Kirby
Grant, real name Kirby Grant Hoon Jr., was born on November 24, 1911, in Butte,
Montana. A long-time B-movie actor, Grant is remembered mostly today as playing
the title role in the television series Sky King.He began playing cowboys and mounties in films starting in the 1930s,over 50 in all. His second movie was "Red River Range" with John Wayne and Crash Corrigan.
Until 1945 he used the name "Robert Stanton." That name was also used by actor Robert "Bob" Haymes.
In 1951 he took the role of Schuyler (Sky) King. The show was filmed in black-and-white during three periods as sponsors changed: 1951-52, 1955-56 and 1957-62. It continued in syndication for years afterward and Grant became an icon to the aviation community.
In it Grant played Arizona rancher-pilot Sky King, who fought bad guys and rescued people in trouble using his airplane. In real life Grant was a pilot and in the first few years the series used Grant's personal plane.
In the series the plane was named the "Songbird." Sky King's ranch was named the "Flying Crown."
Grant did little acting after the show ended although he and co-star Gloria Winters were in demand for personal appearances at fairs and aviation events. He also traveled with the Carson and Barnes circus from 1967-70. Grant retired that year.
Grant and his wife, Carolyn, had three children. In the early 1970s they moved to Florida from California.
The couple founded the nonprofit Sky King Youth Ranches of America, which provided homes for underpriveledged kids. He had plans to resurrect the Sky King series with the Flying Crown Ranch becoming a home for underpriveledged kids and telling their stories, but it never materialized.
Grant died in a car accident on October 30, 1985, near Titusville, Florida. He was on his way to watch the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger at Cape Canaveral, where he was also to be honored by the astronauts for encouraging aviation and space flight. He was 73.
Yukon Vengeance (1954) .... Cpl. Rod Webb, RCMP
Champs of the Chase (1954) (scenes deleted)
Northern Patrol (1953) .... Cpl. Rod Webb, RCMP
Fangs of the Arctic (1953) .... RCMP Corporal Rod Webb
Yukon Gold (1952) .... RCMP Cpl. Rod Webb
Northwest Territory (1951) .... Cpl. Rod Webb
"Sky King" (1951) TV Series .... Schuyler (Sky) King
Comin' Round the Mountain (1951) .... Clark Winfield
Yukon Manhunt (1951) .... Cpl. Rod Webb
Rhythm Inn (1951) .... Dusty Rhodes
Call of the Klondike (1950) .... Cpl. Rod Webb
Dial 1119 (1950) (uncredited) .... Reporter
... aka The Violent Hour (UK)
Indian Territory (1950) .... Lt. Randy Mason
Snow Dog (1950) .... Corporal Rod Webb, RCMP
Feudin' Rhythm (1949) .... Ace Lucky
... aka Ace Lucky (UK)
The Wolf Hunters (1949) .... Rod
Black Midnight (1949) .... Sheriff Gilbert
Trail of the Yukon (1949) .... Bob McDonald, RCMP
Singin' Spurs (1948)
Song of Idaho (1948) .... King Russell
Rustler's Round-Up (1946) .... Bob Ryan
... aka Rustler's Hideout (USA: TV title)
Lawless Breed (1946) .... Ted Everett
... aka Lawless Clan (USA)
Sing While You Dance (1946) (as Robert Stanton) .... Johnny Crane
Gun Town (1946) .... Kip Lewis
She Wrote the Book (1946) .... Eddie Caldwell
Gunman's Code (1946) .... Jack Douglas
The Spider Woman Strikes Back (1946) .... Hal Wentley
Code of the Lawless (1945) .... Grant 'Tex' Carter
Bad Men of the Border (1945) .... Deputy Marshal Ted Cameron
Easy to Look at (1945) .... Tyler
Penthouse Rhythm (1945) .... Dick Ryan, Junior's Lawyer
The Blonde From Brooklyn (1945) (as Richard Stanton) .... Dixon Harper
Trail to Vengeance (1945) .... Jeff Gordon
... aka Vengeance (UK)
I'll Remember April (1945) .... Dave Ball
Babes on Swing Street (1944) .... Dick Lorimer
In Society (1944) .... Peter Evans
... aka Abbott and Costello in Society
Ghost Catchers (1944) .... Clay Edwards (orchestra leader)
Law Men (1944) .... Clyde Miller
Rosie the Riveter (1944) (uncredited) .... 'Rosie the Riveter' singer at Award
Presentation
... aka In Rosie's Room
Hi, Good Lookin'! (1944) .... King Castle
Chip Off the Old Block (1944) (uncredited) .... Member, Jivin' Jacks
Destination Tokyo (1943) (uncredited) .... Hornet's Captain
The Stranger From Pecos (1943) .... Tom Barstow
Bombardier (1943) (uncredited) .... Pilot
Hello Frisco, Hello (1943) .... Specialty singer
My Favorite Blonde (1942) (uncredited) .... Pilot
Dr. Kildare's Victory (1942) (uncredited) .... Young Man Upset at Accident
... aka The Doctor and the Debutante (UK)
Blondie Goes Latin (1941) .... Hal Trent, Orchestra Leader
... aka Conga Swing (UK)
Bullet Code (1940) (as Robert Stanton) .... Bud Mathews
Millionaire Playboy (1940) (uncredited) .... Bill, Highway Patrol Officer
... aka Glamour Boy (UK)
The Marines Fly High (1940) (as Robert Stanton) .... Lt. Bob Hobbes
Mexican Spitfire (1940) (uncredited) .... Airline Clerk
Three Sons (1939) (as Robert Stanton) .... Bert Pardway
Red River Range (1938) .... Tex Reilly
Lawless Valley (1938) (uncredited) .... Ranch hand
In Old Chicago (1937) (uncredited) .... Moustached Quartette Member, Old Virginny
Number
I Dream Too Much (1935) (uncredited) .... Violinist-Quartet Singer
Grant was buried at Missoula, Montana.
