How Lash Larue got his part in Stagecoach

Lash LaRue, the whip-cracking cowboy in black of 1940's westerns, happened to be in the vicinity where the television remake of Stagecoach was being shot. While on the set, he met Johnny Cash, who told him of seeing him in westerns as a young boy. Cash also used the title of "The Man in Black." Willie Nelson also introduced himself as a fan. The two men persuaded the director to use Lash in a brief scene in the saloon. When news comes to the saloon that the Ringo Kid, everybody goes out to see the gunfight. Lash has this line, "It's not my fight...yet." Later in interviews, Lash told the story of how Johnny Cash walked behind him and said, "Look at me, I'm walking in the shadow of my heroes." Cash, Nelson and Kris Kristofesen also recorded a album entitled "Heroes" on which they can be seen with their backs to the camera and facing Lash who is cracking his bullwhip.