Frank Matts; Actor, Rancher

Frank Matts, who played a villain on television’s “The Cisco Kid” and operated several ranches in the San Fernando Valley, has died in a Van Nuys nursing home. He was 70.

Matts died Wednesday of complications of pneumonia, his wife, Dorothy Matts, said.

Born April 7, 1920, in San Luis Obispo, Matts was a rodeo champion who gave riding lessons to U.S. Army officers.

In the late 1930s, he came to Los Angeles and began performing film stunt work and doubling, which eventually lead to acting.

He regularly played a villain called Black Jack Matts in the ‘50s TV series “The Cisco Kid” and toured the country for seven years, appearing at fairs and rodeos with actor Duncan Renaldo, who played the Cisco Kid.

A longtime member of the Screen Actors Guild and the Screen Extras Guild, Matts appeared in several films, including “Red River” (1948), “Gypsy Colt” (1954) and “Escape From Fort Bravo” (1953).

Matts’ San Fernando Valley ranches boarded horses and supplied them to film studios.

He is survived by his wife of five years; son Monty Matts of San Luis Obispo; stepfather Robert Schyler of Middletown, Calif.; and four grandchildren.

A funeral is scheduled at 11 a.m. today at Chapel of the Oaks at Oakwood Memorial Park, 22601 Lassen St. in Chatsworth, with burial to follow.

Gates, Kingsley & Gates Mortuary in Canoga Park is handling the arrangements.

Donations can be sent in Matts’ name to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Assn.