Born Edmund Richard Gibson[1] in Tekamah, Nebraska on August 6, 1892, [2] he learned to ride a horse as a young boy.

[citation needed] Gibson's career was temporarily interrupted with service in the United States Army during World War I as a sergeant in the Tank Corps.

[5] When the war ended, he returned to the rodeo business and became good friends with Art Acord, a fellow cowboy and movie actor.

For several years, Gibson had secondary film roles (primarily in Westerns) with stars such as Harry Carey.

By 1921, the demand for cowboy pictures was so great, Gibson began receiving offers for leading roles.

Some of these offers came from up-and-coming film director John Ford, with whom Gibson developed a lasting friendship and working relationship.

By the 1950s, Gibson faced financial ruin, in part due to costly medical bills from serious health problems.

[13][14] In 1960, for his contribution to film, Gibson was inducted to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was honored with a star at 1765 Vine Street in the Motion Pictures section.