Characters Bigger Than Their Shows
Classic television westerns introduced audiences to unforgettable lawmen, ranchers, scouts, doctors, and drifters, but not every fan favorite was the official star. Some supporting characters became so popular, charismatic, or distinctive that viewers could easily imagine them carrying a series of their own. Whether they supplied humor, wisdom, action, or heart, these unforgettable personalities proved they deserved more than a supporting role.
Milburn Stone — Doc Adams (Gunsmoke)
For twenty years, Doc Adams did far more than patch up wounded cowboys. Milburn Stone created a gruff, compassionate frontier physician whose dry wit and medical expertise often drove the story as much as Marshal Matt Dillon. A series centered on Dodge City's overworked doctor would have been filled with fascinating medical mysteries and colorful frontier characters.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
Dennis Weaver — Chester Goode (Gunsmoke)
Dennis Weaver transformed Chester Goode into far more than a loyal deputy. His optimism, determination, and unmistakable limp gave him a unique identity that separated him from every other television lawman. Fans could easily imagine Chester riding into a neighboring territory to become the respected marshal of his own frontier town.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
Ken Curtis — Festus Haggen (Gunsmoke)
Few television characters possessed as much personality as Festus Haggen. Ken Curtis combined comic timing, homespun wisdom, frontier toughness, and unwavering loyalty into one unforgettable character. His colorful adventures, mountain background, and unconventional approach to justice could easily have supported a western built entirely around Festus himself.
Screenshot from Gunsmoke, Paramount Global (1955-1975)
Amanda Blake — Miss Kitty Russell (Gunsmoke)
Miss Kitty ruled the Long Branch Saloon with intelligence, confidence, and quiet authority. Amanda Blake made her one of television's strongest western women, capable of standing toe-to-toe with anyone in Dodge City. A series focused on Miss Kitty's business dealings, friendships, and frontier diplomacy would have offered a refreshingly different perspective on the Old West.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
Dan Blocker — Hoss Cartwright (Bonanza)
Although Hoss Cartwright possessed enormous physical strength, his greatest qualities were kindness, honesty, and compassion. Dan Blocker's gentle giant became the emotional center of Bonanza, winning viewers with equal measures of humor and heart. A series following Hoss on his own ranching adventures would have been warmly embraced by audiences.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Victor Sen Yung — Hop Sing (Bonanza)
Hop Sing often seemed to know everything happening around the Ponderosa long before anyone else. Victor Sen Yung brought warmth, humor, and dignity to the loyal cook, whose life surely extended far beyond preparing meals. A series exploring Hop Sing's own adventures and friendships would have presented one of television's most unique western viewpoints.
Screenshot from Bonanza, Paramount Global (1959-1973)
Lorne Greene — Ben Cartwright (Bonanza)
As the wise patriarch of the Cartwright family, Ben frequently acted as diplomat, businessman, father, and community leader. Lorne Greene's commanding performance suggested countless stories beyond those shown on Bonanza. A series centered entirely on Ben's efforts to build and protect the Ponderosa would have been a natural continuation of his remarkable character.
NBC Television-photo by Elmer Holloway, Wikimedia Commons
Pernell Roberts — Adam Cartwright (Bonanza)
Adam Cartwright combined education, intelligence, and frontier experience unlike anyone else in the Cartwright family. Pernell Roberts gave the eldest son a thoughtful sophistication that often set him apart. Viewers could easily imagine Adam leaving Nevada to establish a new ranch or frontier community while solving challenges with brains as often as bullets.
Screenshot from Bonanza, Paramount Global (1959-1973)
Michael Landon — Little Joe Cartwright (Bonanza)
Impulsive, adventurous, and endlessly charming, Little Joe often found himself at the center of Bonanza's biggest adventures. Michael Landon's natural charisma made him enormously popular with viewers. Sending Little Joe off to establish his own ranch or law practice elsewhere in the West would have created an ideal vehicle for the young star.
Screenshot from Bonanza, Paramount Global (1959-1973)
Doug McClure — Trampas (The Virginian)
Trampas evolved from hotheaded troublemaker into one of television's most charismatic cowboys. Doug McClure blended rugged confidence with mischievous charm, making Trampas every bit as memorable as the series' title character. A spinoff following Trampas across the frontier after leaving Shiloh Ranch would have had enormous audience appeal.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Lee J. Cobb — Judge Garth (The Virginian)
Judge Henry Garth balanced business, politics, ranching, and family responsibilities while maintaining order across an expanding frontier. Lee J. Cobb brought tremendous authority to every appearance. A western focused on Judge Garth's leadership, legal disputes, and ranching empire could easily have stood alongside the era's finest television dramas.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Robert Fuller — Cooper Smith (Wagon Train)
Former gunfighter Cooper Smith quickly became one of Wagon Train's most engaging personalities after joining the cast. Robert Fuller combined confidence, humor, and lightning-fast reflexes into a character who seemed destined for bigger adventures. Many fans would gladly have followed Cooper as he rode into new towns solving problems across the American West.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Clu Gulager — Billy The Kid (The Tall Man)
Rather than portraying Billy the Kid as a simple outlaw, Clu Gulager created a charming, adventurous young man whose friendship with Pat Garrett gave The Tall Man its heart. His version of Billy was so engaging that audiences could easily imagine an entirely separate series chronicling the outlaw's legendary exploits.
Screenshot from The Tall Man, NBCUniversal (1960-1962), enhanced
Don Collier — Sam Butler (The High Chaparral)
Sam Butler quietly became the dependable backbone of the Cannon ranch. Don Collier portrayed him as practical, courageous, and endlessly resourceful—the sort of man every frontier community depended upon. A series following Sam as ranch foreman, trail boss, or even owner of his own spread would have made perfect sense.
Screenshot from The High Chaparral, Paramount Global (1967-1971)
Cameron Mitchell — Buck Cannon (The High Chaparral)
Buck Cannon possessed the larger-than-life personality needed to headline his own western. Cameron Mitchell balanced frontier toughness with compassion while navigating family conflicts, ranch politics, and dangerous neighbors. His decades of experience and commanding screen presence made Buck feel like a leading man even within an ensemble cast.
Screenshot from The High Chaparral, Paramount Global (1967-1971)
Henry Darrow — Manolito Montoya
Handsome, witty, and endlessly optimistic, Manolito Montoya often stole scenes in The High Chaparral with his humor and charm. Henry Darrow created one of television's most likable western characters, equally comfortable pursuing romance or adventure. A series following Manolito across the Southwest would have combined comedy, action, and diplomacy in equal measure.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Strother Martin — many characters
Strother Martin proved that eccentric personalities could thrive in television westerns. His unforgettable voice, expressive mannerisms, and offbeat humor made every appearance memorable. A lighthearted western built around Martin's adventures and misadventures would have been the basis for something refreshingly different from traditional cowboy dramas.
Screenshot from True Grit, Paramount Global (1969)
Neville Brand — Reese Bennett (Laredo)
Gruff but dependable, Reese Bennett possessed all the qualities audiences admired in frontier lawmen. Neville Brand brought authenticity and surprising warmth beneath the character's rough exterior. A series centered on Reese tracking outlaws across the frontier would have showcased both his toughness and his quiet sense of justice.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
James Drury — The Virginian
Although already the star of his own series, the Virginian's mysterious past remained largely unexplored. James Drury's understated performance left viewers wanting to know more about the cowboy's earlier adventures before arriving at Shiloh Ranch. A prequel following the younger Virginian across the frontier would have been irresistible to longtime fans.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Peter Brown — Johnny McKay (Lawman)
Johnny McKay grew from eager young deputy into a capable frontier lawman under Dan Troop's guidance. Peter Brown gave the character intelligence, courage, and genuine likability. Watching Johnny leave Laramie to accept his own marshal's badge elsewhere would have provided the perfect foundation for a successful spinoff.
Pre-1978 no mark, Wikimedia Commons
Peter Breck — Nick Barkley (The Big Valley)
Nick Barkley's fiery temper, fierce loyalty, and fearless determination made him one of television's most unforgettable western characters. Peter Breck brought tremendous energy to every episode, often dominating scenes through sheer force of personality. Of everyone on this list, Nick may have been the character audiences most wanted to watch in a series of his own.
Screenshot from The Big Valley, The Walt Disney Company (1965-1969)
Linda Cristal — Victoria Cannon (The High Chaparral)
Victoria Cannon combined intelligence, diplomacy, and quiet courage while helping unite two very different frontier families. Linda Cristal's graceful performance suggested countless stories waiting to be told. A series focusing on Victoria navigating ranch life, cultural differences, and frontier politics would have been unlike any other western of its era.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Milburn Stone And Ken Curtis (Gunsmoke)
If any western duo deserved their own series, it was Doc Adams (Milburn Stone, at right) and Festus Haggen (Ken Curtis). Milburn Stone's dry sarcasm blended perfectly with Ken Curtis's homespun humor, creating unforgettable chemistry. Watching the unlikely pair solve problems across frontier communities—sometimes without Matt Dillon—would have delighted Gunsmoke fans for years.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
We'd Still Watch Them Today
Many of these characters became just as memorable as the stars who headlined their series, and in some cases, they nearly overshadowed them. Their personalities were rich enough, their stories compelling enough, and their popularity strong enough that audiences would almost certainly have followed them into spinoffs of their own. That's the mark of truly unforgettable television characters.
Screenshot from Bonanza, Paramount Global (1959-1973)
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