Though stars like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood might get all the attention, there are a ton of underrated western actors who are the lifeblood of the genre. Westerns have been around for as long as mainstream cinema itself, and Hollywood began churning them out in dozens during the silent era.
Once the Golden Age of Hollywood began in earnest, so too did the peak of the popularity of the western on the big screen. With beautiful sweeping vistas, unflappable heroes, and an idealized view of American history, the western became the go-to genre for decades. It produced massive stars who made a name for themselves playing swaggering cowboys.
However, working alongside the likes of Wayne and Eastwood was a roster of extremely talented actors who didn't get as much attention. Whether they played villains, or merely starred in so-called "B-movies", the western genre produced a ton of talent that never got the respect that they deserved. Without them, the movies would have been dull affairs.
Jack Elam
Many old movie stars had a distinct aspect that made them instantly recognizable, and Jack Elam's lazy eye was his trademark. Starring in over 70 movies across six decades, Elam was quickly typecast in gruff and villainous roles, mostly in westerns. Starting his career in the 1940s, Elam hit Hollywood just at the right time to find his niche.
Though he also starred in noir films like Kansas City Confidential, and comedies like Cannonball Run II, Elam was firmly planted in westerns. He played ruffians and town drunks, and his unique appearance helped him blend in with the Old West environs. Though underrated, Elam will always be remembered for playing Snaky in Once Upon a Time in the West.
John Ireland
Canadian-born and American-raised, John Ireland put together an amazing seven-decade career that started all the way back in the '30s. Like most actors from that period, Ireland starred in dozens of films that spanned across multiple genres. He appeared in a lot of westerns in the early days of his career, and his tenure was truly underrated.
John Ireland was nominated for an Academy Award for the role of Jack Burden in All The King's Men.
John Ireland's theatrical training made him a larger-than-life figure onscreen, and he often played conflicted heroes or reluctant villains. He appeared in all-time western classics like Red River, but starring roles like I Shot Jesse James showed off his depth. Ireland did so much more in his career, but his westerns can't be ignored.
Ward Bond
Ward Bond was an Old Hollywood icon, and he appeared in more than a dozen Oscar-nominated films. However, the character actor was best known for his appearances in westerns, even if he himself remains an underrated part of the genre's history. Bond starred alongside John Wayne in two dozen films, and he existed in The Duke's shadow.
Bond was perfectly cast in nearly every role he played, so he portrayed everything from noble heroes to cowardly villains. Captain Clayton in The Searchers was perhaps his most notable big screen western role, but fans of western TV shows would instantly recognize him for his starring part on Wagon Train.
Harry Carey Jr.
Harry Carey Jr. was one of the first-ever second generation western stars, and he followed in the footsteps of his father. Starting in 1946, Carey immediately fell into westerns and had a legitimate knack for the genre. He continued to act in them long after the Golden Age faded, and eventually became an elder statesman of westerns.
Carey had roles in Red River and The Searchers, appearing in a stunning number of classics. Though he never landed a defining part, Carey exemplified the working actor trope as a reliable bit player for more than half a century. His legacy earned him a role in 1993's Tombstone, a fitting tribute to his underrated career.
Ben Johnson
The western genre has always embraced action, and no actor better represented that philosophy quite like Ben Johnson. Johnson got his start as a stuntman and in uncredited roles, before eventually graduating to star status. Known for his excellent work with horses, Johnson had a real wrangling pedigree from his experience as a younger man.
Johnson worked alongside John Wayne frequently, and his career continued after the Golden Age ended. He was a reliable supporting star, and Johnson touched nearly every genre on the big and small screen. Johnson won an Oscar for his portrayal of Sam the Lion in the neo-western gem, The Last Picture Show.
Woody Strode
Woody Strode spent his entire life breaking barriers, and after helping to shatter the color boundary in the NFL, he began an illustrious career as an actor. Though his early years were spent playing trivial roles in the background, the Italian cinema renaissance gave Strode a chance to become the star he was always meant to be.
The underrated legend found work in westerns, particularly bombastic spaghetti westerns. He shined in Once Upon a Time in the West, and continued in lesser-known films like Boot Hill and The Deserter. Strode's dynamic heroes pushed the limits of what was possible for Black performers at the time, and the western genre allowed him to flourish.
Eli Wallach
Character actors are supposed to disappear into their roles, and few could do it as well as Eli Wallach. The multi-award winner played dozens of roles across genres, and his western roles were only a small part of his career. However, his western parts are so important that they shouldn't be overlooked in favor of his conventional work.
Wallach flourished in Italian spaghetti westerns, and will always be remembered for playing the conniving bandit, Tuco, in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Despite an impressive western catalog, Wallach is still underrated because of his chameleon-like abilities. Other western stars had a recognizable face, but Wallach's characters did the talking.
Randolph Scott
If it wasn't for John Wayne's towering star power, Randolph Scott could have easily been the leading name in westerns during Hollywood's Golden Age. Coming up through the silent era and blossoming into a handsome leading man, Scott embodied the Hollywood ideal of the period. However, he had versatility even when playing similar roles.
Movies like The Tall T put Scott squarely in the hero role, but The Spoilers proved he could play a despicable heel as well. Scott's commitment to westerns was impressive, and they made up the bulk of his filmography. Nevertheless, he has become underrated as many of his greatest achievements have been overlooked by modern moviegoers.
Joel McCrea
Hollywood stars of the past made dozens of films throughout their careers, and Joel McCrea's amazing work couldn't be boiled down into just one genre. However, the actor did make a considerable number of westerns, and it was where he truly flourished as a performer. Westerns didn't give McCrea his big break, but they gave his career longevity.
McCrea's good looks made him a cinematic hero, and he rarely played villains. However, his work never got stale because he was just so charming as a good guy with a heart of gold. Classics like The Virginian and Ride the High Country are revered, but McCrea is underrated because his non-westerns were bigger.
Alan Ladd
Alan Ladd's fascinating career saw him break into the competitive studio system with his very own production company, and he overcame a lot of other limitations. Standing only around five-and-a-half feet tall, Ladd still managed to command the screen with his towering presence, something that served him well in westerns.
Aside from his noir roles, Ladd's career-defining parts typically came in the Old West, where he excelled at playing handsome strangers with dark pasts. Shane will always be the movie that Ladd is best loved for, and the western hit established character tropes that are still used today. Ladd might not be a household name, but he deserves more recognition.