Hank Worden; Western Actor

Hank Worden, veteran Western character actor who appeared in 116 feature films from Cecil B. De Mille’s “The Plainsman” in 1936 to Paul Hogan’s “Almost An Angel” in 1990, has died. He was 91.

Worden, who appeared in 15 John Wayne films including “Red River” and “Big Jake,” died in his sleep in his Brentwood home Sunday.

The stalwart Worden was perhaps best remembered by contemporary audiences as “the world’s most decrepit room-service waiter” on the television series “Twin Peaks.” His best-known role throughout his 62-year film career was perhaps as Mose Harper, the spectral fool in John Ford’s classic film, “The Searchers.”

Born Norton Earl Worden in Rolfe, Iowa, Worden grew up on a ranch in Montana and attended Stanford University and the University of Nevada. He began performing as a bronco rider on the rodeo circuit.

He and his roommate, Tex Ritter, were chosen to play cowhands in the Broadway show “Green Grow the Lilacs” in 1930. That eventually led to his role in “The Plainsman.”

Worden was cast frequently as sidekick to Ritter in B Westerns of the 1930s. In later years he appeared in Clint Eastwood action films such as “Every Which Way but Loose” and “Bronco Billy.”

On stage, Worden appeared in Los Angeles in “My Mother’s Husband,” “Let Us Be Gay,” and “The Petrified Forest.”

In television, he made guest appearances in such series as “The Lone Ranger” and “Bonanza.” His last performance was in the final episode of the short-lived series “Cop Rock.”

Survivors include his daughter and a grandson.

Services are scheduled at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Forest Lawn, Glendale. The eulogy will be delivered by Worden’s friend and fellow Western actor Pat Buttram.