Forget Kevin Costner: 10 Biggest Western Stars Who Defined the Genre

10. James Arness (1923–2011)

James Arness is primarily recognized for his iconic portrayal of Marshal Matt Dillon in the long-running prime-time Western TV show Gunsmoke.

From 1955 to 1975, Arness entertained the audience by keeping the peace in Dodge City, but he also starred in legendary movies like Them!, Hondo, The Farmer's Daughter, and others.

9. Lee Marvin (1924–1987)

Famous for his tough and brutal character, Lee Marvin was just as masculine off-screen as he was in his movies. He blew up after portraying Kid Shelleen in Cat Ballou and went on to star in other iconic Western movies, including The Dirty Dozen, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Big Red One, and many others.

8. Sam Elliott (1944–Now)

Sharp and rugged, Sam Elliot was born to portray gruffly cowboys with a no-BS attitude. His iconic mustache broke many hearts, and the actor didn’t become less popular after Westerns died off: since his famous Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, he also starred in movies like The Big Lebowski, Ghost Rider, Hulk, and more.

7. Charles Bronson (1921–2003)

Another iconic Western tough guy, Charles Bronson always looked like he’d come from the Wild, Wild West — but that’s only because he had. Bronson’s resume included such iconic Westerns like Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, Death Wish, and a bunch of others that made him a legend.

6. Gary Cooper (1901–1961)

Unlike his many tough-as-nails colleagues, Gary Cooper had a different play: he was a stoic hero who made this archetype popular. Cooper dominated the industry during the Golden Age of Hollywood and had lead roles in a staggering 84 movies, including High Noon, Cinema Paradiso, The Pride of the Yankees, Wings, and more.

5. Lee Van Cleef (1925–1989)

Lee Van Cleef wasn’t your typical Western hero; in fact, he wasn’t a hero at all. Thanks to his chilling presence and hawk-like features, the actor was the ultimate Western villain, notorious for his role in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Van Cleef played the bad guy in High Noon, How the West Was Won, and countless others.

4. Robert Duvall (1931–Now)

One of the most wide-ranging stars on this list, Robert Duvall has portrayed many iconic characters and starred in landmark movies like The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, To Kill a Mockingbird, and others. According to the actor himself, he’s always preferred Westerns, as proven by his stellar acting in Lonesome Dove and others.

3. James Stewart (1908–1997)

To this day, many remember James Stewart as the hero he was: he became the first major movie star to enlist when World War II began. Both before and after the war, Stewart embodied the perfect gunslinger type on the screen, including legendary pictures like It's a Wonderful Life, Vertigo, The Philadelphia Story, and more.

2. Clint Eastwood (1930–Now)

The one and only Clint Eastwood is still rocking as a Western star. The actor’s iconic roles in Good, Unforgiven, Dirty Harry, and countless other movies brought him worldwide fame and four Academy Awards, but they don’t stop Eastwood from doing what he loves: his latest Western, Cry Macho, premiered only three years ago!

1. John Wayne (1907–1979)

John Wayne was not just a Western star: he was the Western star. The Oscar-winning actor played in most major Western movies of his time throughout his rich career, leaving an ever-lasting impact on the genre. It’s impossible to pinpoint every important movie of Wayne’s, but the short list of Stagecoach, True Grit, Rio Bravo, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance should give you an idea.