Sam Elliott’s famous role in the Western classic Tombstone was foreshadowed by one of his earliest roles in an even more iconic Western. Elliott rose to fame with some cult favorite movies, like The Lifeguard and Frogs. 

He eventually found popularity and acclaim as a character actor in the 1980s, with roles in movies like Road House and Mask. He later went on to win even more famous roles in a variety of projects, including The Big Lebowski and We Were Soldiers, as well as award-winning work in A Star is Born and the Yellowstone spinoff 1883.

As beloved as many of those roles are, Elliott’s career in Westerns has become a huge part of his success. With his iconic drawl and his legendary mustache, Elliott feels like he was destined to star as cowboys and lawmen in these types of movies.

His role as Virgil Earp in Tombstone is certainly his most famous Western role to date, but long before cementing himself in that classic, Elliott began his movie career with one of the best Westerns of all time.

Sam Elliott Had A Very Brief Cameo In Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid

Sam Elliott Made His Movie Debut In The Paul Newman and Robert Redford Movie

In Sam Elliott’s first credited movie role, he appeared briefly as Card Player #2 in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, alongside Paul Newman and Robert Redford.

The movie tells the true story of the titular outlaws during their days robbing trains and their life on the run. The movie was hailed for its humor and adventure, solidifying Newman and Redford as a legendary on-screen team. It has also gone down as one of the most beloved Westerns, with so many memorable moments, including one of the most famous final shots in movie history.

While Elliott started his career in this legendary movie, it was admittedly a very small role. Elliott appears in one scene early in the movie as a card player in a saloon, playing a game with Redford’s The Sundance Kid when another player calls the legendary outlaw a cheater.

Apart from Elliott being much younger, fans would be forgiven for not recognizing him as he doesn’t really appear on screen and doesn’t have any lines.

However, the movie was important for Elliott for a number of reasons. Of course, being his first credited role, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid helped to start Elliott’s career, which would eventually grow into much bigger roles.

It also helped to make him part of the Western genre’s history, appearing in one of its most famous entries, long before he became a mainstay of the genre. Finally, Elliott’s future wife, Katharine Ross, also appears in the movie as its leading lady.

Sam Elliott Would Eventually Appear In His Own Western Classic With 1993’s Tombstone

Elliott Starred As Virgil Earp In The 1993 Western

Though Sam Elliott’s role in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is hard to find and doesn’t really speak to his skills as an actor, Elliott would eventually get to be one of the leads in another Western classic years later.

Tombstone is the epic story of Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell), the legendary lawman who, along with his brothers Virgil (Elliott) and Morgan (Bill Paxton) and best friend Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer), waged war on the villainous Cowboys gang in their town of Tombstone.

As the oldest of the Earp brothers, Virgil is the most noble and level-headed of the bunch, being the first to answer the call of duty when it becomes clear that their lawless town needs protection.

The death of Kilmer has led to a renewed interest in Tombstone and Kilmer’s amazing performance in it. However, Elliott is also impressive as the heroic Virgil. As the oldest of the Earp brothers, Virgil is the most noble and level-headed of the bunch, being the first to answer the call of duty when it becomes clear that their lawless town needs protection.

The movie blends fact and fiction with a look at real-life figures engaged in a legendary moment from the Wild West, including the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

However, the movie is also not afraid to build its own sweeping story that makes for a hugely entertaining tale of heroes versus villains. It is a throwback to older Westerns while delivering action and characters that push the genre further.

Elliott and the rest of the cast help to elevate the thrilling Western movie that seems to get better with age.

As impressive as it is for Elliott to begin his career in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Tombstone is the movie that really helped make him a Western star.