Ben Johnson was one of the best western actors EVER. A true cowboy and genuine talent , always believable in any role...... a true master of his craft !

"Everybody in town is a better actor than I am, but none of them can play Ben Johnson as good as I can."

Ben was the real deal, and anybody who met him sensed that immediately. So genuinely nice to see somebody up on that stage that didn't let success, money, awards, or Hollywood turn him into an asshole.

RIP Ben Johnson (June 13, 1918 - April 8, 1996), aged 77 You will always be remembered as a legend.

I love how genuinely happy everyone seems that Ben Johnson won. Including his competition, look at the smiles on both Jeff Bridges and Roy Scheider when they say Ben's name, it's so genuine. He definitely deserved it. On top of being one of the greatest western character actors of all time he was brilliant in the Last Picture Show.

"Boy ain't that purty" Gotta love Ben Johnson.

I love Richard Harris’s reaction when Sally announced the winner.

"This couldn't have happened to a nicer feller". I couldn't agree more. congratulations Mr Johnson.

He truly was a gentleman from Oklahoma, raised on a ranch, and didn't believe in cursing and refused to curse in anything he acted. Married to the same woman all of his married life and had no children.

Now that's what I'd like to see. The presenters showing excitement for the winner. The winner was even more gracious. A lovely speech.

This is when the Oscars meant something and were won by true, honest and honorable men and women. Ben Johnson has all these qualities and more.

Harris' enthusiasm was genuine: he and Ben had worked together on MAJOR DUNDEE.

I wish we had MORE men around that are more like Ben Johnson!!!!!

Total class act. If the Academy Awards were still like this, with winners as genuine and as gracious as Ben Johnson, I would still be watching them.

The fact that Ben thanked Peter Bogdanovich and his wife, the always deserving Polly Platt, while Bogdanovich is sitting in the audience with his mistress, Cybill Shepherd is just gangsta for me

What a Wonderful Country Gentleman. Hollywood employed him. but he always kept his manners with him. Cheers Everyone

2:09 - "I had a speech all rigged up for this, but the more I worked on it, the phonier it got." (Ben Johnson, 1972)

Actually, Ben said, "It couldn't have happened to a nicer "feller!"! He was SO FABULOUS, so genuine, and he never changed!!! Hollywood didn't change him, he was always the same "good old Oklahoma boy " until the day he died!!!!

Such a talent. So many of my favorite westerns just happen to be with Ben Johnson in them? Not a coincidence.

Ben Johnson is probably one of the best western actors of all time I put him right beside John Wayne Henry Fonda Jimmie Stewart. He was a true to life cowboy and Heaven got a great man.

Great Actor, and great person. I wish there were more like him today!

Ben was one of my all time favorites. Class act all the way.

I remember when Son past away our town was in morning for 1 of our own. Tom selleck, Sam Elliot, Grizzly Adams was there for his funeral and many more. He usually came back home every few years it wasn't unusual to see him at our local restaurant's eating with family and friends. He was always kind and would very graciously give autographs whenever anyone ask him for one. He is someone we are all proud that he came from our part of Oklahoma . Rest in peace Son, and I bet your riding good horses up there to.

Ben Johnson was an absolutely marvelous in "The Las Picture Show" and all the fine performances he did through out his long career!

When Ben was first given the script for LPS he turned it down flat because he didn't like the language his character spoke. He was very touchy about four letter words in movies. John Ford asked Ben if he'd do the picture as a favor to him. So Ben obligingly went through the script again and rewrote all of his lines himself and cleaned out everything he felt was objectionable. That's the way he played it and it still won him a well deserved Oscar.

You can tell Ben knew he was going to win and that's fine, because it was the best performance of the year by far.

Ben also was a really, really good friend of Duke's. They were making "The Train Robbers" when he was nominated for an academy award. Duke loaned him his plane to go to the Academy Awards. Ben was the ONLY cowboy who EVER won a World Championship in the rodeo and won as Oscar in the movies!!!!! For more, read "Duke We're Glad We Knew You."

An absolutely pure gentleman and a class act !!!!!

Yes Mr Ben Johnson you deserved THAT BEAUTIFUL OSCAR . 💕💕💕

Ben Johnson earned that Oscar. The scene with Timothy Bottoms at the water tank sealed the deal. He was the real deal and became a fine actor and true gentleman. That's a hell of a movie. I've been to Archer City, Texas. It hasn't changed much since 1970-71, and probably not changed too radically since the 1950s. Sadly, the picture show burned and has a gaping hole in it. The marquee, ticket counter and a few other things still stand.

Brought here by the latest episode of YMRT about Polly Platt. Gotta love a man who name checks the director’s wife (and uncredited producer) when said director brings his mistress to the award ceremony.

Ben was long overdue...and he was right it did go to a great man...

love ben johnson with all my heart and always will

Such a terrific guy. Modest, grateful, self-deprecating but confident. A deserved win for a fantastic performance.

Just been reading about him, he was a top stuntman for years and a real cowboy, great to see him receiving this

this is how you accept an award..modern award shows how now become a platform to make statements on equality or politics ..a very classy speech from a very classy guy..much missed and i hope he is resting in peace he deserves too for briniging a lot of joy to a lot of people

A QUESTION TO EVERYONE ABOUT BEN JOHNSON: What made him such a mans man? Such a nice fella but simultaneously sooo well respected! Not many a man been able to figure it out and execute this mans energy. What a guy!

Richard Jaeckel's performance in Sometimes A Great Notion was heartbreaking.

I'd watch any movie he was in just to look at him for a couple of hours! What a beautiful man he was! A true sguare cowboy!

Damn, Sally Kellerman was really beautiful! Ben Johnson was a great actor and a really cool dude indeed.

John Ford first noticed him on the set of an old time western. He was pure poetry on horseback. From there they discovered his wonderful presence in front of the camera!

An icon cowboy character and the real deal. Well deserved.

What a man and legend.

Despite having 9 minutes and 54 seconds of screen time, it was a well deserved oscar win for Ben Johnson.

RIP 'Sam the Lion' .....a true cowboy.

That was great class of best supporting actors. Having seen all of the movies mentioned, it must have been a tough, but correct choice.

One of my favorite western actors, “Son”, Johnson. My first conscience recollection of him was when I was about twenty six years old and finally sat through the movie Shane. And although the movie ending was different from the book, Mr. Johnson’s portrayal of “Chris”, stuck with me up to when I saw the younger Ben Johnson in Rio Grande. And that was the movie that made me sit up and take notice of what a horseman he was, outstanding! After that I tried to watch anything and every movie or old episode of television that he was in. And I agree, no one could play Ben Johnson.

A genuine and very touching voice, sadly we will never again hear on the Silver Screen!

What a guy, what a man.

Ben Johnson was awesome!!!

I was a kid in the 60's ( born 1957) and my family lived not far from Hollywood in La Habra Heights. My Dad worked in pictures and I first met Ben when I was very young. He seemed like a giant to my little brother and I and I'll never forget the kindly way he joked and played with us. My Grandpa and uncles were horsemen, owned horses, and Ben would drop by and with my Dad they'd all have drinks together and pretty soon the BS stories would start flying. Helluva guy.

A great actor and an amazing performance in a remarkable picture. My favorite of all time.

Mr. Johnson - Pure Class.

when I saw BEN JOHNSON IN SHANE I knew he was quality,all the way,one of the best damn cowboys who ever lived and he was right,he deserved it for a lifetime of making everyone else look good

such a beautiful film and performance.. he won it for that monlogue in the field when the sun came out from behind the clouds and illuminated him and his words so magnificently!

RIP The Man Called Horse Richard Harris

Ben Johnson goes back in Rodeo with Jim Shoulders, Casey Tibbs and Neal Gay. Went to hollywood and a Cowboy won an Oscar. Gods Speed to Mr. Johnson. If he aint a Cowboy, He will do till one gets here.

I've never seen a presenter react the way Harris did here...

2:20 He thanked "Peter Bogdanovich, his lovely wife Polly...", while Eric was there with Cybil Shepherd whom he soon left her for. Polly Platt was the unsung hero behind Peter's early films as Production Designer.

Great actor and like his good friend John Wayne, under valued by the academy. ♥

Ben Johnson was one hell of a actor, he played always a good law man ! He reminded me of a Tough, modern day Texas Ranger !⭐️🤠👍

Ben was VERY old fashioned and a real gentleman and was leery of being part of the sexy stuff in the film - even by association.

Playing. He was great in the movie and deserved the Oscar.

Ben Johnson has great acting in The Last Picture Show.

I REMEMBER THAT NIGHT, I REMEMBER I WAS SO HAPPY BEN WON, AND I REMEMBER THAT LAST STATEMENT B/C I'VE QUOTED IT OFTEN (CREDITING IT TO HIM). WONDERFUL FELLER.

Good guy Ben johnson. Humble. He was the cowboy boyfriend of Terry Moore in the Original Mighty Joe Young.

Unlike the town he worked in there was nothing phoney about Ben. I agree, he could have been on camera longer for this role, but it could not have gone to a more consumate professional. Married to one woman his entire life, no scandals, no personal drama, and a genuine cowboy to boot. RIP Ben.

This man, Ben Johnson is such an incredible actor...really loved him in One Eyed Jacks with Brando!

Ben is right. this couldn't have happened too a nicer fella.

This couldn't have happened to a nicer feller, ha, ha, ha, ha,....words coming from one of the best baddies ever. Thanks for posting.

There is absolutely nothing 'phoney' about Ben Johnson. I probably have watched every movie he was even in. I wish Sam Elliott Tom Selluk and Jeff Osterhage would make a new western movie 'Return of the Sacketts' and dedicate it to Ben Johnson. I think if I ever won a super lotto; I would put up the money myself. All three actors are all in good health and they would make a lot of people very happy.

Great character actor and considered the best. Horseman in Hollywood

Ben Johnson was a world champion rodeo rider, but found that the expense of being world champ exceeded the money he made. Howard Hughes hired him to take a load of horses to Phony City. When he got there, he learned that Hollywood was always looking for real cowboys, so the simple, humble Okie stayed, and became the greatest horseman in town. He started out as a stunt rider, and eventually they gave him brief roles with lines. It turned out he had acting talent, not to mention a rich, baritone voice. He appeared in a number of masterpieces, but also gave excellent performances in lesser pictures. Masterpieces She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) Shane (1953) The Wild Bunch (1969) He broke with John Ford early in his career, because Jack took a liking to him, and if Jack Ford liked a man, he abused him. Johnson told Ford to go to hell. Ben Johnson lived like the motto in The Shootist: He didn’t abuse people, and didn’t tolerate abuse. He won a richly deserved Oscar for The Last Picture Show (1971), as Sam the Lion, the town bard. In 1973, as G-man Melvin Purvis, he turned the Warren Oates vehicle, Dillinger, into a grand dramatic duet. In 1974, in The Sugarland Express, he made for a memorably dirty cop. I could listen to Ben Johnson read from the telephone book.

Genuine down to earth person!

Humble and gracious

He was great in everything he did and better than many.

Every actor gave a memorable performance in The Last Picture Show. Truly an ensemble cast. As for Richard Harris, it’s interesting that Julie Andrews disliked him so much that she refused to do the Camelot movie if he was in it.

Richard Harris is so happy for Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson showed class when he referred to Polly Platt as Peter’s lovely wife. Like her or not, Polly went through what must have felt like a nightmare on that film set. I don’t even know if Polly was in attendance after playing such a critical role in the making of the film.

Richard Jaekel....heck of a good man and actor

The Greatest!

ben johnson what a great great man

He was far more than an actor to my mind, from what I read, he was an exceptional great horseman & individual. "The Last Picture Show" was one of the best movies ever I think

Ben Johnson was a class act.

A class act all the way .

An American America can be proud of.

Jeff Bridges, just as happy for Ben, winning as if he had won himself.

Just watched it last night, GOOD Movie, GREAT Performances by Bottoms, Leachman, Bridges and Especially Johnson 'Sam The Lion'

And so well deserved!

A different era. A class guy

The end of his speech was great.

One of his best supporting roles was in Chism with John Wayne. A real cowboy and rodeo champion.

The guy is total class.

Ben Johnson.....unique, cool, gentle, best horseman ever no doubt....a gentleman of the West where gentlemen were common.

I don't like the Oscars anymore. I have not watched them in 3 or 4 years. Good to see Ben and the other people in this video.

Half irish and half native American. The best mix anyone could be. Both great nations.

I've LOVED BEN JOHNSON since childhood..still LOVE HIM!! A True Gentleman, a Real Guy.

Notice he thanks Bogdanovich's "lovely wife Polly". Bogdanovich had left her during filming of LPS for Cybill Shepherd, so I think that was a very kind and clever shout-out, to recognize her for her filmmaking creds but also as B's wife.

tector gorch in the wild bunch is my performance!

Great movie and a great actor. I have to mention one more movie he was in, The wild bunch, greatest western ever made.