Tall in the Saddle
The Life of Ben Johnson, Hollywood’s Real Cowboy
From the rodeo arena to the silver screen—Ben Johnson’s true Western tale
Description
Tall in the Saddle: The Life of Ben Johnson, Hollywood’s Real Cowboy is the definitive biography of Ben Johnson (1918–1996), the only man to win both an Academy Award and a world rodeo championship. Born on a historic Oklahoma ranch, Johnson could rope cattle before he could read, and his horsemanship took him straight to Hollywood when tycoon Howard Hughes needed horses for The Outlaw in 1943. What started as a behind-the-scenes gig turned into an acting career that spanned six decades.
Discovered by legendary director John Ford, Johnson became a fixture in classic Westerns alongside John Wayne, before stepping into more complex roles with filmmakers like Sam Peckinpah, Steven Spielberg, and Peter Bogdanovich—who guided him to his Oscar-winning performance in The Last Picture Show. Though he worked with Hollywood greats like Steve McQueen, Marlon Brando, and Clint Eastwood, Johnson remained rooted in the authenticity of the American West, both on and off screen.
Drawing from a wealth of interviews with costars, directors, and rodeo companions, Kathryn Jones captures the grit, grace, and enduring legacy of a man who didn’t just play a cowboy—he was one. Tall in the Saddle is a rich, cinematic portrait of a Hollywood legend whose real-life story is as unforgettable as any role he played.
Reviews
"Tall in the Saddle: The Life of Ben Johnson, Hollywood’s Real Cowboy is rich with research by the author, interviews, and telling, behind-the-scenes detail about the making of key movies in Johnson’s career, as well as his other career as a world-champion roper."
- Joseph B. Atkins, author of Harry Dean Stanton: Hollywood’s Zen Rebel
"Kathryn Jones’s treatment of the actor’s life history and comprehensive discussion of all of Johnson’s films, television productions, and related professional and philanthropic work is impressive. Tall in the Saddle cements Johnson’s contribution to the Western genre as well as twentieth-century film and Oklahoma history."
- Jennifer L. McMahon, coeditor of The Philosophy of the Western
"Back when I worked with Ben Johnson on The Sacketts, he told me that the great director John Ford’s dying words to him were, ‘Johnson, always stay real.’ Well . . . that was never gonna be a problem. Ben was as real as daylight. But that being said, I have to admit that gravity seemed to take a holiday when Ben Johnson was around. And while I know he’d be embarrassed if he knew I called him a mentor, the fact is, I went to the school of Uncle Ben. Honesty and respect were his watchwords, and he was never afraid of modesty. In the very best sense, he was an ordinary man who did extraordinary things. He was a world champion roper, he earned an Academy Award, and nobody sat a horse like Ben Johnson."
- Tom Selleck
"It has all the fixings of a tall tale—young cowboy/grammar-school dropout from small Oklahoma town rises to heights far above the Hollywood Sign’s Mount Lee—but in Kathryn Jones’s Tall in the Saddle, it’s genuine. Rife with apt quotes, varied sources, and fresh interviews, the book is a living, breathing document of Johnson’s remarkable career. Jones’s campfire storytelling is delightful, each chapter ending with a virtual cliffhanger practically atop a Monument Valley spire. Plus, her personal background informs a look at Johnson’s gap year as he strove to win rodeo’s world championship (Sam Shepard would have traded his Pulitzer for that accolade), and her understanding of Johnson’s ethos never waivers."
- Susan Compo, author of Warren Oates: A Wild Life and other works
"Kathryn Jones’s Tall in the Saddle: The Life of Ben Johnson, Hollywood’s Real Cowboy is an instant classic. Jones spent years employing her great skills as a researcher and reporter to piece together the complicated life of a complex man, then used her sublime gift as a storyteller to produce this compelling, exquisitely written book. Even people who think they know everything about the Oscar-winning actor and world-champion rodeo cowboy will come away from Tall in the Saddle with a much deeper understanding of Johnson. I highly recommend it."
- W. K. Stratton, author of The Wild Bunch: Sam Peckinpah, a Revolution in Hollywood, and the Making of a Legendary Film
"Be warned: this book will seduce you. That’s a promise. I was hooked before I reached the second page. Thanks to Kathryn Jones’s thorough research and skillful writing, Tall in the Saddle satisfies readers who devour this life story of Ben Johnson, an authentic cowboy who became a world champion rodeo roper and snagged an Academy Award. ‘I’m not an actor,’ he once said. ‘I’m a cowboy who got lucky.’ Grab a handful of mane and enjoy the ride."
- Michael Wallis, author of The Real Wild West: The 101 Ranch and the Creation of the American West