<Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Katharine Ross (m . 1984) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Children </Th> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <P> Samuel Pack Elliott (born August 9, 1944) is an American actor . His lanky physique, thick moustache, deep and resonant voice, and Western drawl have led to frequent roles as cowboys and ranchers . His other credits over the years have included playing The Stranger in The Big Lebowski (1998), Gar in Mask (1985), General John Buford in Gettysburg (1993), Virgil Earp in Tombstone (1993), Sergeant Major Basil L. Plumley in We Were Soldiers (2002) and Marvel Comics characters Thunderbolt Ross in Hulk (2003) and The Caretaker in Ghost Rider (2007). </P> <P> Elliott was born in Sacramento, California, to a mother who was a physical training instructor and a father who worked for the Department of the Interior . He moved to Portland, Oregon, with his family during his teenage years, graduating from David Douglas High School . He attended Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, where he completed a two - year program and was cast as one of the leads in Guys and Dolls . The local newspaper suggested that Elliott should be a professional actor . Soon after, Elliott declared he was going to Hollywood to become a star . </P>

Who plays the cowboy in the big lebowski