Introduction
Walter Clarence "Buck" Taylor, III (born May 13, 1938) is an American actor and artist, best known for his role as gunsmith-turned-deputy Newly O'Brien in the CBS television series Gunsmoke. He is the son of Florence Gertrude Heffernan and character actor Dub Taylor. Taylor graduated from North Hollywood High School, where he became a talented gymnast. Actor Guinn "Big Boy" Williams sponsored him to go to the U.S. Olympic Trials as a gymnast, but he failed to qualify for the 1960 Olympics. He served two years in the United States Navy.
His first important acting role was as Trooper Shattuck in the 1961 Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre episode "Image of a Drawn Sword". Other early roles were in a 1964 episode of The Outer Limits entitled "Don’t Open Till Doomsday", and as John Bradford (Brad) in four episodes of the 1966 ABC Western series The Monroes.
Gunsmoke
From 1967 to 1975, Taylor played Newly O'Brien in the television series Gunsmoke. The character came to Dodge City as a gunsmith, and later became a deputy marshal. He reprised his role in the 1987 television movie Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge, where he played the city's marshal.
In 1981, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum inducted Taylor into the Cowboy Hall of Fame, and awarded him the Trustee Award for his performance on Gunsmoke.`
Artwork
Taylor attended the Chouinard Art Institute, and has been selling his watercolor and acrylic paintings of cowboys, Native Americans, and horses since 1993. Many of his paintings are of characters and scenes from movies and television series in which he has appeared. These images are made into prints, which are sold in various sizes. He is the official artist for many rodeos and state fairs, and creates their promotional posters.
Filmology
Film
- 1963 - Johnny Shiloh (TV movie) as Josh
- 1966 - The Wild Angels as Dear John
- 1976 - Pony Express Rider as Bovey Kingman
- 1978 - Beartooth
- 1981 - The Legend of the Lone Ranger as Robert Edward Gattlin
- 1981 - Cattle Annie and Little Britches as Dyamite Dick
- 1983 - Triumphs of a Man Called Horse as Sgt. Bridger
- 1984 - No Man's Land (1984 film) as Feeny
- 1987 - The Alamo: 13 Days to Glory (TV miniseries) as “Colorado” Smith
- 1987 - Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (TV movie) as Newly O’Brien
- 1990 - Big Bad John (film) as Bob Simmons
- 1991 - Conagher as Tile Coker
- 1993 - Gettysburg (1993 film) as Colonel William Gable
- 1993 - Tombstone (film) as “Turkey Creek” Jack Johnson
- 1993 - Dallas: J.R. Returns (TV movie) as Steve Grisham
- 1998 - Hard Time (film) as Capt. Adam Gunther
- 1999 - The Soul Collector (TV movie) as Charlie
- 2005 - Truce as Harry Dudds
- 2006 - Flicka as Wagner
- 2007 - The Mist (film) as Ambrose Cornell
- 2017 - The Road to Valhalla as Union Veteran
- 2016 - Indiscretion (film) as Abe
- 2016 - Hell or High Water (film) as Old Man
- 2019 - Trading Paint as Ben
Television
1964 Bonanza The Hostage Billy
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | The Monroes | John "Brad" Bradford | 4 episodes |
| 1967–1975 | Gunsmoke | Newly O'Brien | |
| 1985 | General Hospital | Ralph Russell | |
| 1985 | Crazy Like a Fox | Blake | |
| 2018–2020 | Yellowstone | Emmett Walsh |