(105) BILL MURPHY THE REAL GI JOE DOLL!

William "Bill" Murphy, sometimes called "Red", who had been in a number of films where he played service men was the model for the famous GI Joe Doll!

Check out this IMBd database for Bill's filmography and you'll see what I mean about military roles. His acting career began in the 1940's and went on 30 years.

He was friends with Robert Mitchum, who had written a script especially for Elvis that Colonel Parker turned down, as well as the actor associated most with Westerns, John Wayne. He was a great friend to Elvis and me and the guys and a lot of fun to be around. Fashions come and go but Bill was most often dressed in Western clothing - black and a big black cowboy hat. If you looked at him cross eyed he'd come over and part your hair right quick.

Linking here to the IMBd database BILL MURPHY filmography

I can still see Bill dancing with all the women at the house parties. I can still see Bill wearing his big cowboy hat as we rode down to the Sunset Strip to hear Johnny Rivers play at the Whiskey.