A noble and enduring symbol of the Old West on the silver screen, William S. Hart is considered by many to be one of the first great Western stars. In his life, roles and, eventually, in his death, he came to embody the great spirit of generosity and dedication the early Western films represent.

Before becoming a film star, Hart worked as a postal clerk in New York during the late 1800s. He worked in theatre before moving to the West Coast to pursue film.

In his big screen debut, Hart originated the role of Messala in 1907’s Ben Hur.

Supervising director of the New York Motion Picture Corporation Thomas Ince offered Hart his first western, His Hour of Manhood. This two-reeler was released in 1914. Later that year and into the next, he starred in Paramount’s features The Bargain and On the Night Stage.

Though many believed Hart didn’t have the dashing good looks of a wholesome Old West cowboy–and that, at age 50, he was better suited to the villainous roles he’d mastered on stage and in films like Ben Hur, The Virginian and The Squaw Man, fans immediately warmed to his portrayals of frontier justice and hope.

After appearing in well over 70 films, Hart retired to ranch in Newhall, California where he passed away in 1946. He left his estate to the People of Los Angeles County, under the conditions that it be used as a park for the fans to whom he owed his career. It has since become the home of the Actors Studio’s West Coast branch.

Hart was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1975.