List of Western television series explained

Television Westerns are programs with settings in the later half of the 19th century in the American Old West, Western Canada and Mexico during the period from about 1860 to the end of the so-called "Indian Wars". More recent entries in the Western genre have used the neo-Western subgenre, placing events in the modern day, or the space Western subgenre but still draw inspiration from the outlaw attitudes prevalent in traditional Western productions.

When television became popular in the late 1940s and 1950s, TV Westerns quickly became an audience favorite, with 30 such shows airing at prime time by 1959. Traditional Westerns faded in popularity in the late 1960s, while new shows fused Western elements with other types of shows, such as family drama, mystery thrillers, and crime drama. In the 1990s and 2000s, slickly packaged made-for-TV movie Westerns were introduced.

List

SeriesCountryDurationNo. of episodesCastNotes
United States2021–202210Sam Elliott, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Isabel MayPrequel to Yellowstone. Miniseries
United States2022–present8Helen Mirren, Harrison Ford, Brandon SklenarPrequel to Yellowstone.
Not a traditional western — set in Montana during the Prohibition and the early stages of the Great Depression
United States1957–195978Tristram Coffin, Kelo Henderson
Action in the Afternoon United States1953–1954Barry Cassell, Harriss Forrest, Jack Valentine, Mary Elaine Watts
United States1993–199427Bruce Campbell, Julius Carry, Christian Clemenson
United States1955–195626Barry Curtis, Jim Bannon
United States1949–195165Ross Jones (voice only)Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy.
Children's marionette series
United States1956–195876Scott Forbes
United States1951–1955103Bill Williams, Don Diamond, Tris Coffin
United States1954–1959164Lee Aaker, James Brown, Joe Sawyer, Rand Brooks, Rin Tin TinNominated for 1 Primetime Emmy.
United States1951–1958113Guy Madison, Andy Devine
United States1959–196037Roger Moore, Dorothy Provine, Jeff York, Ray Danton
Alias Smith and Jones United States1971–197350Pete Duel, Ben Murphy, Roger Davis
United States196117Darryl Hickman, Richard Davalos
An Klondike Ireland2015–20178Owen McDonnell, Dara Devaney, Seán T. Ó Meallaigh, Julian Black Antelope, Ned DennehyAlso known as Dominion Creek
Annie Oakley United States1954–195781Gail Davis, Brad Johnson, Jimmy Hawkins, Bob Woodward
Barbary Coast United States1975–197613William Shatner, Dennis Cole, Doug McClure
Bat Masterson United States1958–1961107Gene Barry
Bearcats! United States197114Rod Taylor, Dennis ColeNot a traditional western, takes place before the United States' entry into the First World War.
Best of the West United States1981–198222Joel Higgins
United States1965–1969112Barbara Stanwyck, Richard Long, Lee Majors, Linda Evans, Peter Breck
United States2022–present8Tom Blyth, Daniel Webber, Eileen O'Higgins, Sean Owen Roberts, Dakota Daulby
Black Saddle United States1959–196044Peter Breck, Russell Johnson, Anna-Lisa, J. Pat O'Malley, Walter Burke
Bonanza United States1959–1973430Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, Michael LandonThe second longest-running network western series.
Boomtown United States1956–1974Rex TrailerChildren's television series
Boots and Saddles United States1957–195838John Pickard, Patrick McVey, Gardner McKay
Bordertown United States1989–199178John H. Brennan, Richard Comar, Sophie Barjac
Branded United States1965–196648Chuck Connors, William Bryant
Brave Eagle United States1955–195626Keith Larsen, Bert Wheeler, Kim Winona, Keena Nomkeena, Pat Hogan
Bret Maverick United States1981–198218James Garner, Ed Bruce, Ramon Bieri, Darleen Carr
Broken Arrow United States1956–195873John Lupton, Michael AnsaraBased on the film of the same name.
Bronco United States1958–196268Ty Hardin
Buckskin United States1958–195939Tom Nolan, Sally Brophy, Mike Road
Buffalo Bill, Jr. United States1955–195642Dickie Jones, Harry Cheshire, Nancy Gilbert
United States1957–195969Richard Coogan, Art Fleming, Herbert Rudley, Sean McClory, Adam Kennedy, Carole Mathews, Nan Leslie
Casey Jones United States1957–195832Alan Hale, Bobby Clark, Dub Taylor, Eddy Waller, Mary Lawrence
Centennial United States1978–197912Robert Conrad, Richard ChamberlainBased on the novel of the same name.
Cheyenne United States1955–1963108Clint Walker
United States1979–198013Robert Preston, Rosemary Harris, Ben Murphy, Mitchell Ryan
Cimarron City United States1958–195926George Montgomery, John Smith, Audrey Totter, Dan Blocker
Cimarron Strip United States1967–196823Stuart Whitman, Jill Townsend, Percy Herbert, Randy Boone
Circus Boy United States1956–195849Mickey Braddock (Micky Dolenz), Noah Beery Jr., Robert Lowery, Bimbo the Elephant
United States1950–1956156Duncan Renaldo, Leo CarrilloOne of the first television shows to be produced in color.
Colt .45 United States1957–196067Wayde Preston, Donald May, Kenneth MacDonaldBased on the film of the same name.
Cowboy G-Men United States1952–195339Russell Hayden, Jackie Coogan, Phil Arnold
United States197413Jim Davis, Belinda Balaski, Moses Gunn, Walter Brooke, Robert Carradine, A MartinezBased on the film of the same name.
Custer United States196717Wayne Maunder, Slim Pickens, Robert F. Simon, Michael Dante, Peter Palmer
United States196320Larry Ward, Jack Elam, Chad Everett, Mike Greene
Daniel Boone United States1964–1970165Fess Parker, Patricia Blair, Albert Salmi, Ed Ames, Dallas McKennon, Rosey Grier
Davy Crockett United States1954–19555Fess Parker, Buddy Ebsen, Jeff YorkAired on Disneyland TV series.
Dead Man's Gun United States1997–199944Kris Kristofferson
Dead Man's Walk United States19963David Arquette, Jonny Lee MillerBased on the novel of the same name.
Deadwood United States2004–200636Followed by
Death Valley Days United States1952–1970452Hosts: Stanley Andrews, Ronald Reagan, Rosemary DeCamp, Robert Taylor, Dale Robertson
United States1959–196176Henry Fonda, Allen Case, Read Morgan, Wallace Ford, Betty Lou Keim
Destry United States196413John Gavin
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre United States1956–1961149Dick Powell
Dirty Sally United States197413Jeanette Nolan, Dack RamboLast half-hour western series on U.S. television
Django Italy202310Matthias Schoenaerts, Nicholas Pinnock, Lisa Vicari, Noomi RapaceReimagining of Django
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman United States1993–1998150Jane Seymour, Joe Lando, Chad Allen
Dundee and the Culhane United States196713John Mills, Sean Garrison
Dusty's Trail United States1973–197426Bob Denver, Forrest Tucker, Ivor Francis, Jeannine Riley, Lori Saunders, Lynn Wood, Bill CortSyndicated sitcom which reworked the basic premise of Gilligan's Island
Empire United States1962–196332Richard Egan, Terry Moore, Ryan O'NealModern-day western about a cattle ranch
United Kingdom20226Emily Blunt, Chaske SpencerMiniseries
F Troop United States1965–196765Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch, Ken Berry, Melody PattersonSitcom
Father Murphy United States1981–198335Merlin Olsen, Katherine Cannon, Timothy Gibbs, Moses Gunn
Four Feather Falls United Kingdom196039Voice artists: Nicholas Parsons, Kenneth Connor, David Graham, Denise BryerChildren's supermarionation series
Frontier United States1955–195631Walter Coy
Frontier Circus United States1961–196226J. Pat O'Malley, Chill Wills
Frontier Doctor United States1958–195939Rex Allen
Frontier Justice United States1958–196131Lew Ayres, Melvyn Douglas, Ralph Bellamy
Fury United States1955–1960116Peter Graves, Bobby Diamond, Jimmy Baird, William Fawcett, Roger Mobley
United States1950–1956George "Gabby" HayesChildren's television series
United States1950–195691Gene Autry, Pat Buttram, Bob Woodward, Champion (Gene's Horse)
Godless United States20177Jack O'Connell, Michelle Dockery, Scoot McNairy, Merritt Wever, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Tantoo Cardinal, Jeff DanielsMiniseries
United States1957–195839Tod Andrews, Phil Chambers
Gun Shy United States19836Barry Van Dyke, Tim Thomerson, Geoffrey LewisSitcom
United States1967–196950Walter Brennan, Dack Rambo
Gunslinger United States196112Tony Young
Gunsmoke United States1955–1975635James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis, Buck Taylor, Dennis Weaver, Burt ReynoldsLongest-running prime-time drama of all time until surpassed by in 2019.
Harts of the West United States1993–199415Beau Bridges, Lloyd Bridges, Harley Jane Kozak
Have Gun – Will Travel United States1957–1963225Richard Boone, Kam Tong
Hawkeye: The First Frontier United States1994–199522Lee Horsley, Lynda Carter, Rodney A. GrantBased on the novel of the same name.
Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans United States195739John Hart, Lon Chaney Jr.Based on the novel of the same name.
Hec Ramsey United States1972–197410Richard Boone
Hell on Wheels United States2011–201657Anson Mount, Colm Meaney, Common, Dominique McElligott
Here Come the Brides United States1968–197052Robert Brown, David Soul, Bobby Sherman, Bridget Hanley, Mark Lenard, Joan Blondell
United States1967–197198Leif Erickson, Cameron Mitchell
Hondo United States196717Ralph TaegerBased on the film of the same name.
Hopalong Cassidy United States1949–195452William Boyd
Hotel de Paree United States1959–196033Earl Holliman, Jeanette Nolan, Judi Meredith, Strother Martin
How the West Was Won United States1976–197925James Arness, Bruce Boxleitner, Fionnula FlanaganBased on the film of the same name.
Hudson's Bay Canada1959Barry Nelson, George Tobias
Into the West United States20056Matthew Settle, Joseph M. Marshall IIIMiniseries
United States1966–196847Dale Robertson, Robert Random, Gary Collins, Ellen Burstyn
Jefferson Drum United States195826Jeff Richards, Eugene Mazzola, Cyril Delevanti, Robert J. Stevenson
Joe Pickett United States2021–202320Michael Dorman, Julianna Guill, Sharon Lawrenceneo-Western set in modern day Wyoming
Johnny Ringo United States1959–196038Don Durant, Mark Goddard, Karen Sharpe, Terence De Marney
Judge Roy Bean United States1955–195639Edgar Buchanan, Jack Buetel, Jackie Loughery
Klondike United States1960–196117Ralph Taeger, James Coburn, Joi Lansing
Kung Fu United States1972–197563David Carradine
Lancer United States1968–197051James Stacy, Wayne Maunder, Andrew Duggan, Elizabeth Baur
Laramie United States1959–1963124John Smith, Robert Fuller
Laredo United States1965–196756Neville Brand, William Smith, Peter Brown, Philip Carey
Law of the Plainsman United States1959–196030Michael Ansara, Gina Gillespie, Robert Harland, Dayton Lummis, Nora Marlowe
Lawman United States1958–1962156John Russell, Peter Brown, Peggie Castle
United States20238David Oyelowo, Lauren E. Banks, Demi Singleton, Forrest Goodluck, Dennis QuaidMiniseries
United States199622Robert Urich
Legacy United States1998–199918Brett Cullen, Jeremy Vincent Garrett, Grayson McCouch, Sharon Leal, Lea Moreno, Steven Williams
Legend United States199512Richard Dean Anderson, John de Lancie
United States1965–196634Christopher Jones, Allen Case, Ann Doran, Robert J. Wilke, John Milford
United States1955–1961229Hugh O'Brian, Mason Alan Dinehart, Douglas Fowley
United States1977–197838Dan Haggerty, Denver Pyle, Don ShanksBased on the novel of the same name.
Little House on the Prairie United States1974–1983203Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Melissa Gilbert, Melissa Sue Anderson, Matthew LaborteauxNot a traditional western, but a family drama set in frontier Minnesota
United States1949–1957221Clayton Moore, Jay Silverheels
United States1965–196626Lloyd Bridges
Lonesome Dove United States19894Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Danny Glover, Diane Lane, Anjelica HustonMiniseries
United States1995–199622
Lucky Luke Italy19928Terence HillWestern-comedy
Mackenzie's Raiders United States1958–195939Richard Carlson
United States1998–200031Michael Biehn, Eric Close, Anthony Starke, Ron Perlman, Rick Worthy, Andrew Kavovit, Dale MidkiffBased on the film of the same name.
United States1965–196634Robert Horton
United States1959–196037Robert Rockwell
Man Without a Gun United States1957–195952Rex Reason, Mort Mills, Harry Harvey, Sr.
United States195022Russell Hayden, Eddie Dean
Matt and Jenny on the Wilderness Trail Canada197926Derrick Jones, Megan Follows
Maverick United States1957–1962124James Garner, Jack Kelly, Roger Moore, Robert Colbert
United States1966–196726Michael Anderson Jr., Barbara Hershey, Keith Schultz, Kevin Schultz, Tammy Locke
My Friend Flicka United States1956–195739Johnny Washbrook, Gene Evans, Anita Louise, Frank Ferguson
Nichols United States1971–197224James Garner, Margot Kidder, Stuart Margolin, Alice Ghostley
United States1958–196010Robert Loggia, Robert F. Simon, Lisa MontellAired on Disneyland TV series.
Northwest Passage United States1958–195926Keith Larsen, Buddy Ebsen, Don BurnettBased on the novel of the same name.
United States197714Rod Taylor, Andrew Stevens, Darleen Carr, Charles Napier
United States1968–196926Don Murray, Otis Young
Outer Range United States2022–present8Scifi neo-Western set in modern day Wyoming
Outlaws United States1960–196250Barton MacLane, Don Collier, Bruce Yarnell, Slim Pickens, Judy Lewis, Jock Gaynor
Outlaws United States1986–198712Rod Taylor, William Lucking, Patrick Houser, Charles Napier, Richard RoundtreeCrime drama/Science fiction
Overland Trail United States196017William Bendix, Doug McClure
Paradise United States1988–199156Lee Horsley, Jenny Beck
Peacemakers Canada
United States
20039Tom Berenger
Canada201422Martha MacIsaac, Jacob Blair, Angus Macfadyen
Pistols 'n' Petticoats United States1966–196726Ann Sheridan, Ruth McDevitt, Carole Wells, Douglas Fowley, Gary VinsonSitcom
Ponderosa United States2001–200220Daniel Hugh Kelly, Matthew Carmody, Drew Powell, Jared Daperis
Pony Express United States1959–196035Grant Sullivan, Don Dorrell
Queen of Swords Canada
United Kingdom
Spain
2000–200122Tessie Santiago, Paulina Galvez, Valentine Pelka, Anthony Lemke, Peter Wingfield, Elsa PatakyNominated for Outstanding lead actress in a syndicated drama series
Filmed at Texas Hollywood, Almeria, Spain
United States197615Kurt Russell, Tim Matheson
Quick Draw United States2013–201418John Lehr, Nick Brown, Allison DunbarSitcom
United States1951–195379Jock Mahoney, Dick Jones
Rango United States196717Tim Conway, Guy Marks, Norman AldenSitcom
Rawhide United States1959–1966217Eric Fleming, Clint Eastwood, Paul Brinegar, Sheb Wooley, John Ireland, Raymond St. Jacques
United States1959–196176Nick Adams
Redigo United States196315Richard Egan, Rudy Solari, Roger DavisModern-day western continued from Empire
Red Ryder United States19511Jim Bannon
Red Ryder United States19561Allan Lane
Red Serge Canada1986–19872
United States1957–195978John Payne
United States1958–1963163Chuck Connors, Johnny Crawford, Paul Fix
Riverboat United States1959–196144Darren McGavin, Burt Reynolds, Noah Beery Jr.
United States1966–196729Barry Sullivan, Kathryn Hays, Andrew Prine, Glenn Corbett, Brenda Scott, Kelly Corcoran, Charles Seel
United States1958–195939Kent Taylor, Jan Merlin, Peter Whitney
United States1966–196717Ron Hayes, Patrick Wayne, Chill Wills, Walker Edmiston, Strother Martin, James Brown
United States1951–1957100Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Pat Brady, Trigger, the Golden Palomino, Bullet, the Wonder Dog
Sara United States197612Brenda Vaccaro, Jerry Hardin, Michael LeClairNominated for 1 Primetime Emmy.
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon United States1955–195878Dick Simmons
Shane United States196617David Carradine, Bert Freed, Jill Ireland
Sheriff of Cochise United States1956–1958138John Bromfield, Stan JonesModern-day western also known as "U. S. Marshal" in the second season
Shotgun Slade United States1959–196178Scott Brady
Sky King United States1951–195972Kirby Grant, Gloria Winters, Ron Hagerthy, Ewing Mitchell, Chubby Johnson
The Son United States2017–201920Pierce Brosnan, Jacob Lofland, Henry Garrett, Jess Weixler, David Wilson Barnes, Zahn McClarnon, Paola Núñez, Sydney LucasBased on the novel of the same name.
Set simultaneously in 1849, 1915 and the modern day.
Stagecoach West United States1960–196138Wayne Rogers, Robert Bray, Richard Eyer
State Trooper United States1956–1959104Rod Cameron, Robert ArmstrongModern-day Western/crime drama set in Nevada
Steve Donovan, Western Marshal United States1955–195639Douglas Kennedy, Eddy Waller
Stoney Burke United States1962–196332Jack Lord, Warren Oates, Robert Dowdell, Bruce Dern
Stories of the Century United States1954–195539Jim Davis
Strange Empire Canada2014–201513Cara Gee, Melissa Farman, Tattiawna Jones
Sugarfoot United States1957–196169Will Hutchins, Jack Elam
Tales of the Texas Rangers United States1955–195852Willard Parker, Harry Lauter
Tales of Wells Fargo United States1957–1962200Dale Robertson, William Demarest, Virginia Christine, Jack Ging
United States1960–196275Barry Sullivan, Clu Gulager
Tate United States196013David McLean
Temple Houston United States1963–196426Jeffrey Hunter, Jack Elam, James Best, Frank Ferguson, Chubby Johnson, Mary Wickes
United States1958–196078Rory Calhoun
Texas John Slaughter United States1958–196117Tom TryonAired on Disneyland TV series.
Texas Rising United States20155Bill Paxton, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Ray Liotta, Brendan Fraser, Olivier Martinez, Cynthia Addai-RobinsonMiniseries
That Dirty Black Bag Italy20228Douglas Booth, Dominic Cooper, Niv Sultan, Guido Caprino, Christian CookeSpaghetti Western
Tombstone Territory United States1957–196093Pat Conway, Richard Eastham, Gilman Rankin
Trackdown United States1957–195970Robert Culp, Ellen Corby, Peter Leeds
United States1963–196426Kurt Russell, Dan O'Herlihy, Charles Bronson, Donna Anderson, Michael Witney, Meg WyllieBased on the novel of the same name.
Two Faces West United States1960–196139Charles Bateman, Francis De Sales, Joyce Meadows, Paul Comi
Union Pacific United States1958–195938Jeff Morrow, Judson Pratt, Susan Cummings
United States1962–1971249James Drury, Doug McClure
Wagon Train United States1957–1965284Ward Bond, Robert Horton, John McIntire, Robert Fuller
United States2022–202313Katherine McNamara, Matt Barr, Katie Findlay, Greg Hovanessian, Philemon Chambers, Justin Johnson, Lawrence Kao, Gabriela QuezadaPrequel to Walker
Wanted: Dead or Alive United States1958–196194Steve McQueen
United States196013Brian Keith, John Dehner
Whiplash Australia
United Kingdom
1960–196134Peter Graves, Anthony Wickert
Whispering Smith United States196126Audie Murphy, Guy Mitchell, Sam BuffingtonBased on the film of the same name.
Wichita Town United States1959–196026Joel McCrea, Jody McCrea, Carlos Romero, George Neise, Robert FoulkAdapted from the Joel McCrea film Wichita
Wide Country United States1962–196328Earl Holliman, Andrew Prine, Slim Pickens
Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa United States1992–199426Voices: Pat Fraley, Jim Cummings, Jeff Bennett, Joe Piscopo, Kay Lenz, Troy DavidsonAnimated television series
United States1965–1969104Robert Conrad, Ross Martin
Wildside United States19856Howard Rollins, William Smith, Sandy McPeak, J. Eddie Peck, Terry Funk, John D'Aquino, Meg Ryan
WinneToons Germany200226Sascha Draeger, Michael Lott, Marco Kroeger, Wolf Rahtjen, Ralf Wolter, Celine Fontanges, Günter Lüdke, Beate HasenauCartoon based on characters from the novel Winnetou I by Karl May
Wrangler United States19606Jason Evers
Yancy Derringer United States1958–195934Jock Mahoney, X Brands, Frances Bergen
United States1983–8422Sam Elliott, David Soul, Edward Albert, Cybill Shepherd, Chuck Connors, Noah Beery Jr., Ken Curtis, Robin Wright, Jane RussellNot a traditional western, but a serial set in modern-day Texas
United States2018–present39Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Danny Huston, Gil Birminghamneo-Western set in modern-day Montana
Young Dan'l Boone United States19774Rick Moses
Young Maverick United States19798Charles Frank, Susan Blanchard, John Dehner, Howard Duff, John McIntire, Donna Mills, Harry Dean Stanton, James Woods
United States19783Linda Purl, Roger Kern, Mare Winningham, Robert Donner, Robert Hays, Jeff Cotler
United States1989–199268Stephen Baldwin, Josh Brolin, Brett Cullen, Travis Fine, Don Franklin, Melissa Leo, Ty Miller, Christopher Pettiet, Gregg Rainwater, Yvonne Suhor, Clare Wren, Anthony Zerbe
Zorro United States1957–196178Guy Williams, Gene Sheldon, Henry Calvin, George J. LewisFour specials aired on Disneyland TV series, after series original run.
Zorro United States1990–199388Duncan Regehr, Patrice Martinez, James Victor, Juan Diego BottoNominated for 1 Young Artist Award
Unaired pilot filmed at Texas Hollywood, Spain
Series filmed Madrid, Spain
Zorro and Son United States19835Henry Darrow, Paul Regina, Bill DanaSitcom

See also

External links