Few decades have been as stacked forwesternsas the1990s. It was also a generally important time for the genre, as the modern insurgence was marked byUnforgiven(1992), which was one of two ’90s westerns to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Of course, the other isDances With Wolves(1990), and oddly enough, both of those titles feature several actors who would make further waves in the genre.
A few names on this list are among the most renowned in cinema history, but frankly, several others will appear more unfamiliar. Either way, everyone herein put tremendous work into the genre at hand — particularly, throughout the ’90s — and their respective titles helped pave a path toward greatness. These are the fifteen greatest western actors of the 1990s, ranked.
15Lance Henriksen
Two of the most underrated westerns ever made feature the talent ofLance Henriksen, starting withDead Man(1995) by Jim Jarmusch. An entry inthe “Acid” subgenre, its black-and-white palette works in wonderful tandem with a revolutionary score, creating a unique atmosphere that’s yet to be replicated to a notable degree. It’ll likely remain the most original western ever made for many years to come, but it’s only one of Henriksen’s contributions from the ’90s.
A Busy Year
With the famous Sam Raimi as writer-director,The Quick and the Dead(1995) marked Henriksen’s second western of the decade, and even the same year. What’s more, he also starred in a lesser-known joint calledGunfighter’s Moon(1995) — three genre entries in a twelve-month span. Pretty impressive, rendering Lance Henriksen an all-time great.
14Billy Bob Thornton
Though not necessarily known for his westerns,Billy Bob Thorntonactually has several worth noting, beginning with his entries throughout the 1990s. WhileDead Manis among the lesser-known westerns of its decade,Tombstone(1993) sits opposite on the spectrum of popularity. Both are pretty much perfect, though.
A Couple of Masterful Entries
The wit of Jim Jarmusch shines through every frame ofDead Man, the black-and-white acid western witha star-studded cast. One of its members is Billy Bob Thornton, who plays an unforgettable Jarmusch character called “Big George” Drakoulious. As forTombstone: He shows up as a supporting figure named Johnny Tyler, and in each of his featured scenes, Billy Bob Thornton proves to be a bona fide western star.
13Sheila Tousey
One of the many notable members of theThunderheart(1992) cast isSheila Tousey, with that neo-Western actually marking her feature film debut. In spite of some impressive performances and intriguing plot points, it’s sort of been lost in the annals of western movie history. ButThunderheartis nonetheless a well-made movie that started an underrated streak of westerns with actress Sheila Tousey.
Defining a Subgenre
After debuting inThunderheart, she played supporting parts in two essential horror westerns:Silent Tongue(1994), andRavenous(1999). The latter is far more acclaimed, and justifiably so. ButSilent Tongueby Sam Shepard does boast a talented cast with some high-quality elements of behind-the-scenes filmmaking, and it helps render Tousey one of the finest actresses in western movie history.
12Graham Greene
In just five short years,Graham Greeneplayed prominent parts in three high-quality westerns:Dances With Wolves,Thunderheart, andMaverick(1994). What’s more, Greene also appeared in three episodes ofLonesome Dove: The Series(1994–1996), which continues the story told in afar more famous miniseriesthat aired in 1989.
Some Popular Westerns
WhereLonesome Dove: The Seriescomes up short in name value, Graham Greene’s three feature westerns from the ’90s more than make up for a paucity of popularity.
Sure, neitherThunderheartnorMaverickwere exactly world-renowned titles. But they both received great reviews from critics while also making waves at the box office, and of course,Dances With Wolvesboasts name value that essentially speaks for itself. In tandem with hisLonesome Doveappearances, those three movies make Graham Greene a western legend.
11Mark Boone Junior
Unfortunately forMark Boone Junior, none of his westerns are ever considered in the grand scheme of ’90s cinema. Sure, they run a gamut of quality, withGeronimo: An American Legend(1993) receiving mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. But the following two westerns featuring Mark Boone Junior are among the most underrated ever made.
One Year, Two Westerns
Across the board of reception,The Quick and the DeadandLast of the Dogmen(1995) deserved more love upon release. Particularly the former, withThe Quick and the Deadholding up perfectly three decades down the line.
What’s more, Mark Boone Junior also showed up inJohn Carpenter’s Vampire’s(1998),a horror-western hybridthat hinges on the performances of its star-studded cast. Combined with his other three entries, Mark Boone Junior is a bona fide legend of westerns — regardless of decade.
10Gordon Tootoosis
Based on quantity alone,Gordon Tootoosisdeserves more credit as an all-time great actor of westerns. His film contributions from the ’90s includeLegends of the Fall(1994),Lone Star(1996), and the TV movieCrazy Horse(1996), while Tootoosis also appeared in shows likeDead Man’s Gun(1997–1999) andThe Magnificent Seven(1998–2000). Pretty impressive output.
Some Essential Entries of the Genre
Each of those projects received notable acclaim, and individually, Tootoosis performs to absolute perfection when he’s traversing the west on horseback. His roles inLegends of the FallandLone Staradd great intrigue and entertainment value to their respective plots, and with a pair oftelevision projects worth noting, Gordon’s output throughout the ’90s should be heralded for years to come.
9Tantoo Cardinal
Among the greatest western actresses ever isTantoo Cardinal, who debuted in the genre withDeath Hunt(1981). It’d be another decade before she’d make another appearance in the wild, wild west, but inDances With Wolves(1990), she returned to the setting in unforgettable fashion. This is when Cardinal truly found her footing, as fairly soon thereafter, she’d give back-to-back showings in a pair of well-known westerns.
Upping the Ante
As her second appearance in a western,Dances With Wolvesalso marked a turning point in Tantoo Cardinal’s career, as she’d continue frequenting the wild, wild west without ever taking a backwards glance. Upping the ante, Cardinal doubled her output in consecutive years thanks toSilent Tongue(1993) andLegends of the Fall(1994). And while she’s never in the lead role, Cardinal nonetheless plays prominent parts in their respective stories, and performs to perfection in each.
8David Arquette
Sure, neither of the ’90s westerns withDavid Arquettegarnered any sort of acclaim. ButWild Bill(1995) has its fair share of fans, andRavenousshould legitimately be known asan all-time underrated entry. Then, there’sDead Man’s Walk(1996), an epic western miniseries. Based on Larry McMurtry’s book of the same name,Dead Man’s Walkis a prequel to another miniseries calledLonesome Dove(1989), also by McMurtry.
An Overlooked Miniseries
Fame and acclaim are attributed toLonesome Dove, while itsDead Man’s Walkcounterpart went generally under the radar. Quite a shame, especially when considering the wit of its scripts in tandem with the performances of its cast. In the latter regard, David Arquette plays Augustus “Gus” McCrea — one of two protagonists, with Johnny Lee Miller co-starring as Woodrow F. Call. They both perform brilliantly in a series that bolsters the resume of David Arquette.
7Johnny Depp
Throughout this critically acclaimed decade,Johnny Deppmade waves in multiple genres, mostly with collaborator Tim Burton. He also collected greater household name value thanks toWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape(1993) andDonnie Brasco(1997). Two famous titles, but for some reason, Depp’s appearances in westerns are consistently thrown by the wayside.
A Pair of Underrated Westerns
While neitherDead MannorThe Brave(1997) were critically acclaimed, they’re highly underrated in that respect. To make matters worse, theymade mediocre moneyat the worldwide box office. He’s at the top of both of their bills, while even co-writing and directingThe Brave. These were the first westerns of Depp’s acclaimed career, and they hold up perfectly all these years later — on anyone else’s ranking, he could end up even higher.
6Guy Pearce
After four seasons ofSnowy River: The McGregor Saga(1994–1996), overlooked actorGuy Pearceled the cast ofRavenous, the western-horror hybrid by director Antonia Bird.
The former is a sort of soap opera on horseback, based on Banjo Patterson’s poemThe Man From Snowy River— published in 1890 — and following a family of Australian squatters. Middle child Rob McGregor is played by Guy Pearce, and after sixty-five episodes, the actor from down under shifted his sights to the silver screen.
Guy Pearce: The Modern John Wayne
In the twenty-first century, Guy Pearce has established himself asthe modern John Waynethanks to a series of high-quality westerns. But even after all these years,Ravenousby Antonia Bird remains among his best. He leads the cast as Captain John Boyd, a troubled protagonist who goes on a harrowing journey through an atmospheric wild west.
Though he only had two credits throughout the ’90s, Guy Pearce played prominent parts in both of his westerns, and performed perfectly, to boot.
