An Evening with Barry Corbin By Gene Stevens

 

One of my all-time favorite things about living in Iowa is being a member 

the John Wayne Birthplace Society. And this weekend is the John Wayne Birthplace celebration. One of the events planned for the weekend, was an" Evening with Barry Corbin."

On May 23rd, 2025 I had the honor of attending "An Evening with Barry Corbin at the Iowa theater in Winterset Iowa. Barry is a very well known and loved actor with a really long and diversified filmography. He has appeared in numerous Westerns throughout his career, leveraging his Texas heritage and love for the western genre to deliver memorable performances. 

Below is a list of his notable Westerns obtained with the help of Grok, (films and TV shows) in which he has acted, based on available information:

Western Films:

Urban Cowboy (1980) - Played Uncle Bob Davis, a supporting role in this modern Western set in Texas, centered around the cowboy culture and honky-tonk life.

Conagher (1991) - Portrayed a good-hearted stagecoach driver in this TNT Western film alongside Sam Elliott, earning him a Western Heritage Award in 1992.

No Country for Old Men (2007) - Played Uncle Ellis, a former Texas lawman, delivering a poignant monologue in this Coen Brothers’ neo-Western masterpiece.

The Journeyman (2001) - Starred alongside Willie Nelson in this Western film, returning to the genre after his work on Northern Exposure.

Crossfire Trail (2001) - Appeared in this made-for-TV Western, which became one of the most popular TV movies of its time.

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) - Featured in Martin Scorsese’s Western crime drama, continuing his presence in modern Westerns.

The Homesman (2014) - Played a role in this Western drama directed by Tommy Lee Jones.

Shadow on the Mesa (2013) - Appeared in this Western TV movie.

Eminence Hill (2019) - Played a role in this Western film.

Western TV Shows/Miniseries:

Lonesome Dove (1989) - Portrayed Roscoe Brown, the bumbling but kind-hearted deputy to July Johnson, in this iconic Western miniseries.

Yellowstone (2021) - Appeared as a cowboy on the Four Sixes ranch in Season 4, Episode 5 ("Under a Blanket of Red"), delivering a notable monologue on cowboy life.

The Thorn Birds (1983) - Played Pete, a stockman, in this miniseries set on an Australian sheep station, which has Western elements.

Additional Notes:

Corbin’s love for Westerns stems from his childhood in Lamesa, Texas, where he was inspired by character actors like George “Gabby” Hayes and Fuzzy Q. Jones, as well as stars like Ben Johnson, whom he later befriended.

His performances often embody the authenticity of the Western genre, drawing from his real-life experience riding horses and tending cattle on his Fort Worth ranch.

Corbin was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in 2018, recognizing his significant contributions to the Western genre.

I got to meet Barry very briefly,  I wished I had more time to talk to him. 

He is a very down-to-earth guy.

The following photos were taken by me at the event. 

   Barry Corbin is a wonderful  story teller and Shakespearean style actor.  He put on a great show, and told the audience about his childhood, acting career, and his love of history.