Dick Botiller and Carl Sepulveda

Dick Botiller specialized in portraying Indians, Mexicans and natives in westerns, serials and an occasional A grade film. His career spanned about twenty years, from about 1932-1952, and many of his roles were uncredited. The film companies seemed to have a problem with Botiller's last name. If he received credit in the opening or closing titles, the name Botiller was often mangled/misspelled.

There were rare occasions when he landed a substantial role with some screen time and dialog. Examples: Botiller is moustached henchman "Zutta" in the RADIO PATROL (Universal, 1937) cliffhanger; he's the local sheriff in Charles Starrett's THE RETURN OF THE DURANGO KID (Columbia, 1945); and he's the main helper to good badman Noah Beery Sr. in one of Gene Autry's best, MEXICALI ROSE (Republic, 1939).

Prior to Hollywood, Botiller had many jobs including ownership of the New Method Shoe Shop in Ventura, California during the 1920s - early 1930s (see the census info below).

The March 26, 1953 Ventura County (California) Star-Free Press newspaper had a funeral notice for former Ventura, California resident Richard Botiller, who died March 24, 1953 at Inyokern, California. Survivors were two sisters and two brothers. (Inyokern is located in Kern County, California, near the Inyo County border ... hence the name.)

The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), newspapers, and the California Death Index have more on Dick Botiller:

1910 census - Richard Botiller is about 12 years of age (born about 1898) and is listed as "Ward" and living in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California. He is one of many children at the St. Francis Orphanage, Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVG5-F4N
World War I draft registration for Richard Edward Botiller, born October 12, 1896 in Ventura, California. He's working at the Ventura Laundry Co. in Ventura, California and his contact is mother Ellen Botiller in Saint Maria, California: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-26255-8171-88?cc=1968530&wc=MM18-JNC:48367991
Veterans Administration Master Index record for Richard Edward Botiller. He was born October 12, 1896 and lived in Ventura, California. Branch of service is "Ck Sup Co 47 FA", and he served from September 3, 1918 to February 3, 1919. Guessing that FA is Field Artillery: https://www.familysearch.org/search/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZN-TLG8
1920 census - Richard Botiller is a roomer living with the Stanchfield family in Ventura, Ventura County, California. Born about 1897 in California, Botiller is single. Occupation of Botiller and 22 year old Evan Stanchfield are "Part owner - shoe repair": https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHHW-7V9
Ad for Dick Botiller's New Method Shoe Shop in Ventura, California in the March 5, 1924 issue of the Ventura County Star and Ventura Daily Post newspaper: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81015682/in-the-1920s-actor-dick-botiller-owned/
1930 census - Richard E. Botiller is one of several roomers living in San Buenaventura, Ventura County, California. Born about 1897 in California; occupation is "Proprietor - Shoe Store"; and Botiller lists himself as married, but his wife is not with him. He also says "No" to the are you a veteran question: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCJN-8C5
1942 World War II draft registration - Richard Edward C. Botiller reports his birth date and location as October 12, 1896 in Ventura, California. He is living at 1802 North Wilton in Hollywood, and his occupation is "Freelance Actor - Various Studios". His contact is Mrs. Mamie Sumpter, 1802 North Wilton in Hollywood: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16387-46852-12?cc=1861144&wc=MMRW-1T7:n1710698885
California Death Index has a record for Richard Edward Botiller, born October 12, 1896 in California, Mother's maiden name of Barnes, and he passed away on March 24, 1953 in the Kern, California area: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPZK-S72
Funeral notice for Dick Botiller in the March 26, 1953 Ventura County (California) Star-Free Press newspaper: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81015501/funeral-notice-for-actor-dick-botiller/
Find A Grave has a record for Botiller, but no location or other info on his interment: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78426235/dick-botiller

Ancestry.com has a few family trees created by Botiller family members. They have Richard Edward Botiller born October 12, 1896 in Ventura, California; parents were Joaquin Botiller and Ellen Barnes; and he passed away on March 24, 1953 in Ridgecrest, Kern County, California. However, the funeral notice above has him passing in Inyokern, Kern County, California.

Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Dick Botiller: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0098553/

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above from left to right are Philo McCullough, Dick Botiller (with his trademark hat) and Claude Payton in THUNDER OVER TEXAS (Beacon, 1934) which starred Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams.

(Courtesy of Jack Jones)

From L-to-R are Jack Jones, Jack's wife Katharine 'Kitty' Jones, a moustached Dick Botiller, John McGuire and Chuck Baldra in a staged publicity still from a Reb Russell oater, possibly OUTLAW RULE (Willis Kent, 1935). Kitty wasn't the heroine - she subbed for the leading lady who couldn't make the photo shoot. (If this still is from OUTLAW RULE, the heroine would be Betty Mack.)

(From Old Corral collection)

From L-to-R are Reb Russell, Yvonne Pelletier, Fred Kohler, and Dick Botiller in LIGHTNING TRIGGERS (Willis Kent, 1935), Reb's last film.

(From Old Corral collection)

Above from left to right are Steve Clark, Dick Botiller and Rex Bell in a lobby card and a crop/blowup from Bell's WEST OF NEVADA (Colony, 1936).

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

L-to-R in the foreground are Dick Botiller, Carlyle Moore, Jr., Iron Eyes Cody and Dick Foran. There are several unidentifieds in the background. However, the only Native American appears to be Artie Ortego, who is directly behind Foran's left shoulder. Scene from TREACHERY RIDES THE RANGE (Warners, 1936).

Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Carl Sepulveda: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0784689/

Tall and thin - and sometimes sporting a moustache - Carl Sepulveda was generally the fourth or fifth henchman or a posse member, townsman, etc., and his film work was generally uncredited. He had a few movie roles in the late 1920s, and then came a break. He was back doing films circa 1938 and continued into the early 1950s, including work in some TV shows.

Sepulveda's screen appearances weren't enough to keep groceries on the table. There had to be some other job(s) that supplemented his meager Hollywood paydays. In their Best Of The Badmen book, authors Boyd Magers, Bob Nareau and Bobby Copeland note that Sepulveda was employed as a construction worker in his later years.

Sepulveda resided at the El Camino Convalescent Hospital, Carmichael, Sacramento County, California for about two years for hypertensive vascular disease, and passed away there from heart failure on August 24, 1974.

The Family Search website, death certificate and California Death Index have information on Carl Sepulveda:

1900 census for the large Sepulveda family in Elko, Nevada. There are six children - five boys and a daughter - and three year old Carl is the youngest and was born in Utah: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMB3-FJN
Carl's first wife was Grace Barnett and they were married on October 5, 1916 in Salt Lake, Utah: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8GS-T8H
World War I draft registration dated June 5, 1917 in Elko County, Nevada - 21 year old Carl Sepulveda was born February 5, 1896 in Ely, Nevada. He is married with a wife and one child; employed in "Farm Labor" for the "Nevada Land and ??? Stock Co." in Deeth, Nevada: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-26275-29531-21?cc=1968530
1940 census - 42 year old Carl Sepulveda and his second wife, 28 year old wife Kathleen, reside in the Los Angeles area. Carl reports that he was born in Nevada and lived in/near Elko, Nevada in 1935: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9H2-XDJ
1940 census takers worksheet - Carl and Kathleen own their home at 10833 Otsego, Los Angeles. Carl's occupation is "Free-lance actor - Motion Pictures", and in 1939, he worked 26 weeks and earned $2500.00: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-27797-1976-46?cc=2000219&wc=MMYH-FDH:n1905675900
1942 World War II draft registration (with some notations) - Carl's birth date and location is listed as February 5, 1898 and Ely, Nevada. However, there's a correction at the top of the registration card: "Birth date should be Feb 3, 1897 - Verified 8/15/42". He is living at 7700 Kester St. in Van Nuys, California and his occupation is "Free lance actor - Studios in Hollywood, Cal". Wife Kathleen is not his contact. His contact is older brother Ira B. Sepulveda, General Delivery, Elko, Nevada: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16370-2262-15?cc=1861144&wc=MMRW-1VX:1161935127
Death certificate; 77 year old Carl Sepulveda was born February 5, 1897 in Utah; parents were Alex Sepulveda (born Spain) and Louisa Teeples (born Utah); he was widowed; and his occupation was "Construction Worker - Construction". He resided at the El Camino Convalescent Hospital, Carmichael, Sacramento County, California for about two years for hypertensive vascular disease, and passed away there from heart failure on August 24, 1974. Chapel of Flowers, Red Bluff, California was the funeral director and burial at Oak Hill Cemetery, Red Bluff, California.
The California Death Index and the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) have records for: Carl Sepulveda, born February 5, 1897, and he passed away on August 24, 1974 in the Sacramento, California area:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPHG-4D2
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JG92-W4C

Ancestry.com has a few family trees created by Sepulveda family members. They have his full name as Carl Duane Sepulveda; parents were Alexander Serbulo Sepulveda and Louisa Teeples; and he passed away August 24, 1974 in Carmichael, Sacramento County, California.