Cody's reputation is that of a crack shot. He's good, everyone knows he's good, and most importantly, Cody knows he's good, which is why he sometimes gets into a little bit of trouble. At times he seems to want to do his own thing, but he knows the importance of his job. At the beginning, he seems to be the closest to Jimmy, but as the show goes on, we see that the friendship isn't as strong as it used to be, but as history is foretold, their friendship is rekindled in the 1870's. Much of Cody's future life is told through the people he meets and interacts with. We already see an interest in the theatre and productions. And we see how his views about the world change as he meets various people. Cody very rarely showed a sensitive side, but you could always tell he was there to help a friend. But in the end, we see that fade as the approaching Civil War takes affect of all of their lives and Cody decides he has to do what will benefit him in the end.

Cody's gun of choice is a muzzle loading Hawken rifle which is with him in all of his adventures. And you never see him out of his buckskin outfit. The attention that Cody gets clues us in on how he became the symbol of the American Cowboy and the rugged Wild Wild West. Throughout the series, he fascinates friends and strangers alike and many are inspired to write about him, but Cody doesn't mind, he lives for it. In fact, he prided himself with spinning a tale or two himself, which he soon discovered his friends and Express family didn't take too kindly to. Cody is one you will always remember with a huge grin on his face and always ready with a wisecrack. You can always catch his mischievous nature through the simple tip of his hat to a goofy smile. He likes to read even if the information isn't entirely accurate, and you can see he is always willing to learn. But most of all, he loves to live the legendary mystique of the American West.

At the end of the series we see that Cody decides to join the U.S. Army as a scout as he sees that the life of the Pony Express is slowly coming to the end. He does this despite the great the disapproval of his friends. When Noah was killed, he felt partly responsible for his death and seems to take it the hardest. As the end draws near, we see him coming to terms with the loss of Noah and he was able to forgive himself. After this is where the real life of "Buffalo Bill" Cody begins.

Stephen Baldwin portrayed real-life Western icon, William (Billy) Frederick Cody before he became a legend, but it was hardly his first acting role. He broke into the business with a TV movie called The Prodigious Mr. Hickey. That was followed by a pair of forgettable theatrical movies and TV guest appearances on such shows as "China Beach" and "Family Ties". Then came small roles in two critically acclaimed films, Last Exit to Brooklyn and the Academy Award winning Born On The Forth Of July that starred Tom Cruise.

It was around this time that Stephen won the role that brought him to the attention of millions, that of young William Cody on the new ABC television series "The Young Riders". With this role he managed to capture the innocence of the young Mr. Cody with a touch of the flamboyance that would define the legend that "Buffalo Bull" Cody would become.

Since the cancellation of "The Young Riders", Stephen has been one of the busiest young actors in Hollywood, appearing in no less than 15 films since 1992. The roles he has taken showcase his growing talent and versatility. Some of his better known roles have been in the films Posse (1993), which is set in the Wild West again, A Simple Twist of Fate (1994), 8 Seconds (1994), The Usual Suspects (1995), which won an Oscar for writing, and the not so popular Bio Dome (1996) playing opposite of Pauly Shore. Also in 1996, he appeared opposite Laurence Fishburne in Fled and 1997 brought about Sub Down.

There just seems to be no stopping this talented young actor who was born the youngest of six children on May 12, 1966 in Massapequa, Long Island, New York. Besides his two sisters, who are not in show business, he has three older brothers who are. The most well known brother is Alec (The Hunt For Red October, Malice, etc...), Daniel ("Homicide: Life On The Streets", Mullholland Falls) & William (Backdraft, Flatliners, Sliver). Both of his parents were high school teachers.

In high school, Stephen focused on his talents on music and was a successful vocal soloist, named All-State three times and traveling with the Long Island Philharmonic Orchestra. However, he gave all that up to pursue acting.

In 1990, Stephen married his long time girlfriend Kennya Deadato, a graphic designer, and together they have two daughters. He credits his wife for his discontinuing the use of drugs and alcohol whose overuse characterized his wild early days as an actor.

Stephen Baldwin has come a long way in just a few short years and shows every indication of becoming an ever greater success. Perhaps that success has already come. When you hear his name these days, it isn't always followed by the phrase "Alec's little brother". He is Stephen Baldwin, the actor.

But just when you thought that Stephen was missing from the spotlight, he returned to the big screen in the very dramatic, One Tough Cop, the true story of Bo Dietl, which opened in theatres in October 1998. You can also catch him as the pot smoking mechanic in Half Baked, and the T.V. mini-series, "Mr. Murder". 1998 also included, Cross Country and Scar City.

1999 brought about several projects for Stephen, including The Sex Monster, Friends & Lovers, Table One, andAbsence of the Good.

The new millennium brought about Cutaway, Spider's Web , Dead Awake, Protection, Zebra Lounge, and X Change. And who can forget Stephen's warm and funny role as Barney Rubble in The Flinstones in Viva Rock Vegas.

Most recently, you may have caught Stephen at his dare-devil best as he captured the prize in NBC's "Fear Factor". Stephen's projects for 2002 include Before the Devil Knows You're Dead , Deadrockstar & Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice

For more information on Stephen Baldwin, please visit IMDB.com.

William Frederick Cody, "Buffalo Bill", was born on February 26, 1846 in Scott County, Iowa. He was one of eight children of an ardent abolitionist, Isaac Cody. His mother died when he was still very young and his father a few years later died in a skirmish with pro-slavers. During his adolescence he supported himself with odd jobs and with a stint as a messenger and Pony Express rider for Russells, Majors, & Waddell.

In 1863, while still a teenager, Cody enlisted with the 7th Regiment of the Kansas Calvary and fought for the Union in the Civil War. It was during this time that Cody first worked as a scout and began to build his reputation as one of the best.

He worked as an Army scout until 1867. Then he went to work for the Kansas Pacific Railroad as a buffalo hunter, supplying meat to the men laying track. It is said that in one year's time, Cody, who ws an excellent shot, killed 4,280 buffalo. Because of this, William F. Cody started being called "Buffalo Bill".

He went back to scouting for the Army from 1868-1872 then left the Army again to pursue an eclectic series of jobs over the next few years.

He served briefly in 1872 as a member of the Nebraska House of Representatives. Also in 1872, he took to the stage as an actor in the melodrama "The Scouts Of The Prairie" in which he played himself and re-enacted his 'exploits' often ad-libbing his way through the show.

The play was written by Ned Buntline (real name E.Z.C. Judson) who was also wrote numerous dime novels glorifying Cody. Another penny press author who wrote many books about Cody was Prentiss Ingraham but it was Cody, himself, who spread his reputation as much as either of them with the telling of fanciful tall tales in which he was the star, often changing the story a little with each telling. Cody, too, wrote books about himself. Among them were True Tales of the Plains, The Adventures of 'Buffalo Bill', The Life of Honorable William F. Cody--Known As 'Buffalo Bill', and The Great Salt Lake Trail, which he co-authored.

He also worked as a guide for scientists, sportsmen and tourists who wanted to travel the West before returning once more to scouting for the Army, this time as a civilian. The enemy was the Native American tribes of the Plains. Cody's reputation continued to grow as a scout and now as an Indian fighter as he guided such noted Indian fighters as Generals Sherman, Sheridan, Miles, Custer, Ord, Crook and Frye.

On July 17, 1876, while scouting for the 5th U.S. Calvary who were in pursuit of a group of Sioux and Cheyenne, Cody made an even bigger name for himself at the Battle of Indian Creek in Nebraska. He killed a well-known Cheyenne warrior named Yellow Hand (or Yellow Hair) in hand to hand combat. When it was over, he scalped Yellow Hand in accordance to Indian tradition. Cody became seen as a brave and dashing hero.

By 1883 he gave up scouting again for a whole new career as a showman. He organized the first of his traveling shows, "Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show" premiering on July 4, 1883 in North Platte, Nebraska. His show featured re-enactments of various aspects of western life. There were shooting exhibitions given by such notable shootists as Annie Oakley. Cowboys demonstrated fancy riding and roping. There was a mock buffalo hunt, a most stagecoach robbery and Indians.

For the next thirty years, with time off in 1890-91 to fight Sioux with the Nebraska Guard where he held a rank of Brigadier General, Cody traveled the country and later Europe with a show that grew into "Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show And Congress Of Roughriders". One of his biggest fans was Queen Victoria of England for whom he gave command performances.

Among the many honors bestowed on Cody was the Congressional Medal of Honor for this years of service as a scout for the Army. In 1916 it was revoked because Cody was a civilian scout and only military personnel were eligible for the award. In 1989, the award was reinstated and presented to the Cody estate.

At 12:05 pm on January 10, 1917, William F. Cody died at the age of 71 of kidney disease at his sister's home in Denver, Colorado. His wife, Louisa Frederici, whom he married on March 6, 1866, and one of his daughters were at his bedside. He was preceded in death by a daughter and his only son, Kit Carson Cody. He was survived by a third daughter.

William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody was buried on Lookout Mountain near Golden Colorado.

~Ishani

Information for this page provided by wCw, Ishani & Rick Snyder
Pictures by Wendy and IMDB.com