What Was The Virginian’s Real Name?

Key Takeaways

• The deliberate choice was made back in 1902 in Wister’s novel
• Fans have always had their own thoughts and suggestions
• The decision was hugely influential with Westerns that followed

In Owen Wister’s famous 1902 novel “The Virginian,” as well as in later films and the long-running television series (1962-1971), the main character’s name was never revealed.

James Drury was simply called the Virginian, a deliberate choice originally made by Wister to make him an epic Western hero who was mysterious and defined more by his actions and character than he was by his name.

“Nobody knows the name of my character,” Drury once said. “Not even me.”

Even long after the television series concluded, the character’s name was never disclosed. It’s always been speculated, and fans have always had their own thoughts and suggestions, but the character has never had a name and has always stayed true to Wister’s original concept.

By never giving Drury’s character a name, he became larger than life, a symbol of courage, justice, and strength, a hero rather than, say, John Smith from Virginia. The anonymity also added to his aura, creating more respect.

The choice not to give the Virginian a name because hugely influential. The nameless cowboy became more of a recurring figure in Western television. Clint Eastwood’s “Man with No Name” trilogy used the same method and many Western protagonists—even if they had names—were introduced with nicknames rather than ordinary names to attempt to preserve a mythical quality.