Bill Cody , Jr . Bill Cody , Jr . ( April 18 , 1925 – August 11 , 1989 ) was an American motion picture child actor . Born William Joseph Cody , Jr . in Los Angeles , California , where his father Bill Cody was a cowboy star of B - movie westerns , the youngster was reportedly 7 years old when he accompanied his father on a personal appearance tour throughout the United States . Bill Cody , Jr . was nine years old when he began appearing in films , the first four of which were with his father . Ray Kirkwood Productions . Billed simply as " Billy , Jr . " for his first screen appearance , a featured role in Ray Kirkwood ' s first Bill Cody western , " Frontier Days " , released late in 1934 by Spectrum Pictures , the 9 - year - old was cast as the younger brother of leading lady Ada Ince . As fresh Bart Wilson , whose father is murdered by despicable outlaws seeking control of the family ranch , Billy delivered a lively performance which prompted Kirkwood to include him in future Cody westerns . He was his father ' s virtual co - star in " The Vanishing Riders " , in which both Codys masquerade as ghost riders to demoralize a superstitious gang of rustlers led by Wally Wales . By the time he appeared in his father ' s final Spectrum release , " Outlaws of the Range " , such trade publications as " Film Daily " were commenting on his " fine , natural performance , which should win him a legion of fans . " Both Codys made personal appearances with a wild west show in 1935 , after which Ray Kirkwood announced plans for a 1936 - 37 series of eight westerns co - starring the father and son . In February 1936 , production on the first film in the new series , " The Reckless Buckarooo " , was halted when an altercation between Kirkwood and his backer - Monarch Laboratories - reportedly resulted in the producer ' s being removed from the set and replaced by director Harry Fraser . By the first of March , Fraser had finished shooting the picture , but Kirkwood could not secure financing for the continuation of the series . An exceptionally likable western , " The Reckless Buckaroo " proved to be Bill Cody ' s final starring role and the last time the father and son worked together . Film Work from 1937 to 1942 . In 1937 , Bill , Jr . was cast in an important featured role in a Monogram Tom Keene western , " Romance of the Rockies " , followed by a bit in the short subject , " Our Gang Follies of 1938 " . A potentially major development was his signing to appear in MGM ' s " Girl of the Golden West " , portraying Nelson Eddy ' s role as a child in the opening sequences . The biographical information sheet filled out for young Cody upon his arrival at MGM in February , 1938 , indicated that he was a junior high school student who enjoyed history , was an active Boy Scout , lived with his parents and brother in a California bungalow , enjoyed eating filet mignon , liked to swim and play baseball , had been interviewed on NBC , and had " made personal appearances with Daddy since 3 years old . " Unfortunately , Cody , Jr . ' s work in " Girl of the Golden West " did not lead to other roles at MGM . He was cast in a supporting role in a fast - paced Universal serial , " The Oregon Trail " , with Johnny Mack Brown and Fuzzy Knight , followed by two features with the same two cowboy actors , " Desperate Trails " and " Badman From Red Butte " . While at Universal , he was cast as " Skeets Scanlon " in the serial , " Scouts to the Rescue " , and he was seen in one sequence of the James Stewart - Marlene Dietrich favorite , " Destry Rides Again " . There was also a bit in " Risky Business " , with George Raft . Bill , Jr . was featured in Charles Starrett ' s " Two - Fisted Rangers " at Columbia , briefly appeared in another Universal serial , " Sky Raiders " and has been reported as being in the PRC western , " Raiders of the West " . In 1942 , Bill Cody , Jr . joined the United States military , serving in World War II . After the war , he did not return to film work . It is believed his wartime experiences profoundly affected him and he never returned to acting . Bill Cody , Jr . , profoundly depressed after the passing of his wife of forty years , committed suicide in 1989 and was interred in the Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles .