They may be gone, but the legacies they have left behind will continue to inspire. Kinky Friedman, Donald Sutherland, and more — C&I is still reeling from these deaths.
Their recent deaths leave the Western world bereft. We remember legendary actor Donald Sutherland, beloved Texas musician Kinky Friedman, and other greats we’ve lost this summer.
Donald Sutherland
The prolific and prodigious Canadian-born actor passed away Thursday, June 20, in Miami at age 88. Most recently seen in the limited-run series Lawmen: Bass Reeves as Judge Isaac Parker, who hired the title character as the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River, Donald Sutherland repeatedly demonstrated his extraordinary versatility through a career that spanned seven decades.
David Oyelowo, who starred as Bass Reeves, remembers Sutherland fondly: “Given the iconic status he rightly achieved,” Oyelowo told Deadline, “having a front row seat to Donald Sutherland’s last onscreen performance was both a privilege and clear evidence to me of his deep passion for the craft of acting. The glint in his eye was that of an inquisitive, hungry artist still on the hunt for the truth. Seeing that glint, up close, in the eyes of a legend was something to behold.”
Check out more of Sutherland’s legacy in film and beyond.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy Lauren Smith/Paramount+
Richard “Kinky” Friedman
Prolific musician, novelist, humorist, and politician Richard “Kinky” Friedman passed away on June 27 at his family home of Echo Hill Ranch at age 79. Famed as a jack of many trades, Friedman gained notability for his satirical take on pressing issues facing the country, pulling no punches with his boundary-breaking music and performances.
Known by some for his 1970s satirical country band, Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys, Friedman has been hailed by country icons such as Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson for his provocative work. Fans may also remember Friedman for his boisterous campaign for governor in 2006. Friedman ran as an independent against Republican incumbent Rick Perry, finishing fourth in the race. Perry honored the provocateur with a statement to The Texas Tribune, stating, “Kinky Friedman was a larger than life Texas icon and will be remembered as one of the most interesting personalities in Texas politics.”
See what other Western icons have to say about Friedman.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Jeremy Lock, courtesy of kinkyfriedman.com
Roger Corman
Acclaimed director and producer Roger Corman was 98 when he passed away May 9 in Santa Monica, California. Corman garnered fame, fortune, and influence as director and/or producer for literally hundreds of small-budget genre movies — earning himself the title “King of the Bs” in the process — and gave early breaks to such notables as Jack Nicholson, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, James Cameron, Ron Howard, and Sylvester Stallone.
The title of his 1990 memoir, How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime, was never dismissed as an empty boast by anyone who followed his career. His first film as a director was a western — Five Guns West (1955) — was followed by rapid-fire hits like Apache Woman (also 1955), The Oklahoma Woman (1956), and Gunslinger (also 1956). And while Corman arguably is best known for directing a series of stylish 1960s thrillers loosely based on the works of Edgar Allen Poe (including House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, and The Raven), he also produced some notable westerns, including the 1967 cult favorites The Shooting and Ride the Whirlwind, directed by Monte Hellman and cowritten by lead actor Jack Nicholson.
Learn more about some of Corman’s greatest western hits.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Alamy
Dabney Coleman
Gracing the large and small screen for several decades, beloved actor Dabney Coleman died on May 16 in Santa Monica, California, at age 92. Coleman enjoyed a decades-long run as a character actor in film and TV, stretching back to his supporting part in the 1968 Western comedy The Scalphunters and continuing through his final role as the aged father of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton in the Season 2 finale of Yellowstone.
Costner posted on Instagram that he found his flashback scene with Coleman to be “one of the most heart-wrenching scenes I’ve been a part of.” He added: “What an honor to have gotten to work with Dabney Coleman. May he rest in peace.” Dolly Parton also eulogized Coleman, who played the boss from hell opposite Parton and costars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the classic workplace comedy 9 to 5. “Dabney was a great actor and became a great friend,” she wrote. “He was funny, deep, and smart. We remained friends through the years and I will miss him greatly as many people will.” Among Coleman’s other credits are the motion pictures On Golden Pond (1981), Tootsie (1982), WarGames (1983), Cloak & Dagger (1984), The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), and Where the Red Fern Grows (2003).
Stream some of our favorite Dabney Coleman films.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of Alamy
Herbert “Hub” Baker
Cowboy and champion for Western heritage preservation Herbert “Hub” Baker passed away on May 20 in Weatherford, Texas at age 78. Baker served as the executive director of Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards for nearly three decades, championing for the preservation of the Stockyards as a staple of Western history.
Throughout his tenure, he dramatically influenced the cowboy culture and entertainment scene. His contributions include producing and hosting several major events, such as The Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering, The Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo, The Women’s National Finals, the first two years of the PBR tour, and the weekly Stockyards Championship Rodeo held at the Cowtown Coliseum.
Learn more about Baker’s vast legacy.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of hubbaker.com
Rusty Golden
Rusty Golden, the son of Oak Ridge Boy William Lee Golden, passed away Monday, July 1, at age 65 in his Hendersonville, Tennessee home. Through a slew of collaborations with his father and brothers, Golden established himself as a noteworthy solo artist, songwriter, and award-winning keyboard player during his decades-long career.
Rusty was born January 3, 1959, in Brewton, Alabama, as the eldest son of William Lee and Frogene Golden. In 1972, his musical life took a significant turn when he attended an Elton John concert. After this show, Rusty passed the drumsticks over to his brother Chris and started learning how to play the piano. By 17, he started touring as keyboardist for Larry Gatlin, and eventually played on several studio recordings, including Gatlin’s Love Is Just A Game and Marty Stuart’s concept album The Pilgrim. What followed was a musical adventure full of accolades, camaraderie, and family collaborations, that unfortunately ended too soon.
See what William Lee Golden had to say about his son’s tragic passing.
Patrick Gottsch
Patrick Gottsch passed away at age 70 on Saturday, May 18. Gottsch, founder and president of Rural Media Group Inc., which is the parent company of RFD-TV, The Cowboy Channel, The Cowgirl Channel, and Rural Radio 147 — was described as an out-of-the-box thinker and visionary.
“In the short time I’ve spent in the Western sports space this past year, I am glad to have had the opportunity to get to spend time with Patrick and hear the origins of Rural Media Group and so many stories of the rodeos, athletes, and fans he committed to serving,” says Deirdre Lester, CEO of Teton Ridge, the parent company of C&I. “His passion for rodeo culture, both domestic and abroad, was unparalleled and truly paved a path forward for the future of Western sports athletes, brands, and fans. His legacy is solidified in rodeo history and should be celebrated and honored.”
Learn more about Gottsch’s upbringing and road to Rural Media Group Inc.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy of The Cowboy Channel
