[2] In 27 films,[3][self-published source] he played Lucky Jenkins,[2] one of a trio of heroes in the Cassidy Westerns starring William Boyd.

In 1946, he joined Robert L. Lippert's Screen Guild Productions, and played a country parson in the harness racing drama Rolling Home.

In 1948 Hayden teamed with another Hopalong Cassidy alumnus, James Ellison (as "Lucky" and "Shamrock") in a series of Western features for Lippert.

In the 1952–1953 season, Hayden teamed with former child star Jackie Coogan in the 39-episode syndicated series Cowboy G-Men.

Hayden was married from 1938 to 1943 to actress Jan Clayton, who was later cast as the first mother on the Lassie television series on CBS.