Rough Riders Roll Call

hough Theodore Roosevelt was the most famous member of the celebrated regiment, the Rough Riders were men from all walks of life, from all levels of society. Among their ranks were ex-Confederate soldiers, clergymen, Native Americans, New York City policemen, professional gamblers, famous athletes, and outlaws.

Theodore Roosevelt (played by Tom Berenger) A cowboy at heart, Roosevelt's privileged upbringing and his passion for adventure made him a kindred spirit to his men -- both of the moneyed Social Register and those of the frontier legacy. Before he became the famous Rough Rider, Theodore Roosevelt sustained a varied career as a member of the New York State Assembly, a cattle rancher in the Dakota Territory, an accomplished author, the president of the New York City Police Commissioners, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Theodore Roosevelt's heroic involvement in the Spanish/American War propelled him into popularity and set the stage for his rise as a politician. He won the New York Governorship in November of 1898 and then parlayed his Rough Rider fame into the Republican vice presidential nomination in 1900. When President McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Roosevelt succeeded the office to become America's youngest president at age 42.

"Fighting Joe" Wheeler (played by Gary Busey) A former general in the Confederate Army, he was commander of the cavalry division when the Rough Riders landed in Cuba.

Captain Buckey O'Neil (played by Sam Elliott) A legendary frontier sheriff from the Arizona Territory who had the responsibility of turning the volunteer Rough Riders into soldiers at the training camp in San Antonio.

Henry Nash (played by Brad Johnson) An outlaw turned Rough Rider whose courage at the Battle of Kettle Hill made him a hero.

Craig Wadsworth (played by Chris Noth) The former steeple-chase rider and member of New York's exclusive Knickerbocker club, who turned his fine equestrienne skills into Rough Riding talents.

William "Bill" Tiffany (played by James Parks) Rough Rider William Tiffany died of high-fever and exhaustion shortly after his return from Cuba. His father was Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Company, known for its exquisite jewelry, glassware and china .

Benjamin Franklin "B.F." Goodrich (played by Titus Welliver) Named after his father, who served as a surgeon in the Civil War and then founded a lucrative rubber business that initially manufactured fire hoses and billiard cushions, young B.F. Goodrich joined the ranks of the Rough Riders to seek his own glory in war.

Hamilton Fish (played by Holt McCallany) Ironically, this Rough Rider's grandfather (for whom he was named,) opposed America's involvement in Cuba and preserved peaceful relations between Spain and the United States while he was Secretary of State. A graduate of Columbia, his family was prominent among New York Social Register. Young Hamilton Fish was the first Rough Rider to fall in Cuba during the battle of Las Guasimas.

Woodbury Kane (played by Mark Moses) Kane was a fellow Harvard graduate and close friend of Theodore Roosevelt. Though Roosevelt's contemporary, he sought no special commission, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant while at the training camp in San Antonio.