A Hollywood Western legend who mastered countless on-screen showdowns with outlaws and rustlers met his tragic end not from a gunfight, but from a rented bull on his own Tennessee farm.
Tennessee Native Returns Home After Hollywood Career
John Pickard built his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most reliable Western character actors after returning from World War II naval service. Born in Lascassas, Tennessee in 1913, Pickard began acting in the 1930s before the war interrupted his budding career. His Tennessee upbringing and authentic demeanor made him a natural fit for Western roles, leading to appearances in over 200 films and television episodes throughout his four-decade career.
Pickard’s filmography reads like a who’s who of Western entertainment, with memorable roles alongside John Wayne in three separate films. Television audiences knew him from recurring appearances on “Gunsmoke,” “Rawhide,” “The Virginian,” and numerous other Western series that dominated prime time during the genre’s golden age. Despite achieving Hollywood success, Pickard maintained strong ties to his Tennessee roots, keeping the family’s ancestral estate in Rutherford County.
Fatal Encounter During Family Gathering
August 4, 1993, began as a typical family gathering on Pickard’s Lascassas farm, where relatives had assembled for a picnic. The 80-year-old actor was enjoying retirement on the property where his family had lived for generations. The estate served as both a working farm and a gathering place for Pickard’s extended family, including his wife Ann, son John Pickard III, and grandchildren who survived him.
The bull involved in the fatal attack had been recently rented from a Smyrna family for breeding purposes, a common agricultural practice in rural Tennessee. Livestock breeding represented a practical aspect of farm management that Pickard understood well from his lifelong connection to rural life. The animal’s presence on the property was temporary and business-related, making the tragic encounter entirely unexpected during what should have been a peaceful family occasion.
Ironic End for Western Film Legend
The circumstances of Pickard’s death carry profound irony for an actor who spent decades portraying characters skilled in horsemanship and livestock handling. His Western roles often featured scenes with cattle drives, ranch work, and confrontations with dangerous animals, yet these fictional scenarios never prepared him for the real-world tragedy that ended his life. The contrast between his on-screen expertise and the fatal farm incident underscores the unpredictable nature of actual rural dangers versus cinematic portrayals.
Pickard was laid to rest in the family cemetery near his Lascassas home, completing a life cycle that began and ended on Tennessee soil despite his Hollywood achievements. His death represents a cautionary reminder about livestock safety, even for individuals with rural backgrounds and farming experience. The incident highlighted the inherent risks associated with large animals, particularly bulls, which remain unpredictable regardless of familiarity or precautions taken by their handlers.
Sources:
Harber’s History: Pickard Achieved Great Heights in Film – Rutherford County Historical Society