He may have been the driving force behind the Mamas & the Papas—but when he wasn’t writing sunny flower-child anthems, John Phillips was intent on destroying himself and everyone in his orbit.

Before antiheroes became trendy and before “prestige TV” turned into a buzzword, Westerns were already out here doing the work. These shows weren’t just about horses and shootouts—they were quietly building the DNA of modern television. Here are 21 TV Westerns that didn’t just define a genre—they helped define television itself.

Some of these decisions made careers. Some made millions. Others built entire empires. And the wild part? It wasn’t all luck—these are moves, moments and choices celebrities have actually said were the smartest things they ever did.

Some people see Elizabeth Short as a real-life femme fatale from a film noir thriller. She was a wannabe actress who walked the mean and dangerous streets of 1940s LA, and she also had connections to some very dangerous men. Sadly, like many women of film noir, Short had a brutal end to her life—even more sadistic than most horror movies. Her senseless attack by an unknown assailant created a media frenzy that literally stopped the country in its tracks. But who was Elizabeth Short? Let’s peel back the fiction and get some true facts about Elizabeth Short—AKA the Black Dahlia.

As a founding member of the Eagles, Don Henley was not only instrumental in creating one of America’s most iconic bands but also in their widespread success. Adding to his resume, beyond helping the band, his talents as a musician and songwriter helped build a career apart from The Eagles. However, just as the band itself was no picnic behind the curtains, so too did the drummer have a darker side.

From his early years making a name for himself in live theatre to his most famous roles on the big and small screens, Robert Duvall has become one of cinema’s most iconic veterans. Rising through the ranks of Hollywood alongside many of his generation, he sets himself apart through his commitment and professionalism, as well as his ability to take on characters to their fullest—truly becoming someone else in the process.