When people talk about the Duke, they usually picture him gunning down outlaws or leading a cavalry charge. But the cast of the movie The Cowboys with John Wayne wasn't your standard group of grizzled Hollywood veterans. Instead, Mark Rydell, the director, surrounded the aging icon with eleven schoolboys who had barely ever seen a horse, let alone ridden one through the rugged terrain of New Mexico. It was a massive gamble. Honestly, it shouldn't have worked. You’ve got a legendary actor known for being "difficult" with amateurs, a script that kills off the hero three-quarters of the way through, and a group of kids who were essentially tasked with carrying the weight of a $6 million production.
But it did work.
The film stands as a gritty, somewhat controversial bridge between the classic Western and the cynical "New Hollywood" era of the 1970s. While Wayne was the undeniable anchor, the supporting cast—including a terrifying Bruce Dern and a young, pre-stardom Robert Carradine—turned what could have been a gimmick into one of the most poignant films in the genre.
The Duke and his schoolboys
Finding the right kids was a nightmare. Casting directors looked at over 2,000 boys before settling on the final eleven. They weren't looking for polished child actors who could recite Shakespeare; they wanted kids who looked like they belonged in 1877. This group included names like A Martinez, Robert Carradine, and Sean Kelly. Most of them were city kids. Imagine the shock of being dropped onto a ranch and told to herd cattle.
John Wayne wasn't exactly known for being "warm and fuzzy" on set. In fact, he was pretty intimidating. But something weird happened during filming. He actually took these kids under his wing. He treated them like a real trail boss would. If a kid messed up a line, Wayne didn't scream—usually. He coached them. He showed them how to handle the gear. It created a dynamic on screen that you just can't fake with CGI or clever editing. The bond was real because the struggle of learning to "cowboy" was real.
A Martinez, who played Cimarron, often recalls how Wayne would invite the boys to play cards or just hang out. It broke the "larger than life" myth of the Duke and replaced it with a mentor-student relationship that mirrored the script. That’s why the movie feels so heavy. When you see those kids looking up to Wil Andersen, they aren't just acting. They are looking at a cinematic god who is actually being nice to them.
Bruce Dern: The man who shot Liberty Valance... wait, no, he shot the Duke
If you want to talk about the cast of the movie The Cowboys with John Wayne, you have to talk about Bruce Dern. He played "Liberty" Dan, the most despicable villain in Western history. Why? Because he’s the guy who shot John Wayne in the back.
Back in 1972, that was heresy.
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Dern has joked for decades that his career was basically "over" the second he pulled that trigger. Fans hated him. He’d be walking down the street and people would yell at him for killing their hero. But honestly, his performance is a masterclass in tension. He’s twitchy, unpredictable, and genuinely scary. He didn't play a cartoon villain. He played a man who was bitter and dangerous.
The story goes that Wayne told Dern on set, "Oh, they’re gonna hate you for this."
Dern replied, "Yeah, but they’ll love me in Berkeley."
Wayne just laughed.
That interaction perfectly captures the shift in Hollywood at the time. The old guard (Wayne) was meeting the new, Method-style intensity of actors like Dern. The friction between them is what gives the second half of the movie its terrifying momentum. Without a villain that we truly, deeply loathe, the kids' eventual revenge wouldn't feel earned. It would just feel like violence.
The unsung heroes of the supporting cast
Roscoe Lee Browne. Let’s talk about him for a second.
As Jedediah Nightlinger, the camp cook, Browne delivered a performance that was sophisticated, witty, and incredibly bold for a Western. In an era where Black characters in Westerns were often sidelined or stereotyped, Nightlinger was the smartest guy in the room. His vocabulary was better than anyone else's, and he didn't take any crap from Wil Andersen.
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The chemistry between Wayne and Browne is some of the best dialogue in the movie. They trade barbs like old pros.
Then you have Colleen Dewhurst as Kate. Her role is small, but she brings a sense of weary reality to the "frontier woman" trope. She’s not a damsel. She’s a business owner. She’s tough. It’s these layers—the cook, the madam, the boys—that fill out the world. It’s not just a John Wayne vehicle. It’s an ensemble piece that happens to feature the biggest star in the world.
The Eleven Cowboys (The "Boys")
- A Martinez (Cimarron): The "bad boy" of the group who eventually earns his place.
- Robert Carradine (Slim): This was his film debut. He went on to "Revenge of the Nerds" fame later, but here he’s just a lanky kid trying to grow up.
- Sean Kelly (Stuttering Bob): His character’s death/disappearance or struggle (depending on which scene you focus on) provides some of the most emotional beats.
- Clay O'Brien (Hardy Fiske): The youngest and arguably the toughest.
- Sammy Kaplan (Lulu): Added a sense of innocence that made the violence of the finale even more shocking.
Why the violence still sparks debate
When the movie came out, some critics were horrified. They called it "fascist" or "disturbing." Why? Because the movie shows children—literal boys—becoming men through the act of killing.
The cast of the movie The Cowboys with John Wayne had to portray a loss of innocence that was jarring for 1972 audiences. We see these sweet kids transform into cold-blooded vigilantes to avenge their mentor. It’s a dark turn. Most Westerns ended with the hero riding into the sunset. This one ends with a group of orphans burying their father figure and then hunting men down in the night.
Mark Rydell didn't shy away from the blood. He wanted it to feel visceral. When the boys start picking off the outlaws one by one, it’s not a "woo-hoo" adventure moment. It’s grim. It makes the viewer uncomfortable, which is exactly what a good film should do. It asks: what does it cost a person to survive in a lawless world?
Behind the scenes: The New Mexico heat
Filming took place mostly around Santa Fe and Galisteo. It wasn't a cushy Hollywood set. It was hot, dusty, and physically demanding. The kids had to actually drive 1,500 head of cattle.
Rydell insisted on realism. He didn't want stunt doubles doing everything. If you see a boy falling off a horse, there’s a good chance that kid actually hit the dirt. This immersion helped the young actors tremendously. They weren't just reciting lines; they were exhausted, sore, and living the life of a drover.
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John Wayne was battling health issues during this time, but he didn't let it show. He was out there in the dust with everyone else. His work ethic was legendary, and it rubbed off on the kids. They saw a man who had every reason to sit in a trailer but chose to be in the middle of the herd instead.
The legacy of a "different" John Wayne movie
Most of Wayne's later films are forgettable. "The Green Berets" was a mess. "Big Jake" was fine, but standard. The Cowboys is different. It’s one of the few times Wayne allowed himself to be vulnerable on screen. He’s a man who knows he’s aging. He’s a man who is desperate because all the "real men" have left for the gold mines.
The movie is a eulogy for the Old West and for Wayne’s own career.
It’s also one of the few films where the supporting cast doesn't just fade into the background. You remember the kids. You remember the way Cimarron drinks the whiskey. You remember Nightlinger’s rolling, poetic speech. You remember the look on Bruce Dern’s face when he realizes he’s been outsmarted by "children."
What to do if you're a fan
If you haven't watched The Cowboys in a few years, it’s worth a re-watch with a focus on the performances rather than the plot. Most people just remember "John Wayne dies," but the real meat is in the training sequences.
- Watch for the subtle acting: Notice how the kids' body language changes from the start of the film to the end. They go from slumped and unsure to sitting tall in the saddle.
- Check out the 2007 DVD/Blu-ray features: There’s a documentary called "The Cowboys: Together Again" that features the adult actors reflecting on their time with Wayne. It’s genuinely touching to see how much they still respect him.
- Compare it to "The Searchers": If you want to see the evolution of Wayne’s "father" persona, watch these two back-to-back. One is about obsession and hatred; the other is about legacy and teaching.
The cast of the movie The Cowboys with John Wayne wasn't just a collection of actors; they were a makeshift family that captured a specific, fleeting moment in cinematic history. It was the end of an era, and they made sure it went out with a bang—literally.
For those looking to dive deeper into the history of Westerns, looking into the career of Bruce Dern after this film is a wild ride. He became the go-to guy for "unhinged" characters, largely because of how well he played against Wayne. Likewise, A Martinez went on to have a massive career in television, proving that the "cowboy school" was a pretty effective training ground for young talent.
Next time it's on TCM or a streaming service, don't just skip to the gunfight. Watch the quiet moments. That's where the real movie is.