Nowadays, if an up-and-coming actor wants to make a splash in the industry, there are a few niches that may help propel them. A Marvel movie, perhaps. A book-to-screen adaptation of the latest internet craze, maybe. Westerns certainly aren’t the films most people have their eyes on in recent years. Sure, Killers of the Flower Moon garnered a lot of buzz, but even that failed to break even. That being said, some of the most iconic actors have gotten their starts in gun-slinging, horse-galloping Westerns.
Whether it was their debut role or an early project that helped solidify them as a star, many famous actors can thank this genre for their later success. Some ventured on to more mainstream roles later on, while others stuck to their roots and remained a force within this genre. Saddle up and learn about 10 famous actors who got their starts in Westerns.
10 Clint Eastwood
For many, Clint Eastwood is the definition of a Western movie star, and it’d be hard to argue with that. He had a number of uncredited roles and one small role in a comedy early in his career. However, a shift came when he was cast as Lieutenant Jack Rice in The First Traveling Saleslady (1956). It follows two salesladies who decide to sell barbed wire to cowboys rather than corsets to women.
A Slow But Steady Growth
Eastwood had a relatively small role and the film was not a financial success. But it was the catalyst for getting bigger roles and more credibility. It’d take him a few more years to strike gold critically and financially with a Western, but it eventually came with the fun spaghetti Western A Fistful of Dollars . Now, Eastwood has a huge range of movies under his belt as an actor and filmmaker. It’s no doubt that Westerns helped get him there. Stream A Fistful of Dollars on Max.
9 John Wayne
John Wayne is proof that many actors have to do a lot of “invisible work” before making it big. He worked as an extra and stuntman for years before getting his break with 1930’s The Big Trail. It revolves around a young man named Breck Coleman (Wayne) who is leading settlers out West. At the same time, he’s trying to get justice for his murdered friend.
Undeterred By Setbacks
The Big Trail was Wayne’s first lead role and it was a box office failure. For many actors, this would be the nail in the coffin of their career. However, Wayne continued plugging away and built up his portfolio with smaller Western films. Eventually, his break came in 1939 with Stagecoach. This film had a much warmer reception and truly put him on the map. Today, both The Big Trail and Stagecoach are preserved in the National Film Registry. Rent The Big Trail on AppleTV.
8 Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum made a mark in Hollywood thanks to over fifty years of work and more than one hundred films. One of his earliest roles was in the Western Border Patrol. In the film, a cowboy and his buddies investigate the disappearance of mine workers against the wishes of their corrupt boss. The cowboys get arrested on bogus charges and need to find a way to freedom and justice.
Make Every Minute Count
Mitchum plays the tiny role of Quinn, one of the boss’ henchmen. Despite his limited presence, he made an impression on studios and began to get cast at an impressive pace. It was just the following year when he starred in Nevada. After that, he continued to land lead role after lead role, working alongside established actors in this genre. Stream Border Patrol on Prime Video.
7 Gary Cooper
While most actors’ film debuts are small, background roles, Gary Cooper officially introduced himself to the world as one of three leads in The Winning of Barbara Worth. After years of earning his stripes as an extra, here Cooper played Abe Lee, a cowboy and love interest for the titular woman. Despite Barbara’s affection toward him, he has competition with the engineer who recently arrived in town.
An O.G. “Bankable Star”
Cooper rose to fame during the silent film era. Audiences may not have been able to hear him speak for years, but they were captivated by the Montana native. Many of his early Westerns were also romances, cementing him as a swoon-worthy leading man. He proved he could transition to talkies in the hit Western The Virginian. From there on out, studios could almost guarantee that droves of fans would turn up to theaters to see him on the big screen. Stream The Winning of Barbara Worth on Kanopy.
6 Lee Van Cleef
From the get-go, actor Lee Van Cleef knew Westerns was a market he could succeed in. His first on-screen appearance came in 1952’s High Noon, which starred the previously mentioned Cooper. In High Noon , Van Cleef had a non-speaking role as an outlaw and younger brother to the film’s primary villain. Though he eventually nabbed more prominent roles, this did give a glimpse into his future playing antagonistic or evil characters.
The Perfect Villain for the Wild West
Van Cleef’s debut film did not fly under the radar. High Noon had the entire country talking due to its departure from conventional Western tropes and political messaging. He wasn’t just relegated to side characters. In 1967, he starred as a bounty hunter in the spaghetti The Big Gundown. No matter if he received top billing or helped propel the plot for the leading hero, Van Cleef became a staple for Western fans. Stream High Noon on Paramount+.
5 James Stewart
James Stewart, also known as Jimmy, was a prolific actor during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Comedies and westerns were his bread and butter, and he worked with some of the most iconic faces in the entertainment business. One of his earliest roles was in the Western musical Rose Marie. There he plays Jack, the brother of an opera singer who learns of his escape from prison and ventures into the Canadian wilderness to find him.
A Catalog Worth Checking Out
Stewart is best known for his romantic comedies, like The Philadelphia Story, which landed him his first Oscar. His Christmas flick It’s a Wonderful Life remains on lists of the best holiday films ever. Still, it was his early work in Westerns that allowed him to venture off into other genres. He always nailed the accent and broody disposition of the men he portrayed. His later work may overshadow his Western filmography, but they certainly have their own merits. Rent Rose Marie on Apple TV.
4 Lee Marvin
One of the most recognizable faces for villains in classic Westerns has to be Lee Marvin. There’s something about actors named Lee and playing bad guys, it seems. Marvin possessed the confidence and charm that translated perfectly for his morally gray (or outright awful) characters. His best-known works are likely in the crime or war drama sphere, but those are not what launched him into superstardom.
A Villain Audiences Loved
Marvin’s first credited role was in The Duel at Silver Creek. It’s a classic love triangle story set against the backdrop of the West. While Marvin doesn’t play either lead male role, it was the start of his long career. Within the next two years, he starred in five more Westerns, along with other films. The Professionals came out later in his career (1966) but is among his best work. If cinephiles enjoy high-stakes rescue missions, it’s worth checking out.
3 Henry Fonda
If someone were asked to name a Henry Fonda western film, they’d have a large selection to choose from. Jesse James. Young Mr. Lincoln. My Darling Clementine. These are some of the most well-regarded Westerns of all time and Fonda’s impact cannot be understated. The Nebraska native showed over his 50+ year career that he can cause deep belly laughs in the silliest of screwball comedies and have audiences wringing their hands in suspense-filled dramas.
A Nice Introduction
Before he was the famous actor that everyone wanted in their film, Fonda was working his way up the Hollywood food chain. The Trail of the Lonesome Pine was one of the earliest films to be shot in color. Fonda plays Dave, a man set to marry his cousin (yes, very different times) but she has taken to a newcomer who saved Dave’s life. While Fonda’s other work gained more worldwide attention, this leading role brought him to the public consciousness.
2 Walter Brennan
Hustle is an understatement to define Walter Brennan’s early days trying to break into the film business. Much of the early work he took part in was uncredited extra roles. Someone finally took a chance on him in the mid-1930s. First, with Barbary Coast following a recent widow who goes to work at a gambling house. Then, with Three Godfathers about a trio of criminals who come across a dying mother and her newborn mother. This was the role Brennan needed.
Lucky Number Three
Three Godfathers allowed Brennan to announce he was more than a periphery character. While he still struggled to secure lead roles, the shift after Three Godfathers was notable. Eventually, he won three Oscars for Best Supporting Actor, including for 1940’s The Westerner. As of 2024, he is one of three male actors to win three Oscars.
1 Joanne Dru
As evidenced by this list, Westerns were, and continue to be, a male-dominated genre. Women were either not given roles at all or were relegated to the love interest or damsel in distress. However, one notable actress who got her start with Westerns is Joanne Dru. Her first major role was in Red River alongside Brennan, Wayne, and Montgomery Clift.
A Place for Women
Yes, in Red River, she does portray a woman who is saved by one of the lead men and falls for him. No matter, because her acting chops connected with audiences straight away. After the success of Red River, Dru continued to get cast in other Westerns. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Wagon Master are two entertaining ones to check out. While the political drama All the King’s Men is arguably her most popular project, she never turned her back on Westerns throughout her career.
