Sam Cain (Brett Cullen)
The marshal of Sweetwater is only seen in Season 1. He is proud
of his role as marshal, and with a deputy (Barnett) who is less than helpful,
he often turns to the riders for help. (What did he do before they
came along?) He is in love with Emma Shannon, the owner of the Sweetwater
waystation. In between Season 1 and Season 2, he is promoted to Territorial
Marshal and marries Emma.
William F. (Billy) Cody (Stephen Baldwin)
The blonde rider is the rider voted 'most
likely to put one's foot in one's mouth' or both of them at once. He speaks before he thinks,
and at times is simply unable to see another's
point of view. A bit of a womaniser and very egotistical, he is courageous
and willing to put himself in danger for anyone who needs help.
Buck (Running Buck) Cross (Gregg Rainwater)
Buck Cross is a half-Kiowa rider. Often the subject of racial
prejudice, he is kind, generous and intelligent. He uses his childhood
training as a tracker to great effect, although he can be vengeful. After
leaving the Kiowa, he went to an orphanage where he met Ike McSwain and
taught Ike to sign. They are 'like brothers'.
Noah Dixon (Don Franklin)
Noah joined the riders at the beginning of Season 2. A free black,
he uses a whip as his weapon of choice. He is intelligent, articulate
and
well-educated, as well as stubborn.
Rachel Dunne (Clare Wren)
Rachel joins the riders in second season after Emma and Sam get
married and he becomes Territorial Marshal. She is a beautiful widow with
a past.
James Butler (Wild Bill) Hickok (Josh Brolin)
Originally one of the wilder riders, Jimmy becomes one of the stronger
characters. After a writer named Marcus dubs him "Wild Bill" in revenge
for a slight, he
continually
battles
against becoming what people expect of a gunfighter. He is very close to
Lou, which causes trouble between Kid and Jimmy throughout the series.
Aloysius (Teaspoon) Hunter
Teaspoon is the father-figure to the orphans. A definitely eccentric
ex-Texas ranger, he has "spent time on both sides of the law" and been
married six times. In second season he becomes marshal of Sweetwater
after Sam and Emma leave,
and in
third season marshal of Rock Creek. He is crafty, with a great knowledge
of people, and emphasises that "family sticks together" - at least until
the third season.
Jesse James (Christopher Pettiet)
Jesse is the one that even Teaspoon can't tame. Loyal to a fault
and hard-working, he is impetuous and enamoured of fame. The brother of
Frank James, we somehow know that this one will end up "no good".
The Kid (Ty Miller)
The Kid is level-headed (except when it comes to Lou and his horse
Katy), courageous and one of the most sensible of the riders. He always tries to do right,although
his efforts don't always produce the effect he wants. His brother Jed
appears in the Season 1 episode False Colors, and a few old
friends pop up in third season, but we never do learn his name. (In fan
fiction, he usually takes the name McCloud in after-TYR writing).
Louise (Lou) McCloud (Yvonne Suhor)
Lou McCloud is a girl who does a
boy's job and is able to ride and shoot as well as any of the others.
After her mother died, she left her siblings Theresa and Jeremiah in
an orphanage in St. Joseph, and set out to find a way
to support the three of them. She dresses like a boy to protect herself..
The love interest between The Kid and Lou is one of the enduring themes
of The
Young Riders.
Ike McSwain (Travis Fine)
A bald mute, Ike is fabulous with children and animals. The fastest
rider (The Kid), he grew up in an orphanage after his parents
and sister were killed by Karl Shaddock. In the orphanage he met Buck Cross
and they became best friends. Ike uses Indian Sign Language
to communicate.
Emma Shannon (Melissa Leo)
Emma is the mother-hen of the original cast members. She obviously
cares for the riders under her care as if they were her own. Strong, with
definite opinions of her own, she has survived terrible tragedies and come
out the other end.