Ron Oxley(1939-1985)

Ronald Oxley was born in Colorado. He was raised in Burbank, California where he later attended California Polytechnic University. He trained the black bear Bruno, the original Gentle Ben, and dozens of lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, bears and wolves. Carol Riggins was their caretaker whenever he was out of town. His carnivorous exotic animals worked in television and motion pictures including "Greatest Heroes of the Bible", ''Cat People," "Ladyhawke," "Continental Divide," "Escape to Witch Mountain" and "Adventures of the Wilderness Family." His first project was "Black Zoo". In 1983, his African lion, Neil, was the recipient of a Patsy award from the American Humane Society. Oxley was a confirmed bachelor. He passed away at age forty-six in his sleep on December 22, 1985 at the Acton ranch. His parents and two sisters were with him at the time of his passing.