Forrie J. Smith is part of the main cast of Yellowstone, and viewers may recognize the actor from his previous work, including a role in the movie Tombstone. Smith plays Lloyd Pierce, a recurring character in the first two seasons of Yellowstone who was promoted to the main cast starting in season 3. Lloyd is one of the “branded men” in Yellowstone, meaning that he took a second chance on life to work at the Dutton Ranch and received a brand on his chest as a reminder. Smith is tough and wise, but never too serious for his own good. Even when he’s reprimanding someone, he tends to make jokes.
With his gravelly voice, handlebar mustache, and limping but powerful walk, it’s easy to presume Forrie J. Smith was a real cowboy before Yellowstone, or at least appeared in other Westerns. He indeed brought his life experience and work in similar stories, such as the historical film Tombstone and the comedy Western series Lucky Luke to his role as Lloyd on the show. Smith’s manner of speech, talent for stunts, and rough cowboy looks all go into making Lloyd one of the most realistic characters on the show, and his attitude helps to make him one of the most likable characters on Yellowstone.
Forrie J. Smith Found Success In Tombstone
Long before he appeared on Yellowstone, Forrie J. Smith found success in his role as Pony Deal in Tombstone. Released in 1993, the Western depicts the story of the outlaws and lawmen involved in the historical gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the subsequent posse that was formed to seek revenge after the fight. The film is only loosely based on a true story, but many of the characters are real people from history. Doc Holliday (played by Val Kilmer in the movie), Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell), and Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn) are all classic figures of the American West.
These historical characters in Tombstone include Pony Deal (sometimes spelled Diehl) who is part of the villainous Clanton gang in the movie. Like his real-life counterpart, Pony was one of the Cowboys, a loose association of outlaws led by “Curly Bill” Brocius (Powers Boothe in the movie). In Tombstone, Deal is close with Ike Clanton (Stephen Lang) and is involved in the shootout at the climax of the movie. While Smith’s part may not have been as big as heavyweights like Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer in Tombstone, it was an important step for the actor to showcase his stage skills alongside his well-known aptitude for stunts.
Before Tombstone, Smith had mostly performed stunt work in action movies including Rambo III, Aces: Iron Eagle III, and Posse. After Tombstone, Smith furthered his acting career with TV Western roles such as Jesse James in Legend and Donny in Gunsmoke: One Man’s Justice. Then, a year before he made his debut on Yellowstone Smith played a one-episode role in the season 3 premiere of Better Call Saul as the junkyard owner that watches Mike strip his entire car down to parts in order to find a tracking device.
Forrie J. Smith Was A Cowboy In Real Life
Forrie J. Smith’s natural ability to play cowboys on film is not just due to his talents as an actor. He was a real cowboy for much of his life. In an interview with Montana Sports, Smith talks about growing up on a ranch and learning to ride horses from a very young age. He worked as a horse rider and rodeo clown for years. In fact, his first film role came about because he showed up to a scene with the only lasso long enough to complete a stunt.
It was stunts that led to his first speaking part when he was asked to play a minor character who rides next to the main character, just to make sure the actor didn’t fall off his horse. Speaking parts led to Tombstone, and that put Smith into the acting mainstream and eventually set him up for his role on Yellowstone. Any time Lloyd is spinning a lasso or deftly riding a horse, the ease at which he’s doing it isn’t faked by Forrie J. Smith.
