The cast of Tombstone was full of celebrated and talented actors, but these 10 performances stole the show. Tombstone is widely considered one of the best western films of all time, and a big reason for its success is its huge cast. The cast of Tombstone is packed with big names like Charlton Heston, Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, but also finds room for its supporting cast to stand out on their own. Although all the actors Tombstone brought something unique and valuable to the film, only 10 can be considered the best.
While big, impressive scenes are an important part of acting, they’re not the whole story. Thus, the criteria for the best performances in Tombstone is not the same as the list of the best scenes in Tombstone. Instead, the best performances are those that not only stand out in their own right, but also enhance the film as a whole. Tombstone is a sprawling Western epic, and each actor had their role to play in showing all sides of the story of the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. The best actors did this almost perfectly and made Tombstone the icon he is today.
10
Church Thomas Haden as Billy Clanton
Haden Church perfectly combined Billy’s naivety and innocence
Billy Clanton’s most important role in Tombstone was dying, but Thomas Haden Church made sure to leave an impression before that point. Haden Church did a great job playing Billy like the boy he was and showing how trusting and naive he was even in the face of death. The most important thing the Haden Church accomplished for Tombstone it was how he let other actors shine, like in his interactions with Doc Holliday and his relationship with the Cowboys.
One scene in particular highlights how good Thomas Haden Church was as Billy Clanton. Just before the shootout at the OK Corral, the camera focused on each of the combatants’ faces. Billy’s face was the most important, as it was through his reaction to Doc Holliday’s wink that Wyatt realized the fight was about to begin. Haden Church’s performance, which was completely silent, perfectly displayed Billy’s fear and what he was about to do, and the scene wouldn’t have worked without him..
9
Dana Wheeler-Nicholson as Mattie Earp
Mattie had relatively few scenes, but Wheeler-Nicholson made sure they were memorable
Mattie Earp was marginalized both in real life and in Tombstonebut Dana Wheeler-Nicholson still put herself front and center for much of the film. Mattie was a difficult character to portray, both because of her opium addiction and because she was the “other woman” that Wyatt had to discard in order to pursue Josephine.. Wheeler-Nicholson, however, handled the role deftly and turned what could have been an entirely forgettable character into one of Tombstonemain sources of emotion.
One of the most impressive parts of Dana Wheeler-Nicholson’s performance is how much she accomplished without a single word. For example, after the shooting at the OK Corral, Wheeler-Nicholson showed every tragic and painful thought that passed through Mattie’s mind only through her eyes.. Likewise, when Wyatt saw Josephine at Morgan’s funeral, she faced her husband in just a few seconds of screen time.
8
Bill Paxton as Morgan Earp
Morgan wasn’t the most important Earp, but Paxton still gave a great performance
Morgan Earp was, in many ways, a direct parallel to Billy Clanton, but Bill Paxton did enough to stand out on his own. Both Billy and Morgan were the most innocent members of the Cowboys and Earp parties, respectively. Both also died violent deaths, which caused their groups to seek revenge. Paxton, however, had the chance to give his character much more emotional depth than Haden Church, and he took advantage of that opportunity.. Because Paxton was just as trustworthy as the naive and trusting Earp brother, his death hurt a lot and he helped make Wyatt’s revenge more sympathetic.
Morgan Earp was, in many ways, a direct parallel to Billy Clanton, but Bill Paxton did enough to stand out on his own.
Paxton didn’t just help Tombstone and other characters, however, he also had some scenes to shine. The shooting at the OK Corral, for example, was a huge highlight of Paxton’s ability to show fear and emotional turmoil.. Without his performance, the OK Corral would have been a simple bloodbath instead of the grim omen it needed to be for the rest of the world. Tombstone to work. Morgan’s dismay at Virgil’s injuries also served as a great demonstration of how Paxton could seamlessly blend in and enhance a scene that wasn’t really about his character.
7
Sam Elliott as Virgil Earp
Elliott is a Western star and perfectly complemented Kurt Russell
Sam Elliott is a legendary name in the Western genre and could normally lead a Western as big as Tombstone alone. The fact that he played Virgil Earp instead of Wyatt shows how talented the cast of Tombstone was, but Elliott still managed to show why he is considered one of the greats. As Virgil, Elliott fit perfectly into the role of a lawman and perfectly conveyed Virgil’s need to protect the innocent and his discomfort with the idea of seeing evil go unpunished.
Although he played the role of the older and wiser brother Tombstone Admirably, Sam Elliott also had a few moments to shine on his own. When Virgil was shot and injured by the Cowboys, Elliott’s physical performance made his injuries seem real and surprising.. So, as the doctor examined him at home, Elliott deftly conveyed the strange mix of emotions Virgil was feeling. It’s not easy to show a character’s pain and anger as they share a tender moment with their spouse, but Elliott was more than up to the task.
6
Stephen Lang as Ike Clanton
Playing a cowardly character like Ike Clanton isn’t easy, but Stephen Lang delivered
Stephen Lang’s Ike Clanton, senior member of the Cowboys and tertiary antagonist of the TombstoneThere weren’t many moments where it looked good in the film. Most of Ike’s scenes involved him cowering or running away, usually moments after performing a difficult performance. While this doesn’t make Ike very likable, it is a testament to Lang’s performance and one of the reasons he was so impressive in the role.. Playing a cowardly character isn’t easy, but Lang made Ike’s grandiose stance and subsequent cowardice seem natural.
Even though he was a coward, Ike had some important scenes in Tombstoneand Stephen Lang made sure they were the best they could be. For example, his theatrics in the shootout at the OK Corral added to the frenetic energy and suspense of the scene. Likewise, Ike’s fear of Wyatt’s threats helped sell the “Hell is coming with me“scene, and he helped turn Kurt Russell’s performance into legend. The mark of a truly talented actor is being able to play even an unlikable character so well that he elevates his co-stars, and Lang was certainly capable of that.
5
Michael Biehn as Johnny Ringo
Biehn made Johnny Ringo intimidating and his chemistry with Doc Holliday was excellent
A great Western needs a great villain, and Michael Biehn provided the perfect antagonist in Johnny Ringo. Johnny Ringo made the Cowboys feel like a real threat, and Biehn’s performance really sold the idea that they were deadly. Without Biehn, Tombstone it wouldn’t have had as much tension or suspense, and its gunfights wouldn’t have been as satisfying. Additionally, Biehn did an excellent job of providing a villain to root against, which only helped cement Tombstonelegacy.
There are several moments where Johnny and Doc face off, and while Kilmer’s performance is the highlight, Biehn’s ability to be both defiant and secretly terrified put the icing on the cake.
Where Biehn really shined, however, was in his on-screen chemistry with Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday. The rivalry between Johnny and Doc was such an important part Tombstoneand much of the film wouldn’t have worked if Biehn hadn’t been so good at standing up to Kilmer. There are several moments where Johnny and Doc face off, and while Kilmer’s performance is the highlight, Biehn’s ability to be both defiant and secretly terrified put the icing on the cake. In some ways, Doc Holliday wouldn’t have been as iconic if he hadn’t had an almost equal match with Johnny Ringo.
4
Dana Delany as Josephine Marcus
Delany’s Josephine was the main reason the Tombstone novel worked so well
Tombstone isn’t as remembered for its romantic subplot as its action, but Dana Delany’s Josephine Marcus should be. Tombstone went to great lengths to show that Josephine was no ordinary woman, but it was Delany’s performance that proved just how special she was. Delany could easily go from a thrill-seeking, fun-loving artist to a serious, slightly melancholic lover caught up in her feelings for a married man. She also gave Josephine a lot of strength, like when she faced Johnny Ringo and Billy Breckenridge (Jason Priestley).
Like Dana Wheeler-Nicholson’s Mattie, one of the best parts of Delany’s performance as Josephine was what she was able to accomplish without saying a word. Josephine was a noisy woman, a fact of which she was not in the least ashamed. However, towards the end of TombstoneAfter Josephine ran into Wyatt on her way out of town, the two shared some tender, peaceful moments together. With just a few words, Delany was able to show all the complex emotions that Josephine was feeling for Wyatt at that moment, and her performance stirred up some emotions..
3
Boothe powers as Curly Bill Brocius
Boothe’s performance made Curly Bill an even better villain than Johnny Ringo
While he’s not the most directly antagonistic to the Earps and Doc, Curly Bill Brocius managed to upstage Johnny Ringo in a number of ways. The main reason Curly Bill was so fun to watch is because Powers Boothe gave a stellar performance as the leader of the Cowboys. Because of Boothe, Curly Bill was full of charisma and perfectly eccentric, but was still extremely easy to root for. Somehow, Boothe managed to combine flamboyance and intimidation, and it worked to great effect for the character of Curly Bill.
Because of Boothe, Curly Bill was full of charisma and perfectly eccentric, but was still extremely easy to root for.
Nothing showcases Boothe’s performance as Curly Bill better than the scene in which the gang boss gets high on opium and shoots Marshal Fred White (Harry Carey Jr.). From the lead-up to the scene and Curly Bill’s antics to the aftermath where he calls out to the marshal as if surprised by his own actions, Boothe made that scene memorable. In fact, Boothe made the entire Curly Bill character memorable, as he could have easily been overshadowed by Johnny Ringo, a villain who was much more invested in the film’s plot.
2
Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp
Russell’s performance in Tombstone made him a western film legend
Tombstone is, essentially, the story of Wyatt Earp, and Kurt Russell was the perfect choice to center the Western. He can perform all the essential parts of a Western star: his portrayal of Wyatt was strong but vulnerable, calm but enraged, and tough but tender. Russell feels perfectly at home in Tombstoneand it almost seems like he was born to play Wyatt Earp. The scene where he throws Johnny (Billy Bob Thornton) out of the bar really shows how well he fit in as Wyatt, and became the coolest moment of Kurt Russell’s career.
One of the most impressive parts of Kurt Russell’s performance as Wyatt Earp was the range he displayed. In the same film, he was a classic Western hero, a grieving brother, a vengeful antihero, and a romantic lead. Wyatt could stop firing bullets and taunts like “Hell comes with me!“to show Josephine’s softness or mourning Morgan’s death in a matter of minutes, and Russell is the reason why every side of the complicated character felt so real and perfect.
1
Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday
Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday is one of the best western performances of all time
It is not news that the best performance in Tombstone came from Val Kilmer for his portrayal of Doc Holliday. Kilmer’s performance elevated Doc Holliday into a modern legend, and now it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing the real-world gunslinger.. Many of Doc Holliday’s best quotes in Tombstone are only so beloved because of Val Kilmer’s expert delivery: the actor transformed something as simple as the idiomatic expression “It looks like someone just walked over your grave“in a blood-curdling provocation. It’s a performance that has gone down in history as one of the best in the history of Western cinema, and for good reason.
There really isn’t one scene that proves how well Val Kilmer played Doc Holliday, simply because they’re all so great.. From her first card game to her last conversation with Wyatt, most of the best scenes in Tombstone include or are entirely focused on Doc Holliday, and that’s because Kilmer was absolutely magnetic in the role. It’s almost as if the camera is drawn to him as much as the audience, and it’s really hard to overstate how impressive it is that Kilmer gave such a remarkable performance in Tombstonea film full of first-rate actors.