Iconic Star Reveals HOW THE WEST WAS WON’s Early Beginnings

Published: January 21, 2026

By Kayla DeKraker

Bruce Boxleitner recently reflected on his time starring in HOW THE WEST WAS WON, and how his co-star, James Arness, impacted his life.

“50 years ago today, the pilot (‘The Macahans’) for the mini-series HOW THE WEST WAS WON aired,” Boxleitner began a Jan. 19 Instagram post. “The role of Seth/Luke Macahan helped pave the way for my career in Hollywood. It was a dream come true for a young man entering the Western genre, working with so many seasoned performers who appeared on the show over the next 3 seasons. I truly appreciate the experience that led to friendship and collaboration with the late, great James Arness.”

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Fifty years later, the three-season series is still remembered as an important part of television history.

The show, which premiered on Jan. 19, 1976, chronicles the life of The Macahans, “a family from Virginia, headed by Zeb Macahan, [who] travel across the country to pioneer a new land and a new home in the American West,” per IMDB.

Alongside Boxleitner, who played Luke Macahan, and Arness, who portrayed Zebulon Macahan, HOW THE WEST WAS WON also starred Kathryn Holcomb as Laura Macahan.

Fans still love it to this day.

“I loved this show. Watched every week with the whole family. The music just brought me back,” one person commented on Boxleitner’s post. Another said, “The most beautiful western series ever seen. I was a teenager and madly in love with Luke. I loved all the main actors in the series.”

Though it clearly was an American Western show, HOW THE WEST WAS WON found popularity in other countries.

Parade reported, “While HOW THE WEST WAS WON had a relatively short run in the United States, the series went on to find a devoted audience overseas, particularly in Europe, where it has been rebroadcast repeatedly over the decades and developed a cult following.”

Last year, Boxleitner revealed that Arness, who played U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon for GUNSMOKE’s 20 seasons, helped him land the role on the classic show.

“I’d been in one of the very last episodes of GUNSMOKE and then James hand-picked me for HOW THE WEST WAS WON and gave me my career,” he said.

Arness died of natural causes at the age of 88 in his Los Angeles home in 2011. According to PEOPLE, he “appeared in more than 30 films,” and his legacy continues to live on through his work.

It seems that HOW THE WEST WAS WON’s impact continues today.

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