Jesse James

Jesse James (September 5, 1847 – April 3, 1882) was a feared outlaw in the 19th century American West. Along with his brother/partner Frank James, he scourged the Missouri countryside, committing several stagecoach and bank robberies. He was shot in the back and killed in St. Joseph, Missouri by a bounty hunter, Robert Ford, on April 3, 1882. Though Ford was a personal friend of the James brothers and a member of their gang, he turned traitor to receive the reward being offered by Missouri Governor Thomas T. Crittenden.

Since his death, Jesse James has become a legendary and controversial figure in Wild West lore, with many historical revisionist accounts (including in literature and Hollywood Westerns) portraying him as a Robin Hood type of figure. In the next century, some viewed the notorious outlaws Bonnie and Clyde in the same genre.

The actor William Frank "Christopher" Jones (1941-2014) portrayed James in a 34-episode 1965 ABC television series, The Legend of Jesse James, with Allen Case (1934-1986) as Frank James.

The actor Lee Van Cleef (1925-1989) portrayed James in an episode of Jim Davis' anthology western series, Stories of the Century.