Who played the title sharp-shooter in the 1950s U.S. TV western series "Annie Oakley"?

The individual who played the title sharp-shooter in the 1950s U.S. TV western series "Annie Oakley" was Gail Davis. In the role of Oakley, Davis was seen as a gun-toting, pig-tailed ranch owner. She has a persona which included being a skilled rider and a crack shot with a gun.

The show, the first western to star a woman, ran for three years (1954–1957) and continued on into the '60s in reruns. It was produced by Gene Autry, Armand Schaefer, Louis Gray, and Colbert Clark. The show's 81 black-and-white episodes were distributed by CBS Television. Besides starring Gail Davis as Annie Oakley, the series featured Brad Johnson in the role of Deputy Sheriff Lofty Craig and Jimmy Hawkins as Annie's little brother, Tagg Oakley.

Born in McGhee near Little Rock, Arkansas in October 1925, Davis at age 2 was named the most 'beautiful baby' in Arkansas. She later as a young individual attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied drama and dance. In 1947, she made her motion picture debut in a comedy short film. She would subsequently get minor roles in another four films.

In 1950, Davis began to guest star in television westerns. She was very pleased to get the role of Annie Oakley in 1954. Gene Autry saw her as a star to whom girls could relate. In March 1997, she died of cancer at the age of 71 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is interred in Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery.