Is Billy Bob Thornton’s ‘1883’ Character Based on a Real Person?

In the second episode of the first season of Taylor Sheridan’s Western drama 1883, there is an appearance by a very well-known actor who plays the Marshal of Fort Worth, Texas.

The cast of the Yellowstone prequel series is led by Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Isabel May, who play James, Margaret, and Elsa of the renowned Dutton family, the descendants of whom now run the Yellowstone Ranch in Sheridan’s flagship show.

In 1883, however, Billy Bob Thornton’s cameo is one of the most memorable turns of the spinoff’s first and only season to date.

Thornton is a natural fit for the genre period piece, given his Southern drawl and purposeful swagger, but his performance also left us wondering if the character he plays in 1883 is actually a real-life person from history.

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