William “Bill” Boyd, known best for playing the famous Hopalong Cassidy, prided himself in setting good examples to all youngsters who watched him on television or on the big screen. However, he didn’t always follow that straight and narrow path.

When Boyd first entered the Hollywood spotlight, and celebrity status took hold, he did what many young, rich, good-looking actors of Hollywood did and still continue to do; he partied continuously with friends and spent lavishly with little regard to his future finances. It wasn’t until Boyd accepted the role of children's hero Hopalong Cassidy that he voluntarily changed his ways. When Boyd began playing the role, he changed the cowboy from a drinking, smoking, gambling, swearing gunslinger to a respectable hero who never swore, never drank, never smoked, and never started the fight. He also made some personal decisions as well. He figured if his character didn’t do any of these things, than he shouldn’t either.

Before becoming Hoppy, everything was working out fantastically for Bill until another actor who went by the name William Boyd entered the Hollywood scene and almost cost Bill his good name and image. This William Boyd was a mean drunk who liked to pick fights and was constantly in trouble for his quarrelsome behavior. Neither of the Boyd’s agreed to change their name, even though the press confused the two on a regular basis. Finally, to alleviate some of the confusion, Bill was listed as William “Bill” Boyd and the other was listed as William “Stage” Boyd, because he got his big break as a stage actor performing in New York.

One day newspapers across the country released a news article stating that William H. Boyd was charged with drug and alcohol possession, gambling equipment, and pornography. Since this occurred during the time of prohibition, alcohol was an illegal substance, as were roulette wheels, and any other gambling devices. The papers claimed that L.A. police raided the actor’s home during a night while he was throwing a wild party. One newspaper even reported that when Boyd answered the door he knocked the lead officer right to the ground. Men and women in attendance scattered throughout the house in an attempt to escape charges. Police were not concerned with those fleeing out windows and back doors, but they did arrest “Stage” Boyd, Pat O’Brian, an actor who frequently played the role of priests, and Walter Catlett, an actor who usually portrayed snobbish types. Needless to say, newspapers raced to the opportunity to expose Boyd’s naughty doings. Unfortunately for William “Bill” Boyd, they ran his picture by mistake with the headline, “Bill Boyd Held For Gambling” underneath. The mistake nearly cost Hoppy his career, not to mention his heroic reputation.