5 Tombstone Characters More Dangerous Than Doc Holliday - MCE Notices | California State Portal

Played by the late Val Kilmer, Tombstone’s version of the sharp-witted Doc Holliday is inarguably one of the best. Quick on the draw, loyal, and fatalistic, the character, based on the real-life dentist and gunslinger, has gone down in history as one of the greatest in Western cinema.

However, as reckless and fearless as he may be, skill alone doesn’t always equate to danger. Lacking a motive, cruelty, and ambition, Holliday is less threatening than his reputation suggests, especially when compared to the meanest and keenest gunslingers of Tombstone’s Wild West.

Billy Clanton Is a Hot-Headed Cowboy

Image via Buena Vista Pictures

Hot-headed and fearless, Billy Clanton (Thomas Haden Church) is the man responsible for the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. During a standoff between the Cowboys and the sheriff’s men, Billy reaches for his weapon, setting off a chain reaction that intensifies into open gunfire. While he manages to hold his own, he’s eventually outmatched and gunned down.

While not the sharpest shooter in the film, Billy is nevertheless one of the most dangerous. Wounding Morgan Earp and boasting an arrogance that not even Holliday could match, the lethal gunslinger is unafraid to stand his ground and take down anyone who dares to cross him. Under different circumstances, the young Cowboy could have posed a real threat to the Earps.

Ike Clanton Is a Crude and Quick-Tempered Force of Nature

Ike Clanton (Stephen Lang) looks incredibly worried in Tombstone (1993).

One of the most outspoken Cowboys, Ike Clanton (Stephen Lang) is never shy about expressing his opinions. Crude and quick-tempered, he can only be described as the gang’s mouthpiece, and his volatility often places him among the first to escalate a situation.

A sniveling coward against the likes of Holliday, he initially seems to be an easy target. However, his lack of honor and unpredictability make him a dangerous foe.

After surrendering during the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, he waits until the Earp brothers are distracted before drawing on them from behind. Though dishonorable, this spineless act proves effective, making him one of the most ruthless instigators in the small Arizonian town.

Curly Bill Brocius Controls Tombstone With an Iron Fist

Powers Boothe as Curly Bill in Tombstone

The leader of the Cowboys, Curly Bill Brocius, played by the phenomenal Powers Boothe, takes a little too much pleasure in exerting power over others. Prone to sudden bursts of violence, the outlaw moves through Tombstone as though he owns it, intimidating anyone who dares to question the Cowboys’ presence.

However, if there’s any scene that proves just how dangerous this man can be, it’s the film’s opening. In his introduction, he’s seen mocking a lawman on his wedding day before ordering his men to open fire. If that’s not enough, having the poor newlywed’s wife dragged back into the church to be murdered, all while he settles in to enjoy the wedding feast, shows just how far this gunslinger will go to stay on top.

Johnny Ringo’s Fast Draw Is a Tough One to Beat

Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn) looks worried in Tombstone (1993).

Beginning as Curly Bill’s second-in-command, Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn) takes control of the Cowboys following his death. More threatening and unhinged than his predecessor, Ringo is an unpredictable and intelligent outlaw who flings his gun without a second thought. Emotionally unstable, an alcoholic, and of a violent temperament, he’s one gunslinger not to get on the wrong side of.

Perhaps what makes him just as dangerous as Holliday, if not more so, is his skill. Lightening-fast and agile with his gun-twirling tricks, no target, big or small, stands a chance under his crosshairs. The undisputed top gun among the Cowboys, Ringo is a dangerous threat in any confrontation.

Wyatt Earp’s Vendetta Ride Shows His Most Dangerous Side

One of the biggest names of the American West, Tombstone’s version of Wyatt Earp is a conflicted man. Moving to the titular town to start fresh and put his lawman days behind him, he settles into domestic life to live the American dream and run his successful gambling business. However, as calm as he may be against some of his fellow townspeople, Earp isn’t one to be crossed.

Skilled, intelligent, and loyal, Earp is capable of defeating anyone who dares to hurt him or his family. He forces Johnny Tyler (Billy Bob Thornton) out of the Oriental Saloon, holds Clanton and his men at gunpoint, and leads the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, coming out unscathed.

Earp’s most dangerous side, however, isn’t shown until the vendetta ride. After his brother Morgan (Bill Paxton) is killed, and his other brother, Virgil (Sam Elliott), is left unable to walk, he sets out to kill the surviving Cowboys. Dropping the line “Tell ‘em I’m coming, and Hell’s coming with me,” he shoots Curly Bill and Frank Stilwell, bringing an end to the outlaws’ violent reign.