Red West

Red West
Born
Robert Gene West

(1936-03-20)March 20, 1936
DiedJuly 20, 2017(2017-07-20) (aged 81)
Occupation(s)Actor, stunt performer, songwriter
Years active1959-2015
SpousePat Boyd (1961-2017)
Children2

Robert Gene "Red" West (March 20, 1936 – July 18, 2017) was an American actor, movie stuntman and songwriter. He was probably best known to American movie audiences for his role as Red in Road House, alongside Patrick Swayze. Recently, he appeared as Roger in the 2013 drama movie Safe Haven.

West was born in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] His cousin was Sonny West, the bodyguard of Elvis Presley.[2] He studied at Jones County Junior College. In 1961, he married Pat Boyd. West and Presley were very close friends and worked with Presley during his tours.[3]

West was fired by Presley and later helped write the book Elvis: What Happened?, which was published weeks before Presley's death.[4] The book, according to West in the book, was an attempt to help Presley, but believed by some to be an attempt to retaliate and earn an income after being fired. Presley offered the publisher of the book $1,000,000 ($1million) to stop printing the book.[5]

Wets died of an aortic aneurysm in Memphis, Tennessee on July 18, 2017, aged 81.[6]

References

  1. "Red West profile". Filmreference.com. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  2. "Interview with Sonny West". www.elvis.com.au. Official Elvis Presley Fan Club.
  3. vasil nace (5 November 2011). "ELVIS What Happened Fan Made Trailer" – via YouTube.
  4. "Interview with Red West". Elvis.com. May 29, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  5. "Red West, Longtime Elvis Confidant, Dies at 81". Chicago Tribune. July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  6. Beifuss, John (July 19, 2017). "Red West, Elvis friend and actor, is dead". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved July 19, 2017.

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