Lee Arthur Horsley (born May 15, 1955[1]) is an American film, television, and theater actor known for starring roles in the television series Nero Wolfe (1981), Matt Houston (1982–1985), and Paradise (1988–1991). He starred in the 1982 film The Sword and the Sorcerer and recorded the audiobook edition of Lonesome Dove.

Lee Horsley
Born
Lee Arthur Horsley

(1955-05-15) May 15, 1955 (age 69)
OccupationActor
Years active1981–2015
Spouse
Stephanie Downer
(m. 1980)
Children2

Career

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Horsley began his acting career touring in stage productions of West Side Story, Damn Yankees, and Oklahoma!. In 1981, he portrayed TV detective Archie Goodwin in the short-lived NBC drama series Nero Wolfe. He played the title character in the 1982–1985 ABC detective series Matt Houston, and starred as Ethan Allen Cord in the 1988–1991 Western Heritage Award-winning series Paradise. This was followed by a lead role on the CBS police drama Bodies of Evidence (1992–1993). He also starred opposite Lynda Carter in a series set in the French and Indian War era, Hawkeye. Horsley also starred as Rafe Beaudeen in North and South: Book II and as Nick Burnham in the Danielle Steel miniseries, Crossings (TV miniseries) opposite Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer.

He appeared in the feature-length cult film The Sword and the Sorcerer in 1982, and he appeared in its sequel Tales of an Ancient Empire in 2010.[2] He recorded the audiobook edition of Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove. In 2006, Horsley and Marshall R. Teague traveled the world in search of exotic game on the Outdoor Life Network for the reality show, Benelli's Dream Hunts. Horsley appeared in the 2012 Quentin Tarantino film Django Unchained as Sheriff Gus and then in Tarantino's 2015 western The Hateful Eight as a stagecoach driver.

In 1987-1988 Season, Horsley acted in the Jerry Herman musical, Mack and Mabel, at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey with Janet Metz, Scott Ellis, Ed Evanko, and Ruth Williamson in the cast. Robert Johanson was director.

Personal life

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Horsley was born in Muleshoe, Texas,[1] the seat of Bailey County. He grew up in the Denver, Colorado area, sang in a church choir and graduated from Englewood High School in 1973. Horsley married Stephanie Downer in 1980 and fathered a daughter, Amber, in 1981 and a son, Logan, in 1983. Horsley is an outdoorsman, horseman, rodeo participant, and western novelist.

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
1982 The Sword and the Sorcerer Prince Talon Nominated - Saturn Award for Best Actor
1994 Unlawful Passage Peter Browning
1999 Nightmare Man Ed Cody
2003 Dismembered Joe Kenny
2005 Jasper: The Story of a Mule Narrator Voice role
2007 Showdown at Area 51 Diamond Joe Carson
2010 Tales of an Ancient Empire Talon Sequel to The Sword and the Sorcerer
2012 Django Unchained Sheriff Gus
2015 The Hateful Eight Ed

Television

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Television
Year Title Role Notes
1981 Nero Wolfe Archie Goodwin 14 episodes
1982 The Wild Women of Chastity Gulch Captain John Cain TV movie
1983 The Love Boat Greg Munford Episode: "China Cruise"
1985 Thirteen at Dinner Bryan Martin TV movie
When Dreams Come True Alex Kazloff TV movie
1982–85 Matt Houston Matlock 'Matt' Houston 67 episodes
1986 North and South, Book II Rafe Beaudeen Miniseries
Crossings Nick Burnham Miniseries
1987 Infidelity Nick Denato TV movie
1988 Dolly Jim Miller Season 1, episode 15
1989 Single Women Married Men Ross Marino TV movie
1990 The Face of Fear Graham Harris TV movie
1991 Palomino Tate Jordan TV movie
1988–91 Paradise Ethan Allen Cord Western Heritage Award (won)
1992–93 Bodies of Evidence Lt. Ben Carroll 16 episodes
1994 The Corpse Had a Familiar Face Ben Nicholson TV movie
French Silk Detective Cassidy TV movie
1994–95 Hawkeye Natty 'Hawkeye' Bumppo 22 episodes
1995 Snowy River: The McGregor Saga Seamus O'Neil Episodes: "Rough Passage", "The Prodigal Father (1)" and "The Prodigal Father (2)"
1996 The Care and the Handling of Roses Tom Doster TV movie
Home Song Tom Gardner TV movie
1998 Wind on Water Gardner Poole
2001 Touched by an Angel Guy Garfield Episode: "I Am an Angel"

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lee Horsley". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2016. Archived from the original on March 18, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  2. ^ Brown, Todd (April 10, 2008). "Albert Pyun Reunites With The Sword and the Sorcerer Star Lee Horsley For Tales of an Ancient Empire". Retrieved January 6, 2021.
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