Jess Harper was the best cowboy with Cooper Smith a close second.

I think everyone is correct. I going to go with everyone that was named. They all are exceptional actors and have played a important role in the persona of the "American on screen Cowboy". With out them the image may have been lost. I will also agree some of these guys were not just acting they were the real deal and they were very fortunate to end up on the big screen.

John Wayne is the image of the American Cowboy. Im also a fan of Sam Elliot. Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall also did great when it came to Lonesome Dove. One of my other personal favorites would be Bruce Campbell when he did The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. Did anyone else ever watch this?

Ok so john wayne is still the number one, but for number two i have to say Sam Elliot. He just personifies true cowboy grit and guts. I love Robert Duvall and Tom Selleck for sure but Sam Elliot just stands out as number two

john wayne but if not him then gene autry

I would have to say that is is Tommy Lee Jones. He reminds me so much of my own grandpa who grew up in rural Arkansas, hitch hiked his way to Washington State were he found a job working as a ranch hand. Fell in love with the ranchers daughter and the rest is history. Tommy Lee Jones just captures that western ideal with a mind full of wisdom. My grandpa was all cowboy, even down to his line of bucking bulls he contracted to rodoes and the similarities in Tommy Lee Jones' characters make him a true screen cowboy.

I really like to say that both John Wayne and Ben Johnson are the best cowboy actors! I've grown up watching both of them and I really like them both!

To me the top of the list is Ben Johnson. He was the real deal. He played the second in alot of movies but he made the lead actor look good.

Clint Eastwood from Rowdy Yates in 'Rawhide' to William "Bill" Munny in 'Unforgiven'. As John Wayne is an icon for the movies, he did not quite get past developing a character that was never John Wayne. On the other hand, Clint Eastwood broght the 'A' game in acting and character development always had Eastwood believable in his role.

Gotta go with Clint Eastwood and James Arness

im pretty sure yea john wayne is the all time on screen cowboy but for number two i would have to say robert duvale i mean just think about one of the greatest cowboy movies of all time, lonesome dove and open range wasnt bad at all either

I agree with all the above posts.

It is hard to find a bad western.

another guy that has not been mentioned is Tom Selleck.

i hate him for being so purty but he plays a pretty good cowboy. He did some Sackett movies with Sam Elliott that were pretty good way before he was Quigley.

I am agreeing with everyone though i am partial to Clint Eastwood, i would like to add one more that being Keifer Sutherland for his roles in Young Guns 1 and 2 and the Cowboy Way, and the fact that he won a buckle for team roping.

My number 1 would have to be The Duke (The Angel and the Badman, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Red River & The Searchers). I also love Gary Cooper (The Plainsman, Along Came Jones, The Westerner), Jimmy Stewart (Broken Arrow, Winchester 73) and Steve McQueen (Junior Bonner). Loved Randolph Scott, as well, though his films were all too often B movies and Alan Ladd as Shane was superb. On TV I loved James Drury as The Virginian, who was a rodeo cowboy before becoming an actor. Though she didn't play a cowboy, I must mention Jane Alexander as Calamity Jane--simply brilliant!

First, I have to agree with John Wayne being the greatest.
Robert Duvall was PERFECTLY casted as Gus in Lonesome Dove and is plays a great cowboy.
Clint Eastwood is a natural.
Sam Elliot is one of my personal favorites. It may have to do with the fact that I'm named after one of his characters, but he is a natural!

Roy Rogers gets my vote. His priorities were God, Family and country. That is the correct order.

Well John Wayne is obvious, but I really have to agree with Clint. I also like some of the others like Robert Duval and Kevin Costner and I enjoyed several other movies with actors I can't name. I ain't to good on recalling names.

Hi all. Now iv read all the comments from other members up to now and I most agree most are very good picks but I must add one more to the list and my pick is Randoff Scott. If anyone is wondering who that is just check out some of his many movies. Thanks all!

I'd have to say my all time favorite screen cowboy was Roy Rogers and still is. I've started collecting his movies and t.v. episodes and so far there's not a bad one in the bunch. They don't make role models like that anymore.

Here is my top five: 1. John Wayne, 2. Clint Eastwood, 3. Yul Brynner, 4. Robert Duvall, 5. Kevin Costner. Number 4 and 5 for "Open Range".

It has to be John Wayne he is an american icon. I do agree that Clint is next in line ans that Ben Johnson is the best rodeo cowboy it is my understanding that he was a real rodeo cowboy.

Ben Johnson is my pick, but if you're talking about real rodeo cowboys who played cowboys off and on in the movies, Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan also need to be on the list somewhere!

I have to think in terms of authenticity. So in that vein consider, Ben Johnson, Slim Pickens, Roger Farnsworth, and Joel McCrey.

All time: Clint Eastwood - hands down.

One time: Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone - "I'm your huckleberry"

I would have to agree on the Clint Eastwood choice. I actually was very hooked on early Clint - "High Plains Drifter", "For a Few Dollars More" and I agree he does age well in those jeans:))

Clint, especially as he's aged.