A source for much (but not all) of the information here is
Chuck Anderson's The Old Corral,
Wikipedia, and
IMDb movie database. I also have to thank author
Bobby Copeland for validating the data shown here (see note at bottom of page.)
Popular Name
| Image
| Claim to Fame |
Birth Name |
Born-Died |
Horse's Name |
| Art Acord |
 |
Actor in silent movie westerns
(more) |
Artemus Ward Acord |
1890-1931 |
Raven |
| Bob Allen |
 |
Texas Ranger in 1930s films
(more) |
Irvine E. Theodore Baehr, Sr. |
1906-1998 |
Pal |
| Rex Allen |
 |
Actor in 1950s western movies
(more) |
Rex Elvie Allen |
1920-1999 |
Ko-Ko |
| Broncho Billy Anderson |
 |
First cowboy star of movies
(more) |
Max H. Aronson |
1880-1971 |
Ranger |
| James Arness |
 |
Matt Dillon on 1950-70s TV’s Gunsmoke series
(more) |
James King Aurness |
1923- |
Buck |
| Gene Autry |
 |
First of the genuine singing cowboys (see John Wayne)
(more) |
Grover Orvon Autry |
1907-1998 |
Champion |
| Bob “Tumbleweed” Baker |
 |
Actor in 1930s western movies
(more) |
Stanley Leland Weed |
1910-1975 |
Apache |
| Smith Ballew |
 |
Singing cowboy in 1930s
(more) |
Sykes “Smith” Ballew |
1902-1984 |
Sheik |
| Jim Bannon |
 |
Starred as Red Ryder in 1949-50
(more) |
James Shorttel Bannon |
1911-1984 |
Thunder |
| Don “Red” Barry |
 |
Starred as Red Ryder in early 1940s
(more) |
Donald Michael Barry DeAcosta (or Milton Poimboeuf) |
1912-1980 |
Thunder, Cyclone |
| Buzz Barton |
 |
At 5’2”, was shortest cowboy in 1920-30s movies
(more) |
William Andrew Lamoreaux |
1913-1980 |
Pee Wee |
| Rex Bell |
 |
Silent westerns; married to Clara Bow
(more) |
George Francis Beldam |
1903-1962 |
Streak, Stormy |
| Ray Bennett |
 |
Actor in 83 movies, usually in supporting roles
(more) |
Raphael Bennet |
1895-1957 |
|
| Richard Boone |
 |
Played Paladin of TV series, 1957-1963
(more) |
Richard Allen Boone |
1917-1981 |
Rafter |
| William Boyd |
 |
Played Hopalong Cassidy of TV series
(more) |
William Lawrence Boyd |
1895-1972 |
Topper |
| Johnny Mack Brown |
 |
Actor in 1939-40s western movies
(more) |
Johnny Mack Brown |
1904-1974 |
Rebel |
| Reno Browne, Reno Blair |
 |
Excellent riding film star
(more) |
Josephine Ruth Clarke |
1921-1991 |
Major |
| Smiley Burnette |
 |
Played “Frog Millhouse” in movies 1935-44.
In 1940s, The Smiley Burnette Show
(more) |
Lester Alvin Burnette |
1911-1967 |
Ring Eyed Nellie (Black Eyed Nellie) |
| Rod Cameron |
 |
Actor in 1940s western movies
(more) |
Nathan Roderick Cox |
1910-1983 |
Knight |
| Harry Carey |
 |
Popular cowboy of silent movies
(more) |
Henry DeWitt Carey II |
1878-1947 |
Sunny |
| Harry Carey, Jr. |
 |
Actor in 1940s western movies
(more) |
Henry G. Carey, Jr. |
1921- |
|
| Johnny Carpenter |
 |
Actor in 1940s western movies
(more) |
John Carpenter |
1914-2003 |
Patterfoot |
| Sunset Carson |
 |
Cowboy actor of 1940s; wore guns butt forward.
(more) |
Winifred Maurice Harrison |
1920-1990 |
Cactus, Silver |
| Lane Chandler |
 |
Long-time actor playing in movies and TV
(more) |
Raymond Chandler Oakes |
1899-1972 |
Raven |
| Bill Cody |
 |
Actor in 1920-30s western movies
(more) |
William Joseph Cody, Jr. |
1891-1948 |
Chico |
| Chuck Connors |
 |
Lucas McCain on TV Rifleman series, 1958-1963; Jason McCord on TV Branded series, 1965-1966.
(more) |
Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors |
1921-1992 |
Razor |
| Gary Cooper |
 |
Starred in many westerns; played Marshal Will Kane in the movie High Noon, 1952.
(more) |
Frank James Cooper |
1901-1961 |
|
| Ray “Crash” Corrigan |
 |
Actor in 1930-50s western movies
(more) |
Raymond Benitz |
1902-1976 |
|
| Ken Curtis |
 |
“Festus” on TV Gunsmoke series
(more) |
Curtis Wain Gates |
1916-1991 |
Ruth |
| Gail Davis |
 |
Actor in western movies in 1940-50s; expert horse rider
(more) |
Betty Jeanne Grayson |
1925-1997 |
Target |
| Eddie Dean |
 |
Singing cowboy in 1940s westerns
(more) |
Edgar Dean Glossup |
1907-1999 |
Flash, White Cloud, Copper |
| Andy Devine |
 |
Raspy-voiced sidekick “Jingles” in
1950s TV series The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
(more) |
Andrew Vabre Devine |
1905-1977 |
Joker |
| Wild Bill Elliott |
 |
Starred in Wild Bill Hickok serial of the late 1930s
(more) |
Gordon Ami Nance (1) |
1904-1965 |
Thunder, Sonny |
| Dale Evans |
 |
Singing cowgirl of movies, radio and TV; married to Roy Rogers
(more) |
Lucille Wood Smith (2) |
1912-2001 |
Buttermilk, (Pal) |
| Evelyn Finley |
 |
Actor, horse rider, stuntwoman in movies, 1940-1980s.
(more) |
Evelyn Ruth Finley |
1916-1989 |
|
| Dick Foran |
 |
Actor in 1930-40s western movies
(more) |
John Nicholas Foran |
1910-1979 |
Smoke (Smoky) |
| Jane Frazee |
 |
Actor many western movies in the 1940s
(more) |
Mary Jane Frehse |
1918-1985 |
|
| Hoot Gibson |
 |
Actor in 1920-30s western movies. Rodeo and circus perfomer
(more) |
Edmund Richard Gibson |
1892-1962 |
Starlight, Goldie, Mud, Silver |
| Monte Hale |
 |
Actor in 1950s, singer at rodeos and circuses
(more) |
Samuel Buren Ely |
1919-2009 |
Pardner, Lightnin' |
| William S. Hart |
 |
Actor in silent screen westerns
(more) |
William Surrey Hart |
1864-1946 |
Fritz |
| Gabby Hayes |
 |
Sidekick in western movies
(more) |
George Francis Hayes |
1885-1969 |
Calico, Eddie |
| Jennifer Holt |
 |
Actor in 1940s western movies
(more) |
Elizabeth Marshall Holt |
1920-1997 |
|
| Jack Holt |
 |
Western film star; father of Tim and Jennifer
(more) |
Charles John Holt II |
1888-1951 |
Robin Hood |
| Tim Holt |
 |
Actor in 1940-50s western movies
(more) |
Charles John Holt III |
1919-1974 |
Sheik, Duke, Lightning |
| George Houston |
 |
Star of The Lone Rider movies in 1940s
(more) |
George Fleming Houston |
1896-1944 |
Shamrock |
| Jack Hoxie |
 |
Actor in 1920s silent westerns movies
(more) |
John Hartford Hoxie |
1885-1965 |
Scout |
| Buck Jones |
 |
Actor in 1920s silent westerns movies
(more) |
Charles Frederick Gebhart |
1891-1942 |
Silver, White Eagle |
| Tom Keene |
 |
Actor in 1930s western movies. Also known as Richard Powers.
(more) |
George Richard Duryea |
1896-1963 |
Rusty, Prince, Flash |
| Fuzzy Knight |
 |
Sidekick in westerns, 1929-1960s
(more) |
John Forrest Knight |
1901-1976 |
Old Brownie |
| Allan “Rocky’ Lane |
 |
Actor in 1930-40s western movies
(more) |
Harry Leonard Albershart |
1909-1973 |
Black Jack, Mesquite, Feather, Banner, Thunder |
| Lash LaRue |
 |
Actor in 1940s westerns; used a bullwhip against bad guys
(more) |
Alfred LaRue (Wilson) |
1917-1996 |
Rush, Black Diamond |
| Bob Livingston |
 |
Brother of Jack Randall; starred in Three Mesquiteers films
(more) |
Robert Edgar Randall |
1904-1988 |
Shamrock, Starlight |
| Jack Luden |
 |
Actor in 1930s western movies
(more) |
Jacob Benson Luden |
1902-1951 |
Pal |
| Richard Martin |
 |
Played Tim Holt’a sidekick, Chito Rafferty, in 29 films
(more) |
Richard Martin |
1917-1999 |
Taco |
| Ken Maynard |
 |
Singing cowboy in 1920-30s movies
(more) |
Kermit Roosevelt Maynard |
1895-1973 |
Tarzan |
| Kermit Maynard |
 |
Younger brother of Ken; Actor in 1930-60s westerns
(more) |
Kermit Maynard |
1887-1971 |
Baron, Rocky |
| Tim McCoy |
 |
Actor in 1930-40s western movies; sharpshooter
(more) |
Timothy John Fitzgerald McCoy |
1891-1978 |
Midnight, Starlight |
| Joel McCrea |
 |
Actor in many western movies and TV shows from 1946-1976
(more) |
Joel Albert McCrea |
1905-1990 |
Steel |
| Tom Mix |
 |
Hollywood’s first Western megastar 1910-30s
(more) |
Thomas Hezekiah Mix |
1880-1940 |
Tony, Old Blue |
| George Montgomery |
 |
Painter, sculptor, furniture craftsman, and stuntman best known as an actor in western films and TV
(more) |
George Montgomery Letz |
1916-2000 |
|
| Clayton Moore |
 |
Starred in The Lone Ranger on TV 1949-1957
(more) |
Jack Carlton Moore |
1914-1999 |
Silver |
| Wayne Morris |
 |
Actor in 1950s western movies
(more) |
Bert DeWayne Morris, Jr. |
1914-1959 |
|
| Pete Morrison |
 |
Actor in 1910-30s western movies
(more) |
George Douglas Morrison |
1914-1959 |
Lightning |
| Audie Murphy |
 |
Actor in 33 western movies
(more) |
Audie Leon Murphy |
1926-1971 |
|
| Jim Newill |
 |
Actor in 1940s western movies
(more) |
James M. Newill |
1911-1975 |
Alamo |
| George O’Brien |
 |
Actor in 1930s western movies
(more) |
George O’Brien |
1899-1985 |
Mike |
| Nell O’Day |
 |
Accomplished equestrian and actress in 1930-40s western movies
(more) |
Nellie Roach |
1909-1989 |
Shorty |
| Dorothy Page |
 |
“The Singing Cowgirl” of 1930s westerns
(more) |
Dorothy Lillian Stofflett |
1904-1961 |
Snowy |
| Jack Perrin |
 |
Actor in 1930s western movies
(more) |
Lyman Wakefield Perrin |
1896-1967 |
Starlight |
| Slim Pickens |
 |
Rodeo performer, film and television actor, 1950-80s
(more) |
Louis Bert Lindley, Jr. |
1919-1983 |
Dear John, Appaloosa |
| Jack Randall |
 |
Actor in 1930-40s western movies
(more) |
Addison Owen Randall |
1906-1945 |
Rusty |
| Tex Ritter |
 |
Actor in 1930-50s westerns and singing cowboy
(more) |
Maurice Woodward Ritter |
1905-1974 |
White Flash |
| Dale Robertson |
 |
Actor in TV westerns in the 1950-60s
(more) |
Dayle Lymoine Robertson |
1923- |
Fargo, Jubilee, Leo, Hannibal |
| Roy Rogers |
 |
Singing cowboy of movies, radio and TV; married to Dale Evans
(more) |
Leonard Franklin Slye |
1911-1998 |
Trigger |
| Buddy Roosevelt |
 |
Actor, stuntman in 1930-50s western movies
(more) |
Kenneth Standhope Sanderson |
1898-1973 |
Pardner, Tommy |
| Reb Russell |
 |
Actor in 1930s western movies
(more) |
Lafayette Hummel Russell |
1905-1978 |
Rebel |
| Fred Scott |
 |
Actor in 1930-40s western movies
(more) |
Fred Leedom Scott |
1902-1991 |
White King |
| Randolph Scott |
 |
Actor in 60 western movies
(more) |
George Randolph Scott |
1898-1987 |
Stardust |
| Charles Starrett |
 |
Actor in 1930-50s in westerns; famous as The Durango Kid
(more) |
Charles Robert Starrett |
1903-1986 |
Raider |
| Bob Steele |
 |
Actor in 1930-60s movies and TV westerns
(more) |
Robert Adrian Bradbury |
1907-1988 |
Brownie |
| Peggy Stewart |
 |
Actor in 1930-50s western movies and TV
(more) |
Margaret O’Rourke |
1923- |
Smoky |
| Fred Thomson |
 |
Actor in 1910-20s silent westerns movies
(more) |
Frederick Clifton Thomson |
1890-1928 |
Silver King |
| Tom Tyler |
 |
Actor in 1920-30s western movies
(more) |
Vincent Markowski |
1902-1954 |
Baron |
| Jimmy Wakely |
 |
Actor-singer in 1940-50s western movies
(more) |
James Clarence Wakeley |
1914-1982 |
Lucky, Sonny |
| Wally Wales |
 |
Actor in 1920-50s western movies >
(more) |
Floyd Taliaferro Alderson (3) |
1895-1990 |
Ace, Baron |
| Clint Walker |
 |
Star of TV series Cheyenne 1955-1962
(more) |
Norman Eugene Walker |
1927- |
Brandy |
| Eddy Waller |
 |
Played Nugget Clark, sidekick of Allan ‘Rocky’ Lane from 1947 through 1953.
(more) |
Eddy Waller |
1889-1977 |
|
| James Warren |
 |
Minor actor in 1940-50s westerns
(more) |
James Whittlig |
1913-2001 |
|
| John Wayne |
 |
Appeared in dozens of westerns between 1930 - 1939; was the first singing cowboy in Riders of Destiny, 1933
(more) |
Marion Robert Morrison |
1907-1979 |
Banner, Cochise, Duke, Beau, Steel, Dollar |
| Ray Whitley |
 |
Actor in 1930-50s western movies; wrote “Back in the Saddle Again” song
(more) |
Raymond Otis Whitley |
1901-1979 |
|
| Guinn “Big Boy” Williams |
 |
Actor in 1930-40s western movies; later in TV
(more) |
Guinn Terrell Williams, Jr. |
1899-1962 |
|
| Chill Wills |
 |
Actor in 1930-50s western movies and TV
(more) |
Chill Theodore Wills |
1903-1978 |
|
|
NOTES:
(1) William Elliot: For a while known as Gordon Eliot.
(2) Dale Evans: Later changed her name to Frances Octavia Smith.
(3) Wally Wales: Changed his name back to Hal Taliaferro in 1930s.
|
|
Bobby Copeland has written many books about cowboys.
Tim McCoy - A Real Rough Rider; $22.00. NEW, May 2009
Charlie King: We Called Him Blackie.
Retail $15... your price, $8, includes shipping!!!
$3 discount on each book below—includes shipping.
Gabby Hayes - King of the Cowboy Comics. $24
Sunset Carson - The Adventures of a Cowboy Hero. $21
Smiley Burnette - We Called Him Frog. $21
Johnny Mack Brown - Up Close and Personal. Written with
the assistance of Johnny's family. $24
Bill Elliott - The Peaceable Man. $18
Roy Barcroft - King of the Badmen. $18
Silent Hoofbeats. All about movie cowboys and their horses
with lots of photos. $24
B-Western Boot Hill. THE ULTIMATE COWBOY REFERENCE BOOK
with over 1100 entries. Includes where the cowboys were born, died, buried, and actual obituaries.
This book has been called “a literacy milestone and one of the top-ten cowboy books of all time.” $18
Trail Talk. Best selling cowboy book for two years.
Cowboy quotes, creeds, names of horses, real names of people before changed by Hollywood,
top ten moneymakers, plus much more. $15
Best of the Badmen. Over 300 pages with 300+ badmen
from A and B-westerns and TV. $44
Whip Wilson Story. Complete coverage on Monogram’s
whip-cracking cowboy. $13
Bob Baker Story. All the info on the 1930s Universal star. $13
Five Heroes. Featuring Russell Hayden, Eddie Dean, Tom Keene,
John “Dusty” King and George Houston. $13
VIDEO - DVD or VHS. An informative and nostalgic look back
at the six-gun heroes of yesterday. Includes an exclusive interview with Johnny
Mack Brown’s daughter Cynthia, and historian Bobby Copeland. A MUST FOR COWBOY FANS. $22.95
All books postpaid in the U.S.—foreign extra.
Autographed by request. Check or money order only to:
Bobby Copeland, 104 Claremont, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
|
he following list (in alphabetical
order of last name) is of notable personalities of film and TV whose fame was predominantly
in westerns. Being notable, of course, is subjective. So there may be others who
some might think should be included here. If you don’t see a particular actor here,
go to 