American character actor of Westerns, also a figure in country-western music. Raised in Oklahoma where he spent his youth as a cowhand, Wooley's musical ability led to radio work and subsequently movies. He played minor supporting roles for a dozen years starting in 1950, including one of the villains of 'High Noon' (1952). In 1958, he had a giant hit record with his own song 'The Purple People Eater', and he followed it with a string of similar humorous country ditties, often recorded under ...[Read Story]