Ron Oxley

Ronald Oxley was born in Colorado. He was raised in Burbank, California. He trained the black bear Bruno, the original Gentle Ben, and dozens of lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, bears and wolves. His animals worked in television and motion pictures including ''Cat People," "Ladyhawke," "Continental Divide," "Escape to Witch Mountain" and "Adventures of the Wilderness Family." In 1983, his lion Neil was the recipient of a Patsy award from the American Humane Society. continue to care for the animals at the ranch. Oxley was never married. He passed away at age 46 in his sleep Dec. 22, 1985 at the Acton ranch. His parents and two sisters were with him at the time.