Slim Pickens
Louis Burton Lindley Jr. (June 29, 1919 – December 8, 1983), professionally known as Slim Pickens, was an American rodeo performer and character actor renowned for portraying rugged cowboys and comic figures in Westerns and satires.[1][2] Born in Kingsburg, California, Pickens grew up on a dairy farm and developed a passion for rodeo from a young age, entering competitions at 14 despite his father's disapproval.[2] He adopted the stage name "Slim Pickens" while signing up for rodeo events and soon transitioned to full-time work as a rodeo clown and bullfighter, entertaining crowds at major venues including the Calgary Stampede, Cheyenne Frontier Days, and Pendleton Round-Up.[2] During World War II, Pickens enlisted in the U.S. Army, where a misunderstanding led to his assignment as a radio operator in the Midwest after his profession of "rodeo" was misheard as "radio," keeping him stateside for the war's duration.[3] Post-war, he entered acting in 1950 with a role in Rocky Mountain alongside Errol Flynn, leveraging his authentic cowboy persona to appear in over 150 films and television shows, often as a sidekick or comic relief.[2] Pickens gained lasting fame for iconic performances, including Major T.J. "King" Kong in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove (1964), where he memorably rode a nuclear bomb, and Taggart in Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles (1974), alongside roles in One-Eyed Jacks (1961), The Getaway (1972), and 1941 (1979).[1][2] His distinctive drawl, physical comedy, and genuine rodeo background made him a staple in Hollywood Westerns during the 1950s and 1960s, including appearances on TV series like Bonanza and Custer.[1] In recognition of his rodeo contributions, Pickens was posthumously inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2005; he died of brain cancer in Modesto, California, at age 64.[2]Early life
Birth and family
Louis Burton Lindley Jr. was born on June 29, 1919, in Kingsburg, California, a small town in the Central Valley near Fresno.[2] He was the son of Louis Bert Lindley Sr., a Texas-born dairy farmer who managed a family farm in the region, and Sally Mosher Turk, originally from Missouri.[4][5] Lindley had a younger brother, Samuel Turk Lindley, who later pursued acting under the stage name Easy Pickens.[6] The family resided on a dairy farm in Hanford, where Lindley spent his childhood immersed in ranch chores and around horses, fostering an early affinity for the rural lifestyle despite his father's strong opposition to such pursuits.[5][7] In the 1930s, as a teenager entering local rodeos without his father's approval, Lindley adopted the stage name Slim Pickens to conceal his identity; the moniker, evoking his lanky physique and the idiom for scant options, became permanent.[8]Entry into rodeo
Louis Burton Lindley Jr., born in 1919, first defied his father's strong opposition to rodeo by participating in local events starting around age 12, and on one early occasion was bucked off a saddle bronc and broke both wrists.[9][4] To conceal his involvement from his disapproving father, who had forbidden further participation, Lindley adopted the stage name "Slim Pickens"—a suggestion from a rodeo official noting his limited experience—when he began entering competitions at age 14 around 1933.[2] After graduating from Hanford High School, where he was a member of the Future Farmers of America, Lindley committed fully to rodeo in his late teens, working initial jobs as a cowboy and bronc rider at local California events throughout the 1930s, honing skills in roughstock riding amid the era's regional circuits.[2] These early experiences built his resilience and showmanship, as he navigated the physical demands and dangers of bucking horses and bulls in venues near his Kingsburg hometown.[2] To supplement his modest earnings from riding, Pickens developed a rodeo clown persona starting in his mid-teens, initially filling in for an absent performer at one of his early contests, where he donned a torero-style outfit and entertained crowds while protecting riders from livestock.[2] This role quickly evolved into a signature skill, blending humor, agility, and bravery to distract angry bulls and engage audiences, laying the foundation for his reputation in the sport before turning professional.[10]Rodeo career
Competitive performances
Pickens began his full-time rodeo career in 1938 after high school graduation, competing as a roughstock contestant in the Cowboys' Turtle Association (now Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) in events including bronc riding and bulldogging throughout the United States and Canada.[11][12] His athletic prowess in these roughstock and timed events established him as a respected contender on the professional circuit, where he traveled extensively to major rodeos during the 1940s and 1950s, including the Cow Palace, Calgary Stampede, Cheyenne Frontier Days, and Pendleton Round-Up.[2] Among his key achievements, Pickens won the amateur bronc riding event at Cheyenne Frontier Days early in the 1940s, highlighting his skill in saddle bronc competitions.[13] He performed at major venues amid top-tier professional talent.[2] Parallel to his competitive riding, Pickens transitioned to rodeo clown and bullfighter after filling in for a no-show clown, a demanding role that involved distracting aggressive bulls to protect downed riders while entertaining audiences with slapstick comedy routines.[2] Often performing in a distinctive torero outfit inspired by Mexican bullfighters, he developed a signature style of physical comedy that drew crowds and earned him widespread acclaim for his bravery and humor in the arena.[2] The rigors of his dual roles led to frequent injuries, including multiple broken bones from falls during bronc rides and close encounters with bulls as a clown, experiences that underscored his resilience and later informed his rugged on-screen image.[14]Transition to entertainment
Pickens' experience as a rodeo clown provided his initial foray into entertainment, where his comedic timing and physical prowess in distracting bulls and entertaining crowds honed skills that would later translate to performance work.[2] This background in the high-stakes arena of rodeo events positioned him as an authentic figure in Western culture, drawing attention from Hollywood scouts seeking genuine cowboy talent. His debut in film came in 1950 with an uncredited role as a rodeo performer in Rocky Mountain, starring Errol Flynn, where directors valued his rugged, authentic cowboy appearance and drawl for on-screen realism.[2] The role allowed Pickens to blend his rodeo expertise directly into the production, performing stunts and riding that required no coaching.[15] Throughout the early 1950s, Pickens continued to juggle demanding rodeo tours with emerging acting opportunities, often traveling between circuits and film sets, which tested his endurance but solidified his reputation as a versatile performer. By the mid-1950s, as acting roles increased, he gradually retired from full-time rodeo work to focus on entertainment, leveraging his bullfighting agility and crowd-engaging humor in character portrayals.[2]Acting career
Early film roles
Slim Pickens secured his first major film role as the lanky backwoodsman Sterling in John Ford's The Sun Shines Bright (1953), a adaptation of Irvin S. Cobb's stories set in a Southern town during the early 20th century.[16] This appearance marked a significant step from his rodeo background, where his authentic cowboy persona caught Ford's attention during a live performance.[17] Throughout the 1950s, Pickens built a prolific output in the Western genre, appearing in over 20 films that capitalized on the era's demand for B-movies and serials.[18] Notable examples include his supporting role as Sam Beekman in Santa Fe Passage (1955), directed by William Witney;[19] the role of Confederate soldier Pete Bracken in the Civil War adventure The Great Locomotive Chase (1956), helmed by Francis D. Lyon;[20] and his performance as stage driver Hank Moss in the tense border drama Gunsight Ridge (1957), directed by Francis D. Lyon.[21] These roles often featured him in rugged outdoor shoots, leveraging his real-life horsemanship for dynamic action sequences. Pickens was frequently typecast as tough yet humorous sidekicks or rough-hewn frontiersmen, a niche that suited his drawling voice and physical comedy honed from years as a rodeo clown.[17] His collaborations with directors like John Ford highlighted this versatility within low-budget productions, where he delivered reliable comic relief amid gunfights and chases.[16] These early Westerns, while not box-office blockbusters, played a key role in sustaining the popularity of the B-Western format during Hollywood's post-war transition, offering Pickens consistent work but modest salaries typical of supporting players in the genre.[17]Major film appearances
Slim Pickens began to expand beyond his early typecasting in light Westerns through prominent supporting roles in more serious films during the 1960s. In Marlon Brando's directorial debut One-Eyed Jacks (1961), Pickens portrayed Deputy Lon Dedrick, a villainous lawman whose antagonism toward the protagonist Rio (played by Brando) added tension to the revenge-driven narrative set in the California territories.[22] This role showcased Pickens' ability to embody a menacing authority figure, diverging from his previous comedic sidekicks and highlighting his range in dramatic Westerns.[23] Pickens' collaboration with director Sam Peckinpah further solidified his presence in gritty, character-focused Westerns, starting with Major Dundee (1965), where he played Wiley, a rugged mule-packer who joins a ragtag cavalry unit pursuing Apache warriors during the Civil War's final days.[24] As Wiley, Pickens delivered a grounded performance amid the film's exploration of vengeance and redemption, contributing to the ensemble's raw authenticity under Peckinpah's intense stylistic approach.[25] This appearance marked an early step in Pickens' shift toward more substantive dramatic parts, emphasizing his rodeo-honed physicality in high-stakes action sequences. In the 1970s, Pickens continued his Peckinpah partnerships with roles that deepened his dramatic portfolio. He appeared as Ben Fairchild, a stagecoach driver, in The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970), a poignant tale of frontier entrepreneurship and human resilience starring Jason Robards; Pickens' portrayal brought warmth and realism to the film's meditative tone on isolation and change in the Old West. Similarly, in The Getaway (1972), a tense crime thriller led by Steve McQueen, Pickens played a nameless Cowboy whose brief but memorable encounter with the fleeing protagonists underscored themes of desperation and fleeting humanity during their high-speed escape. These collaborations allowed Pickens to infuse Peckinpah's violent, introspective visions with authentic Western grit. Pickens' work with Peckinpah culminated in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), where he portrayed Sheriff Cullen Baker, a weathered lawman confronting mortality in a poignant death scene opposite Katy Jurado that has become iconic for its emotional depth and Bob Dylan soundtrack integration.[26] As Baker, Pickens conveyed quiet resignation and frontier stoicism, extending beyond traditional Western tropes to explore the elegiac end of an era, further demonstrating his versatility in non-comedic, character-driven narratives.[27]Breakthrough in comedy
Slim Pickens achieved his breakthrough in comedy with his portrayal of Major T.J. "King" Kong in Stanley Kubrick's 1964 satirical film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. In the role, Pickens depicted a rugged B-52 bomber commander who enthusiastically rides a nuclear bomb toward its target in a rodeo-style manner, delivering the film's most memorable comedic sequence through his authentic cowboy bravado and unscripted naturalism—Kubrick instructed him to perform without revealing the movie's satirical intent. This performance, drawing directly from Pickens' real-life experience as a rodeo clown and bull rider, marked a pivotal shift in his career, elevating him from bit-part Western supporting roles to a recognized comic force.[4] Pickens further expanded his comedic persona in Mel Brooks' 1974 Western parody Blazing Saddles, where he played Taggart, the bumbling and foul-mouthed foreman to the villainous Hedley Lamarr. His exaggerated portrayal of a dim-witted cowboy henchman, complete with profane outbursts and slapstick mishaps like the infamous bean-eating scene, amplified the film's irreverent spoof of genre tropes and cemented Pickens as a go-to actor for over-the-top cowboy humor.[28] Brooks specifically cast him to leverage the bomb-riding iconography from Dr. Strangelove, blending Pickens' rodeo-honed physicality with satirical edge.[29] In the mid-1970s, Pickens continued to provide comic relief in family-oriented and action comedies, showcasing his versatility beyond pure satire. As the limping outlaw Frank Stillwell in Disney's 1975 Western comedy The Apple Dumpling Gang, he embodied a hapless villain whose bungled schemes added lighthearted antagonism to the film's whimsical plot involving bumbling robbers and orphans.[30] Similarly, in the 1975 trucker action film White Line Fever, Pickens appeared as the folksy shipping yard manager Duane Haller, injecting humorous, down-home wisdom amid the story's tense confrontations with corruption.[31] These roles transformed Pickens' public image from a straightforward rodeo performer and straight-man cowboy in dramas to a beloved comic actor, influencing his subsequent casting in parodies that capitalized on his gravelly voice, physical comedy, and genuine Western authenticity.[10]Television and voice work
Television roles
Slim Pickens had an extensive television career spanning over three decades, with more than 50 live-action appearances primarily in Westerns and family dramas, where his authentic cowboy persona and comedic timing shone through.[32] His roles often emphasized rugged, humorous characters that drew from his rodeo background, contributing to the popularity of episodic Western programming during the 1960s and 1970s.[33] One of Pickens' most notable television commitments was as a semi-regular comic performer on the variety show Hee Haw, appearing in 25 episodes from 1981 to 1983, where he delivered sketches and musical interludes in his signature folksy style.[34] Earlier guest spots on the show included three episodes between 1969 and 1971, showcasing his variety act amid country music performances.[32] This role aligned with the show's rural humor, allowing Pickens to blend his comedic flair—honed in films—with live audience interaction. Pickens made multiple guest appearances on Bonanza throughout the 1960s and 1970s, portraying characters like the boisterous mountain man Big Jim Leyton in the 1963 episode "Half a Rogue," the reclusive trapper Jud Soule in "King of the Mountain" (1965), Billy Sunday in "Catch as Catch Can" (1968), and the sheriff in "What Are Pardners For?" (1970).[35][36] These four episodes highlighted his versatility in tough, no-nonsense Western archetypes, often involving frontier justice and family dynamics on the long-running NBC series. Pickens also appeared in the 1979 HBO mini-series The Sacketts, playing the rancher Jack Bigelow across two episodes, supporting the Sackett brothers' saga of frontier adventure and family loyalty based on Louis L'Amour's novels.[37] This role underscored his peak activity in the 1970s, when he frequently contributed to family-friendly Western narratives that celebrated American pioneer spirit.[38]Voice acting and recordings
Pickens provided the distinctive voice for the robot B.O.B. in the 1979 science fiction film The Black Hole, an uncredited role that showcased his gravelly Western drawl in a non-live-action capacity.[39] In the realm of recordings, Pickens narrated part 1 of Bobby Bridger's 1975 album A Ballad of the West, a collection of Western ballads titled "Seekers of the Fleece," where his storytelling lent authenticity to the epic narrative.[40] He also released a self-titled country album in 1977 on Blue Canyon Records, featuring original tracks like "A Stranger in Nashville" and covers such as Kinky Friedman's "Carryin' the Torch," blending humor and traditional country elements in a style reflective of his rodeo background.[41] Pickens' voice appeared in television commercials during the early 1980s, most notably as the narrator and on-screen personality in a 1981 Chevrolet trucks advertisement, emphasizing the vehicles' rugged reliability with his characteristic twang.[42]Personal life
Marriage and family
Slim Pickens married Margaret Elizabeth Harmon, known as "Maggi," on March 22, 1950, after meeting her at the Madera County Fair in California, where she was riding a horse and nearly collided with him during a rodeo event.[43][4] Their marriage lasted over 33 years until Pickens' death in 1983, during which time they built a stable family life centered around his rodeo and acting pursuits.[10] The couple raised three children together: stepdaughter Daryle Ann Lindley (later Giardino) from Maggi's previous marriage, and their biological children, daughter Margaret Louise "Maggi Lou" Wittman and son Thomas Michael "Thom" Lindley.[43][44][45] Thom followed in his father's footsteps by pursuing rodeo performances. The family resided on a ranch near Columbia in Tuolumne County, California, which served as their home base during Pickens' later career years.[46] Maggi played a supportive role in the family's life, helping to maintain their household amid Pickens' frequent travels for work. The couple had five grandchildren.[43]Hobbies and interests
Slim Pickens maintained a deep connection to his ranching roots throughout his life, reflecting the cowboy lifestyle he embraced from childhood. Born into a family that operated a dairy ranch in California's Central Valley near Kingsburg and Hanford, he developed an early passion for horses and ranch work, riding proficiently by age four and participating in farm chores that shaped his enduring affinity for the land.[4][5] Hunting emerged as one of Pickens' primary hobbies, often taking precedence over his acting commitments during prime seasons. He frequently embarked on trips to remote areas, including Alaska for big-game pursuits and Wyoming's Wind River Range near his property outside Boulder Lake, where he constructed a personal cabin to immerse himself in the wilderness. Pickens also ventured to New Mexico, submitting a notable elk entry to the Boone and Crockett Club's record book, underscoring his dedication to ethical hunting practices rooted in his rodeo background.[47][9]Later years and death
Health struggles
In the summer of 1982, Slim Pickens began experiencing health problems that led to the discovery of a brain tumor. He was admitted to the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, where neurosurgeons performed a five-hour operation on August 10 to remove the tumor. The procedure was described as exploratory, with the malignancy of the tumor not immediately confirmed, though Pickens' representatives expressed optimism about his recovery and anticipated only a short hospital stay.[48] Following the surgery, Pickens faced complications, including pneumonia, from which he never fully recovered. Despite these challenges, he persisted with his professional commitments, completing his final film role in Pink Motel (1982), a low-budget comedy in which he appeared alongside Phyllis Diller. This marked a reduction in his schedule as his condition worsened, limiting further acting opportunities in the ensuing months.[46] In 1983, despite his ongoing health issues, Pickens recorded a 30-second public service announcement for the UCSF Brain Tumor Research Center, which aired on 300 television stations. The PSA prompted a mother in Utah to seek treatment at the center for her 3-year-old daughter, Cathy Richards, who had a rare brain tumor; surgeons successfully removed the benign tumor, giving the girl an 80% chance of long-term survival.[49]Death and immediate aftermath
Slim Pickens, born Louis Burton Lindley Jr., died on December 8, 1983, at the age of 64 in a convalescent hospital in Modesto, California, from pneumonia that developed as a complication following brain surgery the previous year to remove a tumor.[10][46] In the immediate aftermath, his remains were cremated, and the ashes were scattered in a meadow outside Pinedale, Wyoming.[15]Legacy
Awards and recognition
Slim Pickens received formal recognition for both his rodeo contributions and his extensive work in Western films and television. In 1982, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City as part of the museum's annual Western Heritage Awards ceremony, honoring his portrayals of authentic cowboy characters across decades of cinema.[50] The following year, Pickens was awarded the Golden Boot Award by the Motion Picture & Television Fund, celebrating his significant contributions to the Western genre in film and television.[51] Posthumously, Pickens continued to be honored for his rodeo legacy. In 1986, he was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame by the Rodeo Historical Society, affiliated with the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, acknowledging his early career as a rodeo clown and bullfighter.[52] In 2005, he was enshrined in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in the Contract Personnel category, recognizing his performances at major events like the Calgary Stampede and Cheyenne Frontier Days before transitioning to acting.[2] In 2020, he was posthumously inducted into the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame.[53]Cultural impact and references
Slim Pickens' portrayal of Major T.J. "King" Kong in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) produced one of cinema's most enduring images: the cowboy astride a plummeting nuclear bomb, whooping triumphantly as it hurtles toward destruction. This scene has been widely parodied in popular media, capturing the film's blend of Cold War absurdity and Western bravado. In The Simpsons, the family recreates the bomb ride in a 1999 episode couch gag, plunging toward Springfield in a direct homage to Pickens' exuberant descent.[54] Pickens' role in Blazing Saddles (1974) has seen renewed attention through recent theatrical revivals, underscoring his lasting appeal in comedic Westerns. In September 2024, Fathom Events and Warner Bros. re-released the film nationwide for its 50th anniversary, screening on September 15 and 18 to packed audiences celebrating Mel Brooks' satirical take on genre tropes, with Pickens as the bombastic Taggart.[55] This event highlighted the film's enduring cultural relevance, drawing new generations to Pickens' over-the-top villainy.[56] Scholars view Pickens as a pivotal figure in Cold War satire, embodying the intersection of American machismo and nuclear folly in Dr. Strangelove, where his unscripted rodeo flair amplified the film's critique of military hubris.[57] His career also revitalized the Western archetype, transforming the clownish rodeo performer into a symbol of ironic heroism, as explored in documentaries like Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003), which contextualizes his contributions to 1970s genre subversion.[58]Filmography
Feature films
Slim Pickens began his film career in the early 1950s, accumulating over 90 feature film credits, often portraying rugged cowboys, sheriffs, and comic sidekicks in Westerns and comedies.[18] The following table provides a chronological overview of his feature film appearances, including year, title, role, and a brief annotation of the character.| Year | Title | Role | Annotation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Rocky Mountain | Pvt. Plunkett (uncredited) | A soldier in a cavalry unit during the American Civil War.[59] |
| 1951 | The Great Missouri Raid | George Bass | Member of Jesse James' gang in this Western heist drama.[60] |
| 1951 | Across the Wide Missouri | Joe (uncredited) | Trapper or settler in a frontier adventure.[61] |
| 1952 | The Story of Will Rogers | Dusty Donovan | Rodeo performer in the biopic of the humorist and performer.[62] |
| 1953 | Thunder Over the Plains | Kip Davis | Rancher and Texas Ranger ally in a post-Civil War Western.[63] |
| 1953 | The Sun Shines Bright | Yancey | Court clerk in John Ford's adaptation of Irvin S. Cobb stories.[64] |
| 1954 | The Boy from Oklahoma | Shorty | Comedic sidekick to the lead in a Western comedy.[65] |
| 1954 | Riding Shotgun | Barney | Stagecoach guard in a tense Western standoff.[66] |
| 1954 | The Far Country | Shorty | Miner and sidekick in a Klondike gold rush tale.[67] |
| 1954 | The Last Command | Abe | Texian fighter at the Alamo in this historical drama.[68] |
| 1955 | Santa Fe Passage | Sam Beekman | Wagon train member escorting a controversial passenger.[69] |
| 1956 | The Great Locomotive Chase | Capt. Stephen Fuller | Union soldier in the Civil War sabotage mission.[70] |
| 1956 | Gun Brothers | Ranger | Lawman in a brother-against-brother Western.[71] |
| 1956 | Gun the Man Down | Deputy Lee | Deputy assisting in a revenge plot.[72] |
| 1957 | The Tall T | Frank Usher | Bandit leader holding hostages in a tense ranch standoff.[73] |
| 1958 | Tonka | Yellow Bull | Sioux warrior in a story about a wild horse.[74] |
| 1958 | The Sheepman | Marshal | Lawman pursuing a gambler in a Western town.[75] |
| 1959 | The Horse Soldiers | Sgt. Maj. Kirby | Union cavalry sergeant during the Civil War.[76] |
| 1959 | Hound-Dog Man | Hog McKesson | Backwoodsman in a coming-of-age adventure.[77] |
| 1960 | Chartroose Caboose | Pug Henry | Railroad worker in a light-hearted comedy.[78] |
| 1960 | One-Eyed Jacks | Deputy Lon Dedrick | Deputy sheriff in Marlon Brando's directorial Western.[79] |
| 1961 | The Errand Boy | Himself | Cameo appearance as a cowboy in the comedy.[80] |
| 1961 | A Thunder of Drums | Trooper Porter | Soldier in a frontier fort drama.[81] |
| 1962 | The Two Little Bears | Sheriff Chuck Malone | Local sheriff dealing with mischievous twins.[82] |
| 1963 | Savage Sam | Willy Crup | Frontiersman in the sequel to Old Yeller.[83] |
| 1964 | Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb | Maj. T.J. "King" Kong | B-52 bomber pilot in Stanley Kubrick's satirical black comedy.[84] |
| 1965 | Major Dundee | Wiley | Scout in Sam Peckinpah's Civil War Western.[85] |
| 1965 | In Harm's Way | C.P.O. Culpepper | Sailor in the WWII epic.[86] |
| 1965 | Up from the Beach | Col. Edgar Thompson | Military officer in a WWII drama.[87] |
| 1965 | The Glory Guys | Sgt. James Gregory | Sergeant in a cavalry unit facing Native American warriors.[88] |
| 1966 | Stagecoach | Hatton | Stage driver in the remake of the classic Western.[89] |
| 1966 | An Eye for an Eye | Ike Slant | Tough rancher in a revenge Western.[90] |
| 1967 | Rough Night in Jericho | Deke Bishop | Henchman in a town takeover story.[91] |
| 1967 | Will Penny | Ike Bradley | Ranch hand in a gritty Western drama.[92] |
| 1967 | The Flim-Flam Man | M. C. Long | Con artist's partner in a Southern comedy.[93] |
| 1967 | Never a Dull Moment | Cowboy Schaeffer | Cowboy performer in a crime comedy.[94] |
| 1968 | The Ballad of Josie | Swifty Morgan | Ranch hand in a feminist Western comedy.[95] |
| 1968 | Skidoo | Beany | Gangster's henchman in Otto Preminger's psychedelic comedy.[96] |
| 1969 | The Desperados | Pauly | Outlaw in a post-Civil War revenge tale.[97] |
| 1970 | The Cowboys | Anse | Cattle driver in the John Wayne adventure.[98] |
| 1970 | 80 Steps to Jonah | Grady | Supporting role in a road movie drama.[99] |
| 1971 | The Devil and Miss Sarah | Mr. Hedlow | Rancher in a supernatural Western.[100] |
| 1971 | Support Your Local Gunfighter | Jack Slade | Henchman in the sequel Western comedy.[101] |
| 1972 | The Getaway | Cowboy | Doc McCoy's ally in the crime thriller remake.[102] |
| 1972 | The Honkers | Clete | Rodeo cowboy in a family drama.[103] |
| 1973 | Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid | Sheriff Colin Baker | Lawman pursuing the outlaw in Bob Dylan's soundtrack Western.[104] |
| 1973 | Ginger in the Morning | Papa | Eccentric father in a road comedy.[105] |
| 1974 | Blazing Saddles | Taggart | Dim-witted henchman to the villain in Mel Brooks' Western parody.[28] |
| 1974 | Bootleggers | Grandpa | Elderly bootlegger in a Prohibition-era tale.[106] |
| 1975 | The Apple Dumpling Gang | Frank Stillwell | Bank robber in the Disney Western comedy.[107] |
| 1975 | Rancho Deluxe | Henry Beige | Rancher in a cattle-rustling comedy.[108] |
| 1975 | White Line Fever | Duane Haller | Trucker ally in the action drama.[109] |
| 1975 | Poor Pretty Eddie | Sheriff | Corrupt lawman in a horror-thriller.[110] |
| 1976 | Pony Express Rider | Bob Jay | Stagecoach guard in a historical Western.[111] |
| 1976 | Hawmps! | Naman Tucker | Cavalry soldier with camels in the comedy.[112] |
| 1977 | The White Buffalo | Seth | Hunter joining the quest in the adventure.[113] |
| 1977 | Mr. Billion | Duane Hawkins | Tough enforcer in the comedy adventure.[114] |
| 1977 | Wishbone Cutter | Virgil Cane | Rancher in the Western drama.[115] |
| 1978 | The Swarm | Jud Hawkins | Beekeeper in the disaster film about killer bees.[116] |
| 1979 | Beyond the Poseidon Adventure | Dewey "Tex" Hopkins | Rescuer in the disaster sequel.[117] |
| 1979 | 1941 | Hollis P. Wood | Eccentric farmer building a plane in Steven Spielberg's comedy.[118] |
| 1979 | The Black Hole | Bob | Engineer on the Palomino in the sci-fi adventure.[119] |
| 1980 | Tom Horn | Sheriff Sam Creedmore | Lawman opposing the titular character in the Western.[120] |
| 1980 | Honeysuckle Rose | Garland Ramsey | Friend and band member to the country singer.[121] |
| 1981 | The Howling | Sam Newfield | Farmer in the werewolf horror film.[122] |
| 1982 | Pink Motel | Roy | Motel owner in the comedy.[123] |