AKA Shelby F. Wooley

Born: 10-Apr-1921
Birthplace: Erick, OK
Died: 17-Sep-2003
Location of death: Nashville, TN [1]
Cause of death: Cancer - Leukemia
Remains: Buried, Hendersonville Memory Gardens, Hendersonville, TN

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Actor, Singer

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: The Purple People Eater

Known for 1958's number-one hit (six weeks) The Purple People Eater ("It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eater") and the theme for Hee-Haw. He also worked as a sound extra for the 1951 movie Distant Drums, and is believed to be the voice of that movie's "Wilhelm Scream", a memorable howl from a minor character named "Private Wilhelm" as he was shot by an arrow. The scream has been recycled as a stock sound effect in hundreds of movies from Them! to The Green Berets to Inglourious Basterds.

    TELEVISION
    Rawhide Pete Nolan (scout, 1959-62 and 1965)
    Hee Haw Regular

    FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
    Purple People Eater (Dec-1988)
    Hoosiers (14-Nov-1986) · Cletus
    Uphill All the Way (Jan-1986)
    Silverado (10-Jul-1985) · Cavalry Sergeant
    The Dollmaker (13-May-1984)
    The Outlaw Josey Wales (30-Jun-1976)
    The War Wagon (27-May-1967) · Snyder
    Hootenanny Hoot (Aug-1963) · Himself
    Trooper Hook (12-Jul-1957) · Cooter Brown
    The Man with a Whip (Dec-1956)
    Giant (10-Oct-1956) · Gabe Target
    The Second Greatest Sex (Oct-1955)
    Man Without a Star (24-Mar-1955)
    The Boy from Oklahoma (27-Feb-1954)
    Sky Full of Moon (12-Dec-1952) · Balladeer [VOICE]
    Cattle Town (6-Sep-1952)
    Hellgate (5-Sep-1952) · Neill Price
    High Noon (7-Jul-1952) · Ben Miller
    Little Big Horn (15-Jun-1951)
    Rocky Mountain (3-Nov-1950)

Official Website:
http://www.shebwooley.com/

Copyright ©2026