The Tall Man (1960)
A classic NBC western pairing Sheriff Pat Garrett with the legendary Billy the Kid across two seasons of frontier drama.
The Tall Man - Series Information
- Original Title: The Tall Man
- First Air Year: 1960
- Last Air Year: 1962
- Created by: Samuel A. Peeples
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Western
- Content Rating (US): TV-PG
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 30 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 75
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: September 10, 1960 (United States - TV-PG), September 10, 1960 (United Kingdom - 12), September 10, 1960 (Germany - 12), September 10, 1960 (France - 12), September 10, 1960 (Australia - PG)
- Networks: NBC
- Alternative Titles: The Tall Men (US)
- Production Companies: Revue Studios, Lincoln County Production Company
- Production Countries: United States of America
The Tall Man - Plot
The Tall Man is a half-hour American western television series about Sheriff Pat Garrett and the gunfighter Billy the Kid that aired seventy-five episodes on NBC from 1960 to 1962, filmed by Revue Productions.
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The Tall Man - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Samuel A. Peeples
Main Cast
- Clu Gulager
- Barry Sullivan
- Marianna Hill
- Judy Nugent
- Mark Tapscott
- Andy Clyde
- Olive Sturgess
- Tom Gilson
- James Griffith
- Harry von Zell
The Tall Man - FAQs
Is The Tall Man based on real historical figures?
Yes, both central characters are drawn from American frontier history. Pat Garrett was a real-life sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, and Billy the Kid was a notorious outlaw he famously pursued. The series takes creative liberties but grounds its stories in the legends of the 19th-century Wild West.
Who plays Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett?
Clu Gulager portrays Billy the Kid, bringing a charismatic and unpredictable energy to the role, while Barry Sullivan plays Sheriff Pat Garrett with steady authority. Their on-screen dynamic — a lawman and an outlaw caught in an uneasy alliance — forms the dramatic backbone of the entire series.
Where can you watch The Tall Man today?
Streaming and viewing options for The Tall Man vary by region. Check JustWatch for the most up-to-date availability of the series on streaming, rental, or purchase platforms in your area.
What makes The Tall Man unusual among 1960s westerns?
Unlike most TV westerns of its era, The Tall Man centres on the complex relationship between a lawman and an outlaw rather than a straightforward hero-versus-villain setup. Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid occupy a morally ambiguous middle ground, giving the show a grittier, more nuanced tone than many of its contemporaries.
How many seasons and episodes does The Tall Man have?
The series ran for two seasons on NBC, totalling 75 half-hour episodes. Season 1 comprised 37 episodes and Season 2 followed with 38, airing from September 1960 through 1962 before concluding its run.
Who created The Tall Man TV series?
The series was created by Samuel A. Peeples, a prolific writer and producer with deep roots in the western genre. Peeples was also known for penning the second Star Trek pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” demonstrating his range across multiple classic television formats.
What are some shows similar to The Tall Man?
Fans of The Tall Man tend to enjoy other classic TV westerns such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Rawhide, and Have Gun, Will Travel. For something with a similar outlaw-lawman dynamic, Wanted: Dead or Alive and Alias Smith and Jones are particularly strong picks from the same golden era of television westerns.
Where was The Tall Man filmed?
The Tall Man was produced by Revue Productions — the television arm of Universal Studios — and filmed primarily on studio backlots in Hollywood, California. Like most NBC westerns of the early 1960s, location shooting was limited, with sets and studio facilities standing in for the New Mexico frontier landscape.
More About The Tall Man
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