Familiar Faces Of The West
The golden age of the television Western created stars, but it also relied on a remarkable group of character actors. These performers rode through series after series, playing sheriffs, ranchers, outlaws, doctors, drifters, and preachers. You may recognize every face, even if the names are harder to recall.
John Hoyt
John Hoyt seemed capable of playing almost any authority figure or suspicious stranger the frontier required. His extensive Western television credits included appearances on The Lone Ranger, Cheyenne, Maverick, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Bonanza, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, and The Virginian.
Duane Grey
Duane Grey became one of the busiest supporting performers of television’s Western boom. The IMDb source list credits him with more than 100 Western appearances during the genre’s peak years. He was particularly familiar to Gunsmoke viewers, appearing repeatedly in different roles rather than becoming tied to one character.
Screenshot from Gunsmoke, CBS Productions (1955–1975)
John Anderson
With his tall frame, distinctive voice, and intense screen presence, John Anderson could be a convincing lawman, rancher, soldier, or villain. His Western television appearances included Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Have Gun, Will Travel, Wagon Train, Rawhide, Bonanza, and The Virginian.
Denver Pyle
Long before becoming famous as Uncle Jesse on The Dukes of Hazzard, Denver Pyle was everywhere in television Westerns. His credits included The Lone Ranger, The Range Rider, The Roy Rogers Show, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Rifleman, and The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp.
Screenshot from The Dukes of Hazzard, Warner Bros. Television / CBS (1979–1985)
John Dehner
Few actors moved through the television West as frequently as John Dehner. He appeared in more than 40 Western series, including Cheyenne, Maverick, Rawhide, Bonanza, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, The Virginian, and The Big Valley, while playing 12 different characters on Gunsmoke.
CBS Enterprises, Wikimedia Commons
Robert J. Wilke
Robert J. Wilke’s hard features and cold stare made him a natural screen villain, although his range extended well beyond badmen. Television audiences saw him repeatedly in Western series including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, Rawhide, Cheyenne, and Have Gun, Will Travel.
unknown (Filmaster Prod.), Wikimedia Commons
Harry Lauter
Harry Lauter built a remarkably busy career playing supporting parts across film and television. During the Western television era, he appeared in such series as The Lone Ranger, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Tales of Wells Fargo, Cheyenne, Maverick, Wagon Train, and Rawhide.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Gregg Palmer
Gregg Palmer’s imposing build made him a dependable choice for Western heavies, tough ranch hands, and menacing gunmen. He became a familiar presence on Gunsmoke, but also appeared in Bonanza, The Virginian, Wagon Train, Death Valley Days, The Big Valley, and other frontier series.
unknown (Batjac Prod.), Wikimedia Commons
Lane Bradford
Lane Bradford made a specialty of villains and rough characters, and television Westerns gave him plenty of opportunities. His long list of credits included The Lone Ranger, The Adventures of Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Maverick, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Bonanza, Rawhide, and Wagon Train.
Screenshot from Maverick, Warner Bros. Television / ABC (1957–1962)
Don Haggerty
Don Haggerty’s rugged appearance helped make him a dependable presence in the genre. He turned up in numerous television Westerns, moving easily between lawmen, townspeople, ranchers, and criminals. His credits included The Lone Ranger, Gunsmoke, Cheyenne, Wagon Train, Rawhide, and The Rifleman.
TV series screenshot (Republic Pictures), Wikimedia Commons
Myron Healey
If a television Western needed a convincing outlaw, Myron Healey was often a good person to call. He became known for villainous roles and accumulated appearances across numerous frontier programs, including The Lone Ranger, The Adventures of Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Maverick, Gunsmoke, and The Rifleman.
TV episode screenshot (Republic Pictures), Wikimedia Commons
Roy Barcroft
Roy Barcroft spent years as one of Hollywood’s dependable Western villains before television opened another chapter in his career. His familiar face appeared in numerous small-screen Westerns, including The Lone Ranger, The Cisco Kid, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Bonanza, and The Rifleman.
Film screenshot (Republic Pictures), Wikimedia Commons
Jack Elam
Jack Elam was one of the most recognizable character actors in the entire Western genre. His television credits included The Lone Ranger, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Lawman, Bonanza, Cheyenne, Have Gun, Will Travel, Rawhide, The Rebel, and Tales of Wells Fargo.
Studio Publicity, Wikimedia Commons
Paul Fix
Paul Fix enjoyed one of his most memorable television roles as Marshal Micah Torrance on The Rifleman, but that was only part of his Western career. He also appeared in Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wagon Train, The Virginian, The Big Valley, and other frontier programs.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Royal Dano
Royal Dano’s gaunt appearance and unforgettable voice made even small roles memorable. His Western television work included Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, The Virginian, The Big Valley, Death Valley Days, Daniel Boone, and The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters.
R. G. Armstrong
R. G. Armstrong brought tremendous intensity to Western roles, whether playing a preacher, rancher, lawman, or dangerous adversary. His television credits included Have Gun, Will Travel, The Rifleman, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Virginian, The Big Valley, and Wagon Train.
Screenshot from Bonanza, NBC Productions (1959–1973)
L. Q. Jones
L. Q. Jones began his television Western career as Smitty Smith on Cheyenne, then became a familiar face on Gunsmoke, Laramie, Two Faces West, and The Virginian. He played ranch hand Andy Belden in 25 episodes of the latter series, making him more than an occasional guest star. He had a successful film career, appearing in The Wild Bunch (1969), Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), and Casino (1995).
Screenshot from The Virginian, Universal Television / NBC (1962–1971)
Strother Martin
With his distinctive voice and nervous energy, Strother Martin could make a Western character unforgettable within minutes. Television viewers saw him in Gunsmoke, Have Gun, Will Travel, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, Bonanza, The Virginian, and The Big Valley, among other series.
DVD (Batjac-Paramount Pictures), Wikimedia Commons
Chris Alcaide
Chris Alcaide appeared so frequently as Western badmen that the association reportedly worked against him when he was considered for a leading role in Black Saddle. His television credits included Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Rawhide, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Laramie, Maverick, and The Rifleman.
James Best
Before becoming famous as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on The Dukes of Hazzard, James Best accumulated an impressive collection of Western television appearances. He could be seen in Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Rifleman, Have Gun, Will Travel, Wagon Train, Rawhide, and The Virginian.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Robert Foulk
Robert Foulk’s broad face and sturdy presence suited the Western genre perfectly. He became one of those actors who could appear as a sheriff in one series and a villain in another, with credits including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Cheyenne, Maverick, Wagon Train, and The Rifleman.
Screenshot from Green Acres, Filmways Television / CBS (1965–1971)
John Doucette
Stocky, commanding, and equipped with a deep voice, John Doucette appeared in more than 280 film and television productions. His many Western credits included The Lone Ranger, Wagon Train, Bonanza, The Virginian, Have Gun, Will Travel, Bat Masterson, and Tales of Wells Fargo.
TV episode screenshot (CBS), Wikimedia Commons
Dub Taylor
Dub Taylor brought a colorful, energetic presence to decades of Westerns. Television audiences could spot him in series including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Rifleman, The Virginian, The Big Valley, and Wagon Train. His son, Buck Taylor, later became a Gunsmoke regular as Newly O’Brien.
Columbia Pictures Corporation, Wikimedia Commons
Hank Patterson
Hank Patterson became widely recognized as farmer Fred Ziffel on Green Acres, but his weathered appearance also made him ideal for Westerns. His television credits included Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Bonanza, Have Gun, Will Travel, Wagon Train, Death Valley Days, and The Virginian.
Screenshot from Green Acres, Filmways Television / CBS (1965–1971)
Chubby Johnson
Chubby Johnson looked as though he had stepped directly out of an old frontier photograph. His Western career included guest appearances on Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and The Rifleman, while his distinctive appearance made him particularly effective as prospectors, stage drivers, cooks, and other frontier characters.
unknown (Universal Pictures), Wikimedia Commons
William Fawcett
William Fawcett’s thin frame, beard, and weathered features made him one of television’s most recognizable frontier faces. He appeared across a wide selection of Western series, including The Lone Ranger, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Rifleman, and Wagon Train.
TV episode screenshot (CBS), Wikimedia Commons
Edgar Buchanan
Edgar Buchanan was already an established film character actor when television Westerns became a major force. He appeared in programs including Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, Laramie, and The Virginian, while later television audiences knew him especially well as Uncle Joe Carson on Petticoat Junction.
Screenshot from Petticoat Junction, Wayfilms / Filmways Television / CBS (1963–1970)
Slim Pickens
A genuine rodeo performer before his acting career, Slim Pickens brought authenticity and comic timing to Western roles. His television appearances included Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Virginian, The Tall Man, and Outlaws, while his movie career made him one of the genre’s most recognizable supporting players.
Film screenshot (Paramount Pictures), Wikimedia Commons
Arthur Hunnicutt
Arthur Hunnicutt specialized in homespun characters who often seemed humorous until they revealed unexpected wisdom or toughness. His distinctive Arkansas drawl and lanky appearance suited both film and television Westerns, and he appeared in series including Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, and The Virginian.
Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons
Morgan Woodward
Morgan Woodward became particularly familiar to Gunsmoke viewers through numerous appearances as different characters. He also played the recurring Marvin “Punk” Anderson on Dallas, but Western fans remember his work in The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Wagon Train, Bonanza, and The Virginian.
Rogers & Cowan, public relations., Wikimedia Commons
Clu Gulager
Clu Gulager was more than a guest actor in the Western boom. He starred as Billy the Kid in The Tall Man for 75 episodes and later joined The Virginian as Deputy Emmett Ryker. Earlier appearances included Have Gun, Will Travel and Wagon Train.
Screenshot from The Virginian, Universal Television / NBC (1962–1971)
The Faces Between The Stars
Classic television Westerns would have looked very different without these dependable performers. Their names were not always placed above the title, but their faces connected Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, and dozens of other series into one enormous, strangely familiar television frontier.
Screenshot from Gunsmoke, CBS Productions (1955–1975)
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