Young Faces Of The Old West
Television and movie Westerns dominated Hollywood throughout the 1950s and 1960s, capturing the imagination of audiences, and creating myriad opportunities for child actors. Some of these youngsters went on to become lifelong actors, while others stepped away from Hollywood entirely. Here are the child stars whose appearances in classic Westerns launched fascinating careers that took them in very different directions.
Screenshot of Brandon de Wilde in Shane (1953); Paramount Pictures
Johnny Crawford
Johnny Crawford became one of television's best-known child stars as Mark McCain on The Rifleman. Before landing the role, he appeared on Disney's The Mickey Mouse Club and made guest appearances on several Western series. Crawford later enjoyed a successful recording career, continued acting for decades, and remained closely connected with Western fan conventions until his death in 2021.
ABC Television., Wikimedia Commons
Brandon De Wilde
Brandon De Wilde earned an Academy Award nomination for his precocious role in Shane (1953), then became a familiar face on television Westerns including Wanted: Dead or Alive, Wagon Train, Rawhide, The Virginian, and Bonanza. He successfully transitioned into adult roles before his promising career and life ended tragically in a 1972 automobile accident.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Ron Howard
Long before becoming an Oscar-winning director, Ron Howard appeared as a child on Westerns including The Smith Family, The Tall Man, The Deputy, The Twilight Zone, and The Virginian. Although he became famous through The Andy Griffith Show, he later reinvented himself behind the camera, directing acclaimed films including Apollo 13 (1995) and A Beautiful Mind (2001).
ABC Television Press Relations, Wikimedia Commons
Butch Patrick
Best remembered as Eddie Munster on The Munsters, Butch Patrick also made memorable appearances in television Westerns including Bonanza, The Rifleman, Death Valley Days, and The Monroes. After leaving acting, he remained a beloved figure on the nostalgia convention circuit and became an outspoken advocate for recovering addicts.
CBS television., Wikimedia Commons
Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell's remarkable career began with appearances on Western television series including The Travels Of Jaimie McPheeters, Gunsmoke, The Virginian, and The Fugitive. Disney quickly signed him to a long-term contract, leading to an extraordinarily successful transition from child actor into one of Hollywood's most enduring leading men.
Los Angeles Times, Wikimedia Commons
Dennis Weaver Jr.
As the son of Gunsmoke star Dennis Weaver, Dennis Weaver Jr. naturally found opportunities in television, including appearances alongside his father and roles in Western-themed productions. Although he never pursued the same level of stardom, he maintained a quieter career while staying connected to the entertainment industry.
Donaldson Collection, Getty Images
Darby Hinton
Darby Hinton won generations of fans as Israel Boone on Daniel Boone. He also appeared in Western favorites including The Road West and The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet's Western-themed episodes before continuing a steady acting career in television and film. He later became a frequent guest at Western heritage festivals.
Don Grady
Although primarily remembered as Robbie Douglas on My Three Sons, Don Grady appeared as a youngster in Western series including The Rifleman, The Restless Gun, Buckskin, and Wagon Train. He eventually shifted toward music, becoming a respected composer and arranger while occasionally returning to acting projects.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
Kevin Corcoran
Kevin Corcoran became one of Disney's busiest young performers, but he also appeared in Western television series including The Rifleman, Wagon Train, and Laramie. As an adult, he transitioned behind the scenes, building a successful second career as an assistant director and producer on numerous television productions.
Billy Mumy
Billy Mumy appeared in an impressive number of classic television Westerns before becoming famous for Lost In Space. His credits included Have Gun – Will Travel, Rawhide, The Rebel, The Rifleman, Bonanza, and The Virginian. Mumy later enjoyed success as an actor, musician, voice performer, comic-book writer, and science fiction author.
NBC Television., Wikimedia Commons
Kim Richards
Kim Richards began acting before she entered elementary school and quickly became a familiar face on television, including appearances in Westerns such as Bonanza and Little House On The Prairie. She later starred in numerous Disney films, remained active in television, and eventually found a new audience through reality television.
ABC Television Network, Wikimedia Commons
Jerry Mathers
Although forever associated with Beaver Cleaver on Leave It To Beaver, Jerry Mathers also appeared in classic Westerns including The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet's Western-themed episodes, The Gene Autry Show, and The Adventures Of Rin Tin Tin. He later left acting for military service and college before returning to the entertainment world.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Michael Burns
Michael Burns became one of television's busiest young guest stars during the 1960s, appearing in Wagon Train, Laramie, The Rifleman, Bonanza, The Big Valley, and The Virginian. He eventually stepped away from acting altogether, earning a doctorate and building a respected academic career as a historian.
Revue Studios, Wikimedia Commons
Tommy Kirk
Tommy Kirk earned Disney stardom through films including Old Yeller (1957) and The Shaggy Dog (1959), while also guest starring on Western series including The Rifleman. His promising career was derailed after Disney ended his contract following a personal scandal, though he later found renewed appreciation among classic film fans.
Walt Disney Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
Bobby Diamond
Bobby Diamond appeared in numerous television Westerns, including Fury, The Life And Legend Of Wyatt Earp, The Rifleman, Bonanza, Laramie, and The Tall Man. After leaving Hollywood, he pursued an entirely different profession, becoming a successful attorney specializing in entertainment law.
Johnny Washbrook
Johnny Washbrook was already well known from Old Yeller (1957) when he became a frequent guest star on television Westerns including The Rifleman, Wagon Train, Rawhide, The Virginian, and Bonanza. His acting gradually slowed as he entered adulthood, and he eventually retired from the entertainment industry.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Patrick Wayne
The son of John Wayne, Patrick Wayne occasionally appeared in television Westerns during his youth before establishing himself in feature films. His early television work included guest appearances that showcased his natural ease in the genre. He later enjoyed a lengthy acting career while carefully avoiding simply imitating his famous father.
DVD (Batjac-Paramount Pictures), Wikimedia Commons
Johnny Whitaker
Johnny Whitaker is best remembered for his stint as Jody on Family Affair, but his childhood résumé also included appearances on Westerns such as Bonanza and The Virginian. After struggling with substance abuse as a young adult, he achieved long-term recovery and became an advocate for addiction awareness and treatment.
NBC Television Network., Wikimedia Commons
Clint Howard
Like his older brother Ron, Clint Howard appeared in several television Westerns as a child, including The Virginian, The Cowboys, Daniel Boone, and Bonanza. Rather than chasing leading-man status, he carved out a remarkable career as one of Hollywood's most recognizable and dependable character actors.
CBS Television-the logo is missing but the address is present., Wikimedia Commons
Dennis Holmes
Dennis Holmes became a familiar face as young Mike Williams on Laramie, appearing throughout the series after first being discovered as a child actor. He later guest-starred on The Virginian, Wagon Train, and Gunsmoke before retiring from acting and pursuing a successful business career.
Screenshot from Laramie, NBC (1959-1963)
Ricky Kelman
Ricky Kelman appeared in an impressive number of television Westerns during the early 1960s, including Bonanza, Rawhide, The Rifleman, The Virginian, and Laramie. After leaving acting in the early 1970s, he built a successful second career in business and remained active in preserving his Hollywood memories.
Teddy Rooney
The son of Mickey Rooney, Teddy Rooney made numerous appearances on television during the 1950s and 1960s, including guest roles on The Rifleman, Wagon Train, The Californians, and other Western series. He later stepped away from acting and largely avoided the spotlight that followed his famous family.
De Carvalho Collection, Getty Images
Bryan Russell
Bryan Russell became one of television's busiest child actors, appearing in Bonanza, The Virginian, The Big Valley, Gunsmoke, Lancer, and several other Westerns. His acting career slowed after childhood, and he eventually transitioned into business while occasionally attending nostalgia events.
Claude Jarman Jr.
After winning an Academy Award as a child for The Yearling (1946), Claude Jarman Jr. continued acting into his teens, appearing in Western productions including Rio Grande (1950) before making guest appearances on television. He later became a successful film executive and headed the San Francisco International Film Festival.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wikimedia Commons
Gary Hunley
Gary Hunley appeared in numerous television Westerns as a youngster, including Bonanza, The Virginian, The Big Valley, and Gunsmoke. While he worked steadily throughout the 1960s, he gradually left acting behind and pursued a more private life outside the entertainment industry.
Lane Bradbury
Lane Bradbury began acting as a teenager and quickly found work on classic Westerns including The Virginian, Bonanza, and The Big Valley. She continued acting well into adulthood, balancing television appearances with an accomplished stage career and later becoming active in theater education.
Silver Screen Collection, Getty Images
Linda Marsh
As a young actress, Linda Marsh appeared in several Western television series, including Laramie, The Virginian, and The Big Valley. She successfully transitioned into adult character roles, becoming a familiar face in television dramas throughout the 1970s and beyond.
Death Valley Days--the program apparently did its own publicity., Wikimedia Commons
Russ Tamblyn
Although better known for films, Russ Tamblyn also appeared as a young performer in Western television and frontier stories before his breakthrough in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954). He successfully reinvented himself across multiple generations, later winning new fans through television and cult film roles.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
Where The Trail Led
Classic television Westerns introduced millions of viewers to talented young performers whose lives unfolded in dramatically different ways. Some became major Hollywood stars, others found success behind the camera or in entirely new professions, and a few endured heartbreaking setbacks. Together, they remain an important part of television's golden age and the enduring legacy of the small-screen Western.
Brandon de Wilde and Agnes Moorehead in Man of His House (1959); Wikimedia Commons
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