegarone (1956) - Garth Davis (as John Carpenter)
- The Runaway (1956) - Bentril (as John Carpenter)
- The Horse Thief (1956) - Clint (uncredited)
- Slightly Prodigal (1956) - Sully (as John Carpenter)
- Murder in Langtry (1956) - Ted Sloan (as John Carpenter)
- Citizen Romeo (1956) - Henchman Bolger
- Black Jack (1956) - Sam Ketchum (as John Carpenter)
1956
I Killed Wild Bill Hickok as
Johnny Rebel (as John Forbes)
1956
Red Sundown as
Zellman Rider (uncredited)
1956
Backlash as
Rider (uncredited)
1956
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon (TV Series) as
Burrows
- Totem Treasure (1956) - Burrows (as John Carpenter)
1955
Outlaw Treasure as
Dan Parker / Dan Parker Jr. (as John Forbes)
1954
Adventures of the Texas Kid: Border Ambush as
Brock - Henchman (as John Carpenter)
1954
The Lawless Rider as
Johnny Carpenter / Rod Tatum
1953
Law and Order as
Sam--Lynch Mob Member Shot in Leg (uncredited)
1953
Son of the Renegade as
Red River Johnny (as John Carpenter)
1953
The Lone Hand as
Minor Role (uncredited)
1952
The Duel at Silver Creek as
Henchman (uncredited)
1951
Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (TV Series) as
Clayburn / Guard / Henchman Dave
- Ex-Convict Story (1951) - Clayburn
- Masked Riders (1951)
- Yellow Haired Kid (1951) - Guard
- Lady Mayor (1951) - Henchman Dave (as John Carpenter)
1951
Cave of Outlaws as
Whitey (uncredited)
1951
Cattle Queen as
The Tucson Kid (as John Carpenter)
1951
Iron Man as
Fight Crowd Spectator (uncredited)
1951
Badman's Gold as
Johnny Carpenter
1951
Up Front as
Military Policeman (uncredited)
1951
Target Unknown as
A.A.F. Flyer (uncredited)
1950
Border Outlaws as
Keller (as John Carpenter)
1950
Undercover Girl as
Police Inspector (uncredited)
1950
I Killed Geronimo as
Cavalryman (uncredited)
1950
Curtain Call at Cactus Creek as
Posse Man (uncredited)
1950
Comanche Territory as
Indian (uncredited)
1950
The Fighting Stallion as
Chuck (as John Carpenter)
1950
The Kid from Texas as
Henchman (uncredited)
1949
Red Canyon as
Townsman (uncredited)
1948
Sheriff of Medicine Bow as
Henchman (uncredited)
1948
Larceny as
Bidder (uncredited)
1948
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' as
Townsman (uncredited)
1948
Relentless as
Deputy Johnny - Posse Member (uncredited)
1947
Roses Are Red as
Reporter (uncredited)
1947
The Stranger from Ponca City as
Henchman Duke (uncredited)
1947
Song of the Wasteland as
Turner
1946
Colorado Serenade as
Henchman (uncredited)
1946
The El Paso Kid as
Express Guard (as John Carpenter)
1946
The Undercover Woman as
Mounted Deputy Bush (uncredited)
1946
Romance of the West as
Henchman (uncredited)
1945
Northwest Trail as
Henchman (uncredited)
1945
Song of Old Wyoming as
Buck - Cowhand (as John Carpenter)
1945
Trail of Kit Carson as
Posse Rider (uncredited)
1945
Santa Fe Saddlemates as
Mills (as Josh Carpenter)
1945
The Navajo Trail as
Steve (as Josh Carpenter)
1943
Thundering Trails as
Henchman (uncredited)
1935
Dante's Inferno as
Concessionaire (uncredited)
Stunts
1953
Law and Order (stunts - uncredited)
1952
The Duel at Silver Creek (stunts - uncredited)
1951
Cave of Outlaws (stunts - uncredited)
1951
Iron Man (stunts - uncredited)
1950
I Killed Geronimo (stunts - uncredited)
1950
The Kid from Texas (stunts - uncredited)
1946
The El Paso Kid (stunts - uncredited)
1944
National Velvet (horse-riding stunts - uncredited)
Writer
1956
I Killed Wild Bill Hickok (written by - as John Carpenter)
1955
Outlaw Treasure (original screenplay - as John Carpenter)
1954
The Lawless Rider (screenplay - as John Carpenter) / (story - as John Carpenter)
1953
Son of the Renegade (written by - as John Carpenter)
Producer
1956
I Killed Wild Bill Hickok (producer - as John Carpenter)
1955
Outlaw Treasure (producer - as John Carpenter)
1954
The Lawless Rider (producer - as John Carpenter)
1953
Son of the Renegade (producer - as John Carpenter)
1951
Cattle Queen (producer)
Soundtrack
1954
The Lawless Rider (writer: "Thinking of You")
Miscellaneous
1969
Five Bloody Graves (wrangler)
Self
1993
Hellborn (Video) as
Self (segment "Home Movie")
Archive Footage
1952
The Yellow Haired Kid as
Guard
