Herbert 'Cowboy' Coward
Encyclopedia
Herbert 'Cowboy' Coward is an actor who starred in the seminal 1972 thriller Deliverance
.
He started acting at the Wild West Show called 'Ghost Town in the Sky' in Maggie Valley, North Carolina
. He played the part of 'Grandpappy', who came to town to avenge his son's death. Coward got the role as the murderous mountain man in Deliverance
when Burt Reynolds
remembered him from working together in that show. Coward turned up for the audition looking so much like a hillbilly
that director John Boorman
, who had had trouble finding an actor for the part, thought Reynolds had told him what to wear.
In 2007, Coward reprised his famous role of Harmon Teaster in the film adaptation of Ghost Town. It is only his second film role and his first in 34 years. Former co-star Bill McKinney
from Deliverance plays the role of Victor Burnett.
Deliverance
Deliverance is a 1972 American thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman. Principal cast members include Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty in his film debut. The film is based on a 1970 novel of the same name by American author James Dickey, who has a small role in the...
.
He started acting at the Wild West Show called 'Ghost Town in the Sky' in Maggie Valley, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He played the part of 'Grandpappy', who came to town to avenge his son's death. Coward got the role as the murderous mountain man in Deliverance
Deliverance
Deliverance is a 1972 American thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman. Principal cast members include Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty in his film debut. The film is based on a 1970 novel of the same name by American author James Dickey, who has a small role in the...
when Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
remembered him from working together in that show. Coward turned up for the audition looking so much like a hillbilly
Hillbilly
Hillbilly is a term referring to certain people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas of the United States, primarily Appalachia but also the Ozarks. Owing to its strongly stereotypical connotations, the term is frequently considered derogatory, and so is usually offensive to those Americans of...
that director John Boorman
John Boorman
John Boorman is a British filmmaker who is a long time resident of Ireland and is best known for his feature films such as Point Blank, Deliverance, Zardoz, Excalibur, The Emerald Forest, Hope and Glory, The General and The Tailor of Panama.-Early life:Boorman was born in Shepperton, Surrey,...
, who had had trouble finding an actor for the part, thought Reynolds had told him what to wear.
In 2007, Coward reprised his famous role of Harmon Teaster in the film adaptation of Ghost Town. It is only his second film role and his first in 34 years. Former co-star Bill McKinney
Bill McKinney
Bill McKinney is an American character actor whose most famous role was the sadistic mountain man in the movie Deliverance...
from Deliverance plays the role of Victor Burnett.