While the western genre has produced its fair share of big stars, there are a host of actors who have made surprising appearances in westerns in their careers. Going all the way back to the earliest days of film, the western has been one of the most popular genres, and it stayed that way for decades.

Though the western began to fade in popularity in the ’70s, the genre merely evolved beyond its original themes. The classic westerns aimed to reinforce a certain view of the history of the American West, but the anti-westerns of later decades delivered a less idealized version of the story.

One thing the genre is known for is producing stars, and there are a bevy of Hollywood legends who are best remembered for starring in westerns. Names like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Gene Autry are all inseparable from their gunslinging cowboy characters, even if they appeared in other movies too.

On the other hand, there are stars who never acted in westerns throughout their careers, or some who only made a few appearances. Film used to be a lot more divisive when it came to genre, and performers typically stuck to what they were known for. Nevertheless, the western has featured a few surprising actors over the years.

10

Benedict Cumberbatch – The Power Of The Dog (2021)

The Sherlock Star Appeared In A Memorable Modern Western

While best known for his suave heroes like Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch made his first appearance in a western in 2021’s The Power of the Dog. The psychological drama uses the backdrop of a western to explore its deeper themes of masculinity, and Cumberbatch plays a complex lead.

Power of the Dog was nominated for 12 Oscars, including Best Picture.

Jane Campion’s movie earned a lot of critical praise, and it’s a fine example of a movie that deconstructs the tropes of the western. It’s unclear if Cumberbatch will appear in another western, but if he does, it will probably lean more towards The Power of the Dog instead of a more traditional action story.

9

Vincent Price – The Baron Of Arizona (1950)

The Horror Icon Made A Few Western Appearances

Ironically, Vincent Price was typecast in horror roles throughout most of his career, but he did make a few appearances in the western genre too. Most notably, Price starred in one of Samuel Fuller’s best movies, The Baron of Arizona. Playing a villainous role, Price is at his best playing the cunning swindler who tries to steal the eponymous territory.

Because Price starred in over 100 films, he actually appeared in a handful of westerns besides The Baron of Arizona.

Because Price starred in over 100 films, he actually appeared in a handful of westerns besides The Baron of Arizona. He starred in the western comedy, Curtain Call at Cactus Creek in 1950, and in the violent 1969 film, More ᴅᴇᴀᴅ than Alive.

8

John Belushi – Goin’ South (1978)

Belushi’s Tragically-Short Career Featured A Western

Though John Belushi’s life was tragically cut short in the early ’80s, his short filmography did include a western. Fresh off his success as an original cast member on Saturday Night Live, Belushi was tapped to play a gruff Old West deputy in the Jack Nicholson western comedy, Goin’ South.

Belushi got to be his usual bombastic self, and he starred opposite Christopher Lloyd, with whom he had amazing chemistry. Because Belushi did best when starring in comedies, he likely would have been relegated to the funnier side of westerns. Then again, it’s impossible to know where his career might have gone.

7

Sean Connery – Shalako (1968)

James Bond Himself Starred In An Oft-Forgotten Western

In the middle of his beloved run as superspy, James Bond, Sean Connery made his one and only appearance in a western in 1968’s Shalako. Adapting the Louis L’Amour book of the same name, Connery was somewhat oddly cast as a tracker who guides a group of aristocrats through Apache territory.

Connery did his best to trade in his suave persona for that of a rugged frontiersman, but he was only half-way convincing. The movie was a big success in Europe, but Connery never returned to headline another western for the rest of his career. He dabbled in plenty of other genres after leaving Bond behind, but westerns didn’t stick.

6

Marilyn Monroe – River Of No Return (1954)

The Hollywood Icon’s Only Appearance In A Western

On her way to becoming one of the defining stars of the Old Hollywood era, Marilyn Monroe appeared in a surprising number of films. However, her relatively short career only featured one western, and it was the jaunty musical adventure called River of No Return. Monroe starred alongside Robert Mitchum, a legend of genre pictures.

Monroe’s role as the lovable barroom singer, Kay, wasn’t really outside of her wheelhouse, but it allowed her to show off her singing and abundant personality. Had she lived longer, Monroe might very well have made a few more western appearances, but River was one of her last films before her career slowed considerably.

5

Harrison Ford – The Frisco Kid (1979)

One Of Ford’s Earliest Movies Was A Western

Just a few years removed from playing Han Solo in Star Wars, Harrison Ford co-starred in the western comedy film, The Frisco Kid. Playing opposite Gene Wilder, Ford was perfectly cast as the shaky-gunned Tommy Lillard, who is one of the few people who looks kindly upon Wilder’s wandering rabbi.

Ford made a career out of playing the straight man, but he’s surprisingly funny in the underrated comedy. He’s still his usual gruff self, but there’s a note of humor just beneath the surface. It would take decades for Ford to return to the Old West, and he also headlined the big-budget action film, Cowboys & Aliens in 2011.

Ford would also star in the western TV series, 1923.

4

Denzel Washington – The Magnificent Seven (2016)

The Oscar Nominee Finally Appeared In The Western Genre

Decades into his career, Oscar nominee Denzel Washington finally made his western debut in the remake of The Magnificent Seven. Throwing his weight behind the ensemble action film, Washington deftly slides into the lead role as U.S. Marshal Sam Chisholm. Known for his dramatic parts, Washington was also no stranger to playing gun-toting heroes.

While 2016’s The Magnificent Seven failed to reach the heights of the original, it was a star-studded affair that kept the genre alive in mainstream cinema. Denzel Washington was one of the highlights, and it’s only a matter of time before he returns in another western.

3

John Cusack – The Jack Bull (1999)

Cusack’s Western Debut Came In A TV Movie

Produced for HBO, The Jack Bull was John Cusack’s first appearance in a western, and one of the most underrated examples of the genre from the ’90s. The story explores one man’s fate in the early days of the Wyoming territory, and it allowed Cusack to show off some serious dramatic acting chops.

Cusack has mostly starred in low-budget movies in recent years, so his return to the western seems unlikely.

Westerns were suddenly popular again in the ’90s, but The Jack Bull was Cusack’s only appearance for quite some time. He would return to the genre in the 2010s, when he appeared in the revisionist wester, Never Grow Old in 2019. Cusack has mostly starred in low-budget movies in recent years, so his return to the western seems unlikely.

2

Chris Pine – Hell Or High Water (2016)

Pine Has Yet To Appear In A Traditional Western

Taylor Sheridan has quickly become a master of the western, and 2016’s Hell or High Water is a modern take on the genre. It’s also Chris Pine’s only brush with that corner of cinema, and he stars opposite Jeff Bridges as a desperate man who stages a series of heists to save his ranch.

Taking tropes from westerns, Hell or High Water is a modern story with a timeless quality. Pine is out of his comfort zone as Toby Howard, but he does an excellent job playing a character with layers. Throughout his career, Pine’s been to space and fought alongside Wonder Woman, but it’s unclear if he’ll ever go out West again.

1

Regina King – The Harder They Fall (2021)

Her Illustrious Career Now Includes A Western

Continuing the rich tradition of Black westerns from the past, The Harder They Fall features a bevy of actors making their Old West debuts. Perhaps most surprising was Regina King, and the Oscar winner appeared as Trudy Smith in the ensemble action film. King stole the show as the gunslinger who is loosely based on a real-life figure from history.

Though the film wasn’t appropriately appreciated upon release, The Harder They Fall is one of the best modern examples of the western, and could point the way for the genre’s future. King’s turn as Trudy Smith was a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and she probably won’t be strapping on her spurs anytime soon.