Ben Johnson, born Francis Benjamin Johnson Jr. on June 13, 1918, in Foraker, Oklahoma, was an American film and television actor, stuntman, and world-champion rodeo cowboy. He brought authenticity to many roles in Westerns with his droll manner and expert horsemanship.

His father was a rancher and rodeo champion, and Johnson himself arrived in Hollywood to deliver a consignment of horses for a film. His work as a stuntman caught the eye of director John Ford, who hired Johnson for stunt work in the 1948 film Fort Apache and as the riding double for Henry Fonda.

During shooting, the horses pulling a wagon with three men in it stampeded, and Johnson, who happened to be sitting on a horse, stopped the runaway wagon and saved the men. When Ford promised that he would be rewarded, Johnson hoped it would be with another doubling job or maybe a small speaking role. Instead, he received a seven-year acting contract from Ford.

His film career began with the Howard Hughes film The Outlaw. His first credited role was in Ford's 3 Godfathers, and he later starred in films such as She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Rio Grande, Shane, and One-Eyed Jacks.

An elegiac portrayal of a former cowboy theater owner in the 1950s coming-of-age drama The Last Picture Show won Johnson the 1971 Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.

He also operated a horse-breeding ranch throughout his career. Although he said he had succeeded by sticking to what he knew, shrewd real estate investments made Johnson worth an estimated $100 million by his later years.

Ben Johnson was married to Carol Elaine Jones from 1941 until her death in 1994, and they did not have any children. He passed away on April 8, 1996, in Mesa, Arizona, and is buried in Pawhuska City Cemetery.