I'm thinking it's not a coincidence that the stars of TV's "Have Gun-Will Travel" Richard Boone and "Wyatt Earp", Hugh O'Brian were cast in the final scene of "The Shootist". Too bad they couldn't have gotten Chuck Connors or Gene Barry to portray the 3rd nemesis.
Richard Boone also was one of the most active villains of all time in big screen Westerns, playing antagonist to the likes of Kirk Douglas, Randolph Scott (at least twice), Paul Newman, and in BIG JAKE, Wayne.
shareI posted on another thread. Hugh O'Brien was considered to be the fastest draw of the TV western stars, and he wanted to be in the film. Boone and the Duke were friends.
L