Kermit Maynard

Born in Vevay, Indiana, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Maynard{{cite news|title=Visit Sons in Movie Studios at Hollywood|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16128217/kermit_maynard/|work=The Republic|date=April 7, 1927|location=Indiana, Columbus|page=15|via = Newspapers.com|access-date= December 30, 2017}} {{Open access}} and a lookalike younger brother of actor Ken Maynard; they were frequently assumed to be identical twins.{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}}

Maynard was a 1916 graduate of Columbus High School in Columbus, Indiana.{{cite news|title=Graduates Are Ready To Quit|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16103040/kermit_maynard/|work=The Republic|date=May 24, 1919|location=Indiana, Columbus|page=1|via = Newspapers.com|access-date= December 30, 2017}} {{Open access}} He graduated with a degree in engineering from Indiana University{{cite book|last1=Katchmer|first1=George A.|title=A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses|date=2009|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9781476609058|page=240|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VnGeCQAAQBAJ&q=%22Kermit+Maynard%22&pg=PA240|access-date=December 30, 2017|language=en}} and played college football as a lineman for the Indiana Hoosiers in the early 1920s. While at the university, he lettered in three sports in one year.{{cite news|title=Kermit Maynard in Movies at Hollywood|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16103253/kermit_maynard/|work=The Republic|date=June 22, 1926|location=Indiana, Columbus|page=6|via = Newspapers.com|access-date= December 30, 2017}} {{Open access}}

After he finished college, Maynard worked as a claims agent for the George H. Hormel Meat Packing Company. Maynard also competed as a rider in rodeo competition. In 1933, he won a Pacific Coast trick-riding championship in the Pendleton Round-Up.{{cite news|title=Riding Crown of Kermit Maynard to Go Undefended|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16128580/kermit_maynard/|work=The Los Angeles Times|date=August 27, 1934|location=California, Los Angeles|page=5|via = Newspapers.com|access-date= December 30, 2017}} {{Open access}} Early in his career, promoters disdained Maynard's given name of Kermit and marketed him as "Tex Maynard."

From 1935 to 1937 Kermit Maynard starred in films produced by Ambassador Pictures, which producer Maurice Conn established in 1934. He starred in 18 Ambassador films, the last one being Roaring Six Guns.

Unlike his more famous brother Ken Maynard, who was often argumentative and difficult to work with, the mild-mannered and more agreeable Kermit Maynard continued to work steadily in pictures,{{cite book|last1=Pitts|first1=Michael R.|title=Poverty Row Studios, 1929–1940: An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies, with a Filmography for Each|date=2005|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9781476610368|pages=29–32|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F8OSCgAAQBAJ&q=%22Kermit+Maynard%22&pg=PA31|access-date=December 30, 2017|language=en}} appearing in the supporting casts of dozens of westerns, serials, Hollywood features, and TV episodes through 1962. When producers would cast multiple cowboy stars in a single feature, Kermit Maynard joined the posse in Trail of Robin Hood and Once Upon a Horse.

On January 16, 1971, Maynard died at his home in North Hollywood, California, from a heart attack. He was 72 years old.{{cite news|title=Film Actor Kermit Maynard, 72, Dies|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16129118/kermit_maynard/|work=The Republic|date=January 20, 1971|location=Indiana, Columbus|page=1|via = Newspapers.com|access-date= December 30, 2017}} {{Open access}} Survivors included his wife and a son.{{cite news|title=Maynard|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16129201/kermit_maynard/|work=The Republic|date=January 20, 1971|location=Indiana, Columbus|page=2|via = Newspapers.com|access-date= December 30, 2017}} {{Open access}}

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• {{imdb name|id=0562771}}
• {{Find a Grave|6243}}

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Category:1897 births

Category:1971 deaths

Category:Male actors from Indiana

Category:American male film actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:Burials at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery

Category:Indiana Hoosiers football players

Category:American stunt performers

Category:Male Western (genre) film actors

Category:20th-century American male actors

Category:People from Vevay, Indiana