Billy Bob Thornton Stole Taylor Sheridan’s Best Western With Only 4 Minutes Of Screentime

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Though Billy Bob Thornton appeared in Taylor Sheridan’s show Landman for only a few minutes, his performance was incredibly memorable. Landman is the newest success from Sheridan, and it’s given Thornton one of his strongest roles in recent years.

Billy Bob Thornton’s movie roles have been inconsistent lately, but he’s delivered outstanding performances in TV series like Goliath and the first season of Fargo. Even though the second season of Fargo received some criticism, Landman is still considered one of his best television projects, and fans can look forward to a third season.

Billy Bob Thornton’s 1883 Cameo Is A Series Highlight

I was a huge fan of the show 1883, where I first discovered how the Dutton family ended up on the land that would become their famous ranch. It was created by Taylor Sheridan, who also worked with Kevin Costner on Yellowstone, and honestly, I think 1883 is his best work yet. It’s a really moving story, beautifully written, but it doesn’t shy away from showing the harsh and violent realities of the Old West.

In the second episode, “Behind Us, A Cliff,” Shea and James Dutton ask lawman Thornton for help after a gang attacks their wagon train. Thornton, as Marshal Courtright, finds the gang at a local saloon, confirms their involvement in the attack, and kills them.

The final man surrenders, stating he’s unarmed, but Courtright shoots him anyway, then loudly declares to everyone in the saloon, “I’m the only killer in Fort Worth!” Thornton is captivating despite only appearing for four minutes, portraying the Marshal with a cool exterior that hides his brutality.

Billy Bob Thornton’s 1883 Role Is Based On A Real Lawman

Though the TV show 1883 is a fictional story, it’s based on a real person: Jim Courtright, a notorious gunslinger in the Old West. Courtright fought for the Union Army during the Civil War and later became a lawman – a City Marshal – in Fort Worth (according to Town & Country magazine). While he was in charge, the city saw a significant drop in crime.

Despite his reputation, Courtright was also accused of running extortion schemes in Fort Worth, and even killing people who wouldn’t pay. He was removed from his position as Marshal in 1879, and ultimately died in a gunfight with the well-known Luke Short in 1887 – a fitting end for a man who walked the line between law enforcement and outlawry.

Billy Bob Thornton’s 1883 Cameo Led To Lawman

Although Sam Thornton was in his late 60s when he portrayed Courtright, the real man was only 38 years old in 1883. Despite the age difference, Thornton’s appearance in the miniseries is still fondly remembered, and the show was already highly praised. Thornton later shared that he took the role as a personal favor for Taylor Sheridan, who asked him to do it with very little notice.

Taylor Sheridan was deeply impressed by Sam Elliott’s performance in 1883, so much so that he wrote the character of Landman with Elliott in mind, drawing inspiration from the podcast Boomtown. Sheridan initially intended to use an unknown actor for the role of Courtright, making Elliott especially fortunate to have been available when the show’s creator reached out.

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2026-02-02 00:38