Western Movies have been entertaining audiences for decades with their portrayal of a time that was a huge part of American history. The days of cattle drives, gun duels, and historic battles paint a realistic picture of how life was in the frontier days. For years, many actors have graced the screen and portrayed a variety of cowboy/cowgirl roles that have wowed audiences and inspired other actors. Some actors have played folk-lore characters from tales passed around the campfire, while others take on roles of real people who did extraordinary things during the 1800s. A list of all great western film actors would be never-ending, since every year another new and outstanding cowboy/western movie is made. However, many actors claim that they are “standing on the shoulders of giants.” They know they would not be as successful without the influence of those who came before them. This influence has made the following actors legends of the industry. In this list, we will take a look at the people who made the biggest impact when it comes to the genre of western movies. This list ranks the actors in order of popularity and success, as well as the skill in which they depicted several western characters.