As a lifelong movie fan, I can honestly say few actors define the Western quite like Sam Elliott. He’s been showing up in Westerns for over seven decades – I remember first spotting him way back in 1967’s The Way West! Honestly, at this point, the Western just wouldn’t be the same without him, especially on TV. He’s become such an iconic figure in the genre, it’s hard to picture it without his presence.
While Elliott might not immediately spring to mind when thinking of the greatest Western actors, he’s become a truly unique and recognizable figure in the genre. Though he often played supporting roles, his distinctive deep voice and large mustache have made him an unforgettable icon.
The Coen brothers famously built their film The Big Lebowski around a specific, recognizable character type, deliberately echoing the style of classic Westerns. Now, Taylor Sheridan is doing something similar with Landman season 2, using that same character type to establish Tommy Norris as a modern Western anti-hero.
Sam Elliott Has Played A Western Role In Every Decade Since The 1960s
For over 58 years, Sam Elliott has brought a distinctive, rugged charm to countless Western films and TV shows. He started with small roles – a quick appearance in The Way West and as an extra in the iconic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – before landing recurring appearances on the Western series Lancer between 1969 and 1970.
| Year | Release In The Western Genre | Sam Elliott’s Role | Movie Or TV Show |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | The Way West | Missouri Townsman | Movie |
| 1969–1970 | Lancer | Renslo / Canopus / Cowboy | TV Show |
| 1969 | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid | Card Player #2 | Movie |
| 1972 | Gunsmoke | Cory Soames | TV Show |
| 1972 | Molly and Lawless John | Johnny Lawler | TV Movie |
| 1975 | I Will Fight No More Forever | Captain Wood | TV Movie |
| 1979 | The Sacketts | Tell Sackett | TV Show |
| 1980 | Wild Times | Hugh Cardiff | TV Movie |
| 1982 | The Shadow Riders | Dal Traven | TV Movie |
| 1987 | Gone to Texas | Sam Houston | TV Movie |
| 1987 | The Quick and the Dead | Con Vallian | TV Movie |
| 1991 | Conagher | Conn Conagher | TV Movie |
| 1993 | Tombstone | Virgil Earp | Movie |
| 1994 | The Desperate Trail | Bill Speakes | TV Movie |
| 1995 | The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky | Bill Bell | TV Movie |
| 1995 | Buffalo Girls | ‘Wild Bill’ Hickok | TV Movie |
| 1997 | Rough Riders | Captain ‘Bucky’ O’Neill | TV Movie |
| 1998 | The Big Lebowski | The Stranger | Movie |
| 1998 | Texarkana | – | TV Movie |
| 1998 | The Hi-Lo Country | Jim Ed Love | Movie |
| 1999 | You Know My Name | Bill Tilghman | Movie |
| 2003 | Off the Map | Charley Groden | Movie |
| 2009 | Did You Hear About the Morgans? | Clay Wheeler | Movie |
| 2015 | Justified | Avery Markham | TV Show |
| 2016–2020 | The Ranch | Beau Bennett | TV Show |
| 2017 | The Hero | Lee Hayden | Movie |
| 2019–Present | Family Guy | Wild West | TV Show |
| 2021–2022 | 1883 | Shea Brennan | TV Show |
| 2025–Present | Landman | Father Of Tommy Norris | TV Show |
Throughout the 1970s, he built a strong reputation as a Western actor, appearing in the classic TV series Gunsmoke, two TV movies, and the 1979 miniseries The Sacketts. His role in The Sacketts marked his first significant part in a Western production.
Elliott Established Himself As A Genre Great In The 1980s
Sam Elliott truly became a Western icon in the 1980s. Several of his most memorable Westerns came out during this time, and starring roles in TV movies like The Shadow Riders, Gone to Texas, and The Quick and the Dead made him the go-to actor for Westerns on television.
Throughout the 1980s, Sam Elliott crafted the traits that would become his trademark on screen, including his distinctive, gravelly voice and famous mustache. By the time he led the TV movie Conagher and appeared in the popular film Tombstone with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, many considered him the most recognizable face in Westerns.
Sam Elliott’s recent roles in shows like Justified, The Ranch (where he was also a producer), and 1883 have made him popular with a new generation of Western fans. Now, only Clint Eastwood has had a longer career as a Western actor.
Landman Is Sam Elliott’s 21st Western TV Role
With the new trailer for Landman season 2 showing Sam Elliott as Tommy Norris’s father, fans can anticipate another collaboration between Elliott and Billy Bob Thornton. The two actors previously starred together in Tombstone and later appeared in Taylor Sheridan’s 1883, a spin-off of Yellowstone.
With Landman, Elliott has now appeared in 21 Westerns for television, and a total of 29 Western roles throughout his career. Considering his extensive work on TV, he has a strong argument for being the most frequent Western actor on television ever.
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2025-11-11 13:51