In the second episode of Taylor Sheridan’s critically acclaimed Western drama series 1883, viewers were treated to a special appearance by a renowned actor portraying the Marshal of Fort Worth, Texas. The Yellowstone prequel series stars A-list actors Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Isabel May, who play the roles of James, Margaret, and Elsa respectively, members of the prominent Dutton family who now run the Yellowstone Ranch in Sheridan’s flagship show. However, it was Billy Bob Thornton’s cameo in 1883 that stole the spotlight in the spinoff’s inaugural season.
Thornton’s natural fit in the genre was evident, with his Southern drawl and deliberate swagger perfectly suited for the period setting. Yet, his performance left us pondering whether his character in 1883 was based on a real-life historical figure. In the role, Thornton portrays Ft. Worth Marshal Jim Courtright, making his appearance towards the end of the second episode.
In this particular episode, Shea Brennan (played by Sam Elliott) and James Dutton (McGraw) learn of a brutal ambush that targeted their loved ones and a group of German immigrants near the Trinity River, resulting in multiple casualties, including James’ niece, Mary Abel. Seeking justice and retribution, the pair assembles a group to seek assistance from Marshal Jim Courtright.
James arrives at the marshal’s office and describes the bandits responsible for the attack, seeking Courtright’s aid in bringing them to account. Courtright, eager to help, promptly deputizes James and reveals that the group is likely hiding at the local saloon, the White Elephant. Leading the group into the crowded bar, James asks one of the German immigrants, Josef, to discreetly identify the raiders. Courtright swiftly eliminates the ringleader and several others foolish enough to challenge his quick-draw skills. As the stunned bar patrons watch, Courtright delivers a memorable line, asserting his dominance, stating, “There’s only one killer in Ft. Worth, and that’s me.”
Now, let’s unravel the truth behind Marshal Jim Courtright. Courtright’s life was as intriguing as it was colorful. Not only was he the actual Tarrant County Deputy Sheriff and marshal of Cowtown (Ft. Worth) during the period depicted in the series, but he was also a notorious gunslinger who often straddled the line between law enforcement and criminal activities.
Born Timothy Isaiah Courtright near Springfield, Illinois, in 1845, and serving during the Civil War as a Union soldier at Vicksburg, Courtright earned the nickname “Long Haired Jim,” despite his hair appearing short in photographs. This moniker stuck after being mistakenly called Jim instead of Tim during the war, and Courtright decided to embrace the new name. In 1876, Courtright ran for the office of marshal of Ft. Worth, winning the election. Though his methods were considered controversial, he significantly reduced the crime rate in the city’s notorious red-light district known as Hell’s Half Acre during his tenure in the 1870s and 80s.
Some viewed Courtright as no better than the outlaws he pursued, and he was a controversial figure during his time. After losing his third reelection bid in 1879, he moved to New Mexico, where he became implicated in the American Valley Murders, accused of murdering two individuals alongside an associate. Courtright managed to evade capture by fleeing the state. Years later, in 1884, he returned to Ft. Worth and established his detective agency, the T.I.C. Commercial Agency. Although his return fell just a year after the depicted events in the show, it was clear that Sheridan chose artistic license by casting Thornton as this controversial figure.
Courtright’s life ended tragically at the age of 39 in a legendary gunfight with his former friend turned nemesis, Luke Short, who operated the White Elephant saloon in Ft. Worth, the same establishment that Courtright entered and killed three men during his brief appearance in 1883. In reality, Courtright and Short had a falling out when the latter refused to hire Courtright’s agency, leading them to a deadly showdown on the streets of Ft. Worth.
During an era when the boundaries between good and evil were murky at best, Courtright embodied the lawlessness and complexity of the newly incorporated Ft. Worth of the 1870s. While serving as the town marshal, he allegedly engaged in protection schemes in Hell’s Half Acre and even worked as a hitman for the right price. Courtright’s skill with a pistol was undeniable, and he wielded it on both sides of the law. Thornton’s well-portrayed character in the show scratched the surface of this fascinating gunslinger’s morally ambiguous life.
For those eager to witness this captivating drama, 1883 is currently available for streaming on Paramount+.
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
