Ben Johnson (1918–1996) was an American actor, stuntman, rodeo cowboy, and rancher, best known for his authentic portrayals in Western films. Born Francis Benjamin Johnson Jr. on June 13, 1918, in Foraker, Oklahoma, on the Osage Indian Reservation, he was of Irish, Osage, and Cherokee ancestry. The son of a rancher and rodeo champion, Johnson grew up with horsemanship and cowboy skills that would later define his Hollywood career[1][4][7]. Johnson's entry into the film industry began in 1940 when Howard Hughes hired him to deliver horses to California for the film *The Outlaw* (1943). He initially worked as a stuntman and horse wrangler, doubling for stars like John Wayne, Gary Cooper, and James Stewart. His acting break came when director John Ford noticed him after Johnson heroically saved people during an on-set accident on *Fort Apache* (1948). Ford subsequently signed him to a seven-year acting contract, leading to prominent roles in Ford’s Westerns, including the lead in *Wagon Master* (1950)[1][2][6][7]. Johnson also excelled as a rodeo competitor, winning the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Team Roping World Championship in 1953 and was inducted into their ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1973[4]. His most acclaimed role was as Sam 'the Lion' in *The Last Picture Show* (1971), which earned him the Academy Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. Despite his Hollywood success, Johnson remained grounded, continuing to operate a horse-breeding ranch and sponsor rodeo events that supported charitable causes[1][4][8]. He appeared in over 300 films and television shows, including *Have Gun Will Travel*, *The Virginian*, *The Monroes*, *The Undefeated*, *Chisum*, *Red Dawn* (1984), and his final film, *Angels in the Outfield* (1994). Johnson passed away from a heart attack on April 8, 1996, in Mesa, Arizona[1][2][8].