He was a sergeant in the marine corps. He was also a stuntman in the
Randolph Scott group of players.
Woody had a knack for escaping serious injury or death. He was hit in the neck by a ricocheting bullet on Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937) and also he was shot in the face by a blank charge while doubling J. Carrol Naish wrestling over a gun on Hotel Imperial (1939). Both accidents barely interrupted his work.
He was a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.
He had a son, Jack Bryan (born October 26, 1932; died April 28, 2016), with his ex-wife, Helen.