After distinguishing himself in athletics at Rockhurst college, Jim Bannon launched his film career as a stunt man and double. Under contract to Columbia in the mid-1940s, Bannon starred in a brace of films based on the radio series I Love a Mystery. Bannon was also one of four actors to essay the role of B-western hero Red Ryder, and was a regular on such radio series as The Great Gildersleeve and Stars over Hollywood. In 1955, Bannon starred on the Gene Autry-produced TV series The Adventures of Champion. At one time married to actress Bea Benaderet, Jim Bannon was the father of TV actor Jack Bannon.