Tom Mix was the early Western megastar and the role model that future Hollywood cowboys were based on. Prior to being a movie star he’d been a real cowboy and also served as a US Marshal. As you can see from the list of his injuries, he was shot several times by bandits and rustlers. “Shoulder fractured when his horse shot out from under him by bandit.” “Shot twice in left arm by Oklahoma outlaws.” “Shot in abdomen by killer he arrested.” He was also injured multiple times while acting (I think Jackie Chan has competition here on number of injuries while filming!)
In 1940 he was driving on Highway 97 between Tucson and Phoenix, stopped for drinks along the way, was going 80 mph, failed to see construction barriers, and drove into a gully. The car rolled and his skull was crushed by his suitcase which contained a serious amount of money.
The monument to him of Highway 97 says “In memory of Tom Mix whose spirit left his body on this spot and whose characterization and portrayals in life served to better fix memories of the old West in the minds of living men.”
