10 Best Lawmen From TV Westerns

While the Western genre often focuses on the stories of outrageous outlaws, these thrilling tales would not be nearly as appealing without equally capable lawmen on their trail. From classics of bygone eras to more recent neo-Western shows, television has always boasted an incredible cast of complex, noble, and often ambiguous lawmen, officers, and vigilantes. As bandits and gunslingers cause carnage across the Wild West, it’s essential that those with a duty to serve showcase their heroism and restore justice to this lawless landscape.

Many of the best Western TV shows ever made featured all-time great lawmen who showcased the best of what this genre has to offer. From morality-ambiguous antiheroes to dutiful officers who follow the letter of the law, the best lawmen come in all shapes and sizes. While the Western genre may have peaked many decades ago, modern heroes in neo-Westerns prove that audiences still connect deeply to classic heroes and the archetype of a noble lawman.

10 Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane

The Dukes of Hazzard (1979–1985)

As more of a comedic buffoon than a serious lawman, Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane started as a serious and hard-nosed sheriff in early episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard TV show. However, as the show went on, he became increasingly bumbling and lighthearted, which aligned better with the child-friendly nature of the show. With an iconic performance from James Best, Sheriff Coltrane was originally played by Bruce Atkins in the 1975 movie Moonrunners, which was later reworked and adapted into The Dukes of Hazzard.

As an antagonist to Bo and Luke Duke, Sheriff Coltrane was always scheming with villainous Boss Hogg and, despite his overwhelming incompetence, was a firm fan-favorite character. As more of a goofball than a genuine threat, Sheriff Coltrane added some real comedic relief to The Dukes of Hazzard and was a fun foe for the boys to come up against.

9 Deputy Festus Haggen

Gunsmoke (1955–1975)

The long-running Western series Gunsmoke was filled with likable lawmen, and one of the most iconic was Deputy Festus Haggen. As Marshal Matt Dillon’s right-hand man, this scruffy, fast-talking hillbilly was the perfect antidote to the stoic and serious nature of Dillon. With quirky mannerisms and enjoyable comedic relief, Deputy Haggen added to the appeal of this all-time great Western TV show.

Gunsmoke featured hundreds of enjoyable adventures that highlighted the loyal and capable nature of Deputy Haggen, whose witty back-and-forth between himself and Doc Adams was a highlight of the show. With an incredible performance from Ken Curtis, it was thrilling to watch how he transformed Haggen from a rough outlaw into a fan-favorite deputy. As one of the many characters who contributed to the incredible longevity of Gunsmoke, Deputy Haggen was an essential character who added a lot to the appeal of the show.

8 Hank Schrader

Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

Hank Schrader watches intently from his car in Breaking Bad. — Hank Schrader watches Fring's Laundromart in Breaking Bad

As a story of outlaws set in the desert landscape of Albuquerque, New Mexico, while it may not be immediately apparent, Breaking Bad was a classic Western story. While the train heists and quick thinking of Walter White bring to mind the great outlaws of the Wild West, the DEA agent ASAC Hank Schrader fully encompassed the noble intentions of a committed lawman. As an officer who was consistently on the trail of the man known as Heisenberg, Hank was consistently embroiled in desert shootouts and intense Western-style standoffs.

With a quick wit and a love for his family that blinded him to Walter’s true nature, it was thrilling to watch as Hank slowly put the pieces together that the man he was searching for was right under his nose. While Bryan Cranston has rightfully been praised for his performance in Breaking Bad, Dean Norris as Hank was a true highlight as he added stakes that made Walt’s crimes feel intensely personal. As a modern neo-Western that borrowed a lot from the tropes of the genre, it’s important to recognize Breaking Bad for the epic Western that it was.

7 Lucas McCain

The Rifleman (1958–1963)

Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford as Lucas and Mark McCain in The Rifleman — Lucas and Mark McCain play with dogs in *The Rifleman*

With a strong moral code and a passion for standing up for what’s right, Lucas McCain was a cattle rancher in The Rifleman who often found himself enforcing justice when the town was in trouble. While not a traditional sheriff or lawman, Lucas wielded a custom-made Winchester. 44-40 lever action rifle and sought to uphold law and order whenever necessary. As an assist to Marshal Micah Torrance, the lines between Western lawman and frontier vigilante are blurred when it comes to Lucas McCain.

As one of the most popular Western series of the 1950s and 1960s, The Rifleman showcased Lucas McCain as a true icon of the genre whose compassionate beliefs made him a beloved father figure who taught his son and viewers the merits of honesty and integrity. While not a badge-wearing lawman, Lucas McCain was an essential figure in maintaining peace in his community as he utilized his Civil War experience to act heroically in times of need.

6 Sheriff Walt Longmire

Longmire (2012–2017)

Robert-Taylor-as-Sheriff-Walt-Longmire-from-Longmire

The modern neo-Western series Longmire showcased the happenings of Walt Longmire, the sheriff of fictional Absaroka County in Wyoming. Based on the Walt Longmire Mysteries series of novels by Craig Johnson, this rugged and principled lawman was powerfully portrayed by Robert Taylor and felt like an enjoyable throwback to classic Western heroes of times gone by. With a stoic nature and deep commitment to justice, Sheriff Longmire captured the essence of the Western genre’s passion for doing what’s right in the face of great challenges.

Sheriff Longmire was a complex and interesting character who carried a weight of personal tragedy, as the murder of his wife meant he understood the troubling consequences of crime. As a contemporary lawman, Longmire highlighted the value of a Western hero not in the lawless era of the Wild West but here and now. With a steadfast commitment to doing what’s right, Sheriff Longmire proved that classic heroes were not just a thing of the past.

5 Sheriff Donnie Haskell

Yellowstone (2018 - 2024)

With a moral ambiguity that meant he was hard to categorize as either good or bad, Sheriff Donnie Haskell was just one of the many shady figures who populated the world of Yellowstone. As a bent cop who is in the pocket of many of the wealthier residents of Gallatin County, Sheriff Haskell has a complicated relationship with the ranch owner, John Dutton. While Sheriff Haskell tries to uphold law and order, he also has a pragmatic understanding that many important issues lie outside the realm of his authority.

With a tough guy persona, the truth of Sheriff Haskell’s character was that he was just another pawn in the power struggles that were laid out in Yellowstone’s Montana setting. As a character who ultimately met a tragic end, Sheriff Haskell highlighted that lawmen don’t always get a hero's ending, as he was fatally wounded at a botched diner robbery.

4 Captain Woodrow Call

Lonesome Dove (1989)

Robert Duvall as Gus and Tommy Lee Jones as Call on their horses in Lonesome Dove.

Lonesome Dove was one of the greatest Western miniseries ever made, thanks in no small part to Tommy Lee Jones’s incredible performance as Captain Woodrow Call. As a no-nonsense former Texas Ranger who vehemently believed in the importance of hard work and upholding the law, even in the face of personal sacrifice, Call’s stoic and loyal nature was a healthy antidote to the more freewheeling nature of Robert Duvall’s Gus McCrae. Despite only having four episodes, Lonesome Dove was impactful enough to solidify Call as one of the all-time great Western lawmen.

Part of the reason that Captain Call is such an enduring character is the complexity at the heart of his story, as he refuses to acknowledge his illegitimate son, Newt, despite clearly caring for him. With a devotion to duty that overshadowed his own personal happiness, Captain Call represents yet another classic, emotionally closed-off Western hero. As a miniseries populated with great characters, Captain Call was just one of the many reasons to check out Lonesome Dove.

3 Sheriff Seth Bullock

Deadwood (2004–2006)

Timothy Olyphant as Seth Bullock looking at someone in Deadwood

While there have been plenty of great Western lawmen across the history of television, there aren’t many who were actually based on real historical figures. This was the case for Sheriff Seth Bullock, the intense and principled lawman played by Timothy Olyphant in the HBO classic Deadwood. As a show that highlighted how a small frontier encampment grew into a fully fledged town, the presence of Sheriff Bullock in Deadwood represented the increasing encroachment of law and order on the fast-disappearing Wild West.

With a strict moral code and a violent nature, Sheriff Bullock had a lot of misconduct to deal with in Deadwood, South Dakota, a place that never stayed quiet for long. From his clashes with saloon owner Al Swearengen to his complex relationship with his wife Martha, Sheriff Bullock was an essential addition to Deadwood’s astounding ensemble cast. As a character who appeared in every episode and the long-awaited epilogue Deadwood: The Movie, Sheriff Bullock helped make Deadwood one of the best Western TV shows of all time.

2 Raylan Givens

Justified (2010–2015)

Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) looking amused in Justified City Primeval season 1, episode 3 — Raylan Givens in Justified City Primeval season 1, episode 3

After giving an exceptional performance as Sheriff Bullock in Deadwood, Timothy Olyphant delivered another all-time great portrayal of a Western lawman in the modern classic Justified. As a modern hero who brings an old-school style of justice to the crime-ridden world of Harlan County, Kentucky, Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens relocated to the town after making headlines for killing a fugitive.

With his signature Stetson hat, a cool charisma, and a laid-back sense of humor, Givens was truly one of the most charming gunslingers on television. While his reckless nature of inability to let go of grudges sometimes stands in his way, it was thrilling to watch how Givens butted heads with his lifelong rival, the outlaw Boyd Crowder, played by Walton Goggins. As an antihero who often pushes the limits of the law, Raylan Givens helped turn Justified into a hit series with audiences and critics alike.

1 Marshal Matt Dillon

Gunsmoke (1955–1975)

Dennis Weaver, Amanda Blake, and James Arness as Chester Goode, Kitty Russel, and Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke.

When it comes to discussing the best Western lawmen, one essential figure who absolutely must be mentioned was Marshal Matt Dillon, the noble marshal of Dodge City. As the ultimate symbol of frontier justice, Dillion found a balance between acting tough and being fair as he maintained law and order in his dangerous and unpredictable town. Across the original radio series and the beloved television show, Marshal Dillon carved out his esteemed legacy as an all-time great Wild West lawman.

As a role that James Arness powerfully portrayed for 20 years on screen, Marshal Matt Dillon avoided violence wherever possible, but when push came to shove, he showcased his skills as one of the fastest draws around. While Marshal Dillion was a lonely figure in many ways, it was thrilling to watch him form alliances with the likes of Doc Adams, Miss Kitty, and Chester Goode. Gunsmoke was truly one of the best Western TV shows ever made, and its success was primarily due to the appeal of Dillon’s character.

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