Handsome American leading man who developed into one of Hollywood's greatest and most popular Western stars. Born to George and Lucy Crane Scott during a visit to Virginia, Scott was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina in a wealthy family. After service with the U.S. Army in France in World War I, he attended Georgia Institute of Technology but, after being injured playing football, transferred to the University of North Carolina, from which he graduated with a degree in textile engineering and manufacturing. He discovered acting and went to California, where he met 'Howard Hughes , Scott retired from films. A multimillionaire as a result of canny investments, Scott spent his remaining years playing golf and avoiding film industry affairs, stating that he didn't like publicity. He died in 1987 survived by his second wife, Patricia Stillman, and his two adopted children, Christopher and Sandra. He is buried in Charlotte, North Carolina.
From 1932-44 he lived with Cary Grant in a beach house known jocularly as Bachelor Hall. The close friendship between Scott and Grant and the steady stream of women into and out of Bachelor Hall fed rumor mills for years. Many believed that Grant and Scott were lovers, and the women were arranged by the film studios for public effect.
Rode a beautiful blond sorrel horse named Stardust in many of his westerns.
Best friends were Cary Grant , Fred Astaire , and the Rev. Billy Graham.
Interred at Elmwood Cemetery, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, just four blocks from his boyhood home at 312 W. 10th Street.
Was the inspiration for the popular 1973 song "Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott?," a top-20 country hit for the The Statler Brothers.
Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1975.
Remained close friends with Cary Grant until the day he died. When he heard of his old friends death, he reportedly put his head in his hands and wept. He himself would die a little over 2 months afterwards.
His image from his Westerns as an upright, outstanding sheriff or cowboy was so strong that it was paid homage to in Mel Brooks classic comedy Blazing Saddles . When the African-American sheriff asks the reluctant townspeople for their help in fighting the bad guys, they unanimously reject him. However, when he says, "Youd do it for Randolph Scott!", a heavenly chorus in the background sings "Randolph Scott!", and the townspeople change their minds.
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 764-766. New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 1999.
He was a conservative Republican and one of Hollywoods biggest supporters of Ronald Reagan as governor of California.
Due to his shrewd financial investments, he was reportedly worth around $100 million by the end of his life.
From 1950-53 he was among Hollywoods Top 10 box-office draws.
He was very ill with a weak heart and breathing problems in the final years of his life, and was hospitalized several times with pneumonia.
Retired from acting at the age of 64 after the Sam Peckinpah western Ride the High Country , stating that movie acting no longer interested him.
Campaigned for Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election, and attended the Republican National Convention.
During the early 1950s he was a consistent box-office draw. In the annual Motion Picture Herald Top Ten Polls, he ranked tenth in 1950, eighth in 1951 and again tenth in 1952.
Scott served in France in World War I with the 2nd Trench Mortar Battalion, 19th Field Artillery.
Playing golf with Howard Hughes got him his first movie job as an extra on a silent film with George OBrien and Lois Moran.
He was hired by Victor Fleming to coach Gary Cooper on speaking with a Virginia accent for The Virginian .
Lupe Velez claimed in 1932 that she was going to marry Scott but changed her mind. Scott denied this, saying he only saw her once at the Brown Derby.
In 1965 Mike Connolly reported that Scott was one of the wealthiest actors in the world with real estate holdings in San Fernando and Palm Springs alone worth over $100 million.
He was scheduled to co-star once again with friend Cary Grant in Spawn of the North , but salacious rumors about the two caused Paramount to replace them with Henry Fonda and George Raft. Shortly after completing his Paramount contract Scott opted not to resign and instead moved to Fox.
According to his adopted son Chris Scott in his book about his father, Randolph Scott wore a hearing aid during the last years of his life.
Was Margaret Mitchell s choice to play Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind .
His face is rumored to be the model for the Oakland Raiders logo.
Scott did not father any children, although he and his second wife adopted two children in 1950.
Father-in-law of Rocky Bivens.
Father of LaTocha Scott , and Tamika Scott.
[about Westerns] They have been the mainstay of the industry ever since,its beginning. And they have been good to me. Westerns are a type of,picture which everybody can see and enjoy. Westerns always make money.
I had always been a fatalist about my career. What was to be was to be.
