Lee Horsley, born in the small town of Muleshoe, Texas, discovered his passion for performance at an early age—singing in church while growing up in the Denver area. It was that early start and natural vocal talent that paved the way for Lee Horsley to tour in stage productions like West Side Story, Damn Yankees, Oklahoma!, and 1776 before he ever set foot in Hollywood. Once there, Lee Horsley transitioned into television, making his mark as detective Archie Goodwin alongside William Conrad in the 1981 NBC series Nero Wolfe. But it was his leading role as the charming private investigator “Matt Houston” on ABC from 1982 to 1985 that truly made Lee Horsley a household name.
Beyond the screen, Lee Horsley is a true outdoors enthusiast—someone who genuinely loves fly fishing, horseback riding, and taking part in celebrity rodeos and other sporting events. That rugged, six-foot-four presence has served him well throughout his career. Over the years, Lee Horsley has brought his distinctive look and acting range to numerous TV movies, such as Agatha Christie’s ‘13 at Dinner’ (CBS, 1985), Danielle Steele’s ‘Palomino’ (NBC, 1991), and The Corpse Had a Familiar Face (CBS, 1994). He also starred in two major ABC miniseries in 1986—North and South: Book II and Crossings—both based on popular novels by Danielle Steele. Through it all, Lee Horsley has remained a recognizable and respected figure in television, balancing action, drama, and a love for the wild with equal ease.
When it comes to Lee Horsley’s filmography, fans and critics often point to Django Unchained (2012) as his standout performance—though, interestingly, Lee Horsley isn’t actually in that movie. There might be some confusion there, but if we’re talking about highest-rated films associated with the name, Django Unchained certainly ranks at the top in terms of acclaim. On the other hand, The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982) tends to come up when discussing lower-rated entries, and while Lee Horsley wasn’t in that one either, it’s sometimes mistakenly linked to him. So, while Lee Horsley has had a solid career in television and film, these particular titles don’t feature him—but they do highlight how names can get mixed up over time. Still, Lee Horsley remains a recognizable figure from classic action and adventure roles.