When the West Ruled Television
Long before superheroes and streaming marathons, cowboys were television’s biggest stars. Every week, millions of Americans tuned in to watch brave lawmen, ranchers, drifters, and gunslingers ride across the frontier. These characters became household names during the 1950s and ’60s—but today, many younger viewers wouldn’t recognize them.
Let's see how many you know.
NBC Productions, Bonanza (1959-1973)
#25. Temple Houston (Temple Houston)
Jeffrey Hunter starred as Temple Houston, the real-life son of Sam Houston turned frontier lawyer. Debuting in 1963, he usually preferred winning cases with clever arguments before reaching for his revolver. It proved brains could be just as dangerous as bullets.
Warner Bros., Wikimedia Commons
#24. Hondo Lane (Hondo)
Ralph Taeger took over the role made famous by John Wayne in the 1967 television adaptation of Hondo. As cavalry scout Hondo Lane, he found himself caught between settlers and Native American tribes while trying to keep the peace.
#23. Pat Garrett (The Tall Man)
Barry Sullivan portrayed legendary lawman Pat Garrett in this fictionalized series that paired him with Billy the Kid. History wasn’t always the show’s strongest subject, but viewers loved watching the unlikely partnership unfold every week.
Screenshot from The Tall Man, NBC (1960-1962), Enhanced
#22. Jaimie McPheeters (The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters)
A young Kurt Russell played adventurous teenager Jaimie McPheeters during a family’s Gold Rush journey west. Long before becoming an action star, Russell was already proving he belonged on horseback.
Los Angeles Times, Wikimedia Commons
#21. Chad Cooper (The Rifleman)
Michael Landon made several memorable guest appearances across western television, but one of the more memorable young frontier characters was Chad Cooper. His appearances reflected the family-centered storytelling that made westerns so popular.
Screenshot from The Rifleman, ABC (1958-1963)
#20. Jason McCord (Branded)
Chuck Connors returned to western television as former Army captain Jason McCord, falsely accused of cowardice. Every episode followed his mission to restore his reputation, one difficult challenge at a time.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#19. Jim Crown (Cimarron Strip)
Stuart Whitman starred as Marshal Jim Crown, keeping order across one of the largest law enforcement territories in the American West. The series lasted only one season, but its movie-quality production impressed audiences.
Screenshot from Cimarron Strip, CBS Television Network (1967-1968), Enhanced
#18. Bronco Layne (Bronco)
Ty Hardin became one of Warner Bros.’ biggest western stars as Bronco Layne. Drifting from town to town, Bronco always seemed to find someone who needed help—and trouble wasn’t usually far behind.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#17. Tom Brewster (Sugarfoot)
Will Hutchins played Tom Brewster, an aspiring lawyer who preferred talking his way out of fights whenever possible. Unfortunately for Tom, the people around him usually had other plans.
Screenshot from Sugarfoot, ABC (1957-1961)
#16. Dan Troop (Lawman)
John Russell’s Marshal Dan Troop believed in enforcing the law fairly, even when it made him unpopular. His calm authority helped make Lawman one of television’s smartest westerns.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#15. Jess Harper (Laramie)
Robert Fuller portrayed former drifter Jess Harper, who found a new purpose working alongside the Sherman family. His quick temper often landed him in exciting situations that audiences couldn’t wait to watch.
Screenshot from Laramie, NBC (1959-1963)
#14. Slim Sherman (Laramie)
John Smith starred as ranch owner Slim Sherman, whose steady leadership balanced Jess Harper’s impulsive personality. Together they formed one of television’s strongest western partnerships.
Screenshot from Laramie, NBC (1959-1963)
#13. Gil Favor (Rawhide)
Eric Fleming played trail boss Gil Favor, leading cattle drives across dangerous territory. Keeping a herd together was hard enough without dealing with outlaws, stampedes, and arguments from the cowboys themselves.
Elgin Watch Company, a show sponsor, Wikimedia Commons
#12. Rowdy Yates (Rawhide)
Before Clint Eastwood became a movie legend, he played Rowdy Yates. Young, determined, and sometimes a little reckless, Rowdy quickly became one of television’s favorite cowboys.
#11. Cheyenne Bodie (Cheyenne)
Clint Walker’s towering six-foot-six frame made Cheyenne Bodie impossible to forget. Despite his intimidating appearance, Cheyenne usually preferred fairness over violence—unless someone pushed him too far.
Screenshot from Cheyenne, Warner Bros. Television (1955-1962)
#10. Lucas McCain (The Rifleman)
Chuck Connors became famous as widowed rancher Lucas McCain, whose customized Winchester rifle became almost as famous as he was. His relationship with son Mark gave the show plenty of heart alongside its action.
Rogers & Cowan, public relations, Beverly Hills, CA., Wikimedia Commons
#9. Bart Maverick (Maverick)
Jack Kelly played Bret Maverick’s equally clever brother Bart. Like Bret, he preferred cards, quick thinking, and avoiding unnecessary gunfights whenever possible. Why duel someone when you can outsmart them?
#8. Bret Maverick (Maverick)
James Garner turned Bret Maverick into one of television’s most lovable gamblers. Charming, sarcastic, and always looking for the easiest way out, Bret proved not every western hero needed to be the toughest man in town.
Warner Brothers Television, Wikimedia Commons
#7. Paladin (Have Gun – Will Travel)
Richard Boone’s mysterious gunfighter Paladin accepted jobs only when he believed the cause was just. Sophisticated, educated, and deadly when necessary, he brought a unique elegance to the western genre.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
#6. Ben Cartwright (Bonanza)
Lorne Greene played the wise patriarch of the Cartwright family on the Ponderosa Ranch. Whether settling family disputes or protecting his land, Ben remained the steady heart of one of television’s biggest hits.
NBC Television-photo by Elmer Holloway, Wikimedia Commons
#5. Adam Cartwright (Bonanza)
Pernell Roberts portrayed Ben’s oldest son, Adam. Intelligent, level-headed, and highly educated, Adam often solved problems with careful planning instead of rushing into danger.
Screenshot from Bonanza, NBC (1959-1973), Enhanced
#4. Hoss Cartwright (Bonanza)
Dan Blocker’s lovable Hoss became one of television’s most beloved characters. Gentle despite his enormous size, Hoss could handle a fistfight if necessary—but he’d much rather make a new friend.
Screenshot from Bonanza, NBC (1959-1973) Enhanced
#3. Little Joe Cartwright (Bonanza)
Michael Landon’s Little Joe was energetic, fearless, and usually the first Cartwright to leap into trouble. His charm made him one of the most popular television cowboys of the entire decade.
Screenshot from Bonanza, NBC (1959-1973) Enhanced
#2. Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke)
James Arness played Marshal Matt Dillon for an incredible 20 seasons. Calm under pressure and fiercely committed to justice, Dillon became the television lawman every western fan admired.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
#1. The Virginian (The Virginian)
James Drury’s mysterious ranch foreman never revealed his real name, yet everyone knew exactly who he was. Calm, honorable, and endlessly dependable, The Virginian became one of the defining cowboy heroes of the 1960s and remains one of television’s greatest western icons.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
How Many Did You Recognize?
The golden age of television westerns gave America heroes who relied on courage, honesty, and a good horse instead of fancy gadgets. While today’s audiences may not recognize every name on this list, these cowboys helped shape television history and inspired generations of western fans.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
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