Art Mix on AllMovie

The Illinois-born, Canadian-reared George Kesterson was a boxer and circus trick rider before turning to Hollywood in the early '20s. In the silent era, he appeared first under his real name, then as Art Mix, the invention of Poverty Row producer/director Victor Adamson (aka Denver Dixon). Kesterson insisted on being billed Art Mix even after a falling out with Adamson/Dixon, for a while appearing under the alias concurrently with Dixon himself and rodeo rider Bob Roberts. Dixon reportedly sued him and he was Colonel Art Smith in at least one film, 1932's Mason of the Mounted. The dispute was settled out of court and Kesterson would appear as Art Mix for the remainder of his career. Under any name, the balding, slightly paunchy Kesterson usually played a good guy, often a deputy or Cattlemen's Association detective, and was easily recognizable for his white Stetson, the tallest in the business. He retired from the screen in the early '50s. Kesterson/Mix was married to Cuban-born silent screen actress Inez Gomez, who supported him in such films as West of the Rockies (1929).