<Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> 1946--83 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Margaret (née Harmon) Lindley </Td> </Tr> <P> Louis Burton Lindley Jr . (June 29, 1919--December 8, 1983), better known by his stage name Slim Pickens, was an American rodeo performer and film and television actor . During much of his career, Pickens played mainly cowboy roles, and is perhaps best remembered today for his comic roles in Dr. Strangelove and Blazing Saddles . </P> <P> Louis Burton Lindley Jr. was born in Kingsburg, California, the son of Sally Mosher (née Turk) and Louis Bert Lindley Sr., a Texas - born dairy farmer . Young Lindley was an excellent horse rider from an early age . Known as "Bert" to his family and friends, he grew bored with dairy farming and began to make a few dollars by riding broncos and roping steers in his early teens . His father found out and forbade this activity . Lindley took no notice, went to compete in a rodeo, and was told by the doubtful rodeo manager that there would be "slim pickin's" for him . To prevent his father from discovering that he had competed, he entered his name as Slim Pickens and won $400 that afternoon . Lindley graduated from Hanford High School, Hanford, California, and was a member of the Future Farmers of America . He joined the rodeo, billed as Slim Pickens, and eventually became a well - known rodeo clown . During the second World War, he enlisted in the United States Army . Reportedly when the recruiter asked him his profession, he responded "Rodeo". This was misread as radio and he spent his entire enlistment at a radio station in the American Midwest . </P>

Where did the phrase slim pickens come from