'Pure Country' Cast and Crew: Where Are They Now?

It's hard to believe it's already been three decades since the King of Country made his big-screen acting debut. Since its release in 1992, George Strait's Pure Country has become somewhat of a cult classic. The country star played the role of Dusty — a musician who rediscovers his love of music and finds love in the process. Sure, it's a bit cheesy at times but in the best way. Not to mention with Strait as the star, you're guaranteed some solid musical performances while simultaneously seeing him show off his roping skills (as a former rodeo professional, he knows what he's doing).

Was the film considered a major success? Not really...but the soundtrack sure was. It's actually one of the best-selling albums of Strait's entire career, which is really saying something. While King George hardly needs an introduction, there's plenty worth pointing out about the rest of the film's cast and crew, as its members include everyone from Dean Cain's step-dad to the voice of Barney & Friends' Baby Bop. Not to mention Kyle Chandler, who would go on to become everyone's favorite high school football coach on Friday Night Lights.

Read on to meet all of the talents behind Warner Bros.' 90s gem Pure Country.

George Strait

The career of George Strait beyond his film debut needs no explanation unless you're unaware of the number of No. 1 hits he's compiled since then. He's consistently considered one of the most popular recording artists (of any genre) of all time and is beloved for dominating Nashville with his simple approach to the way he sings and performs good old-fashioned country music. He's won and been nominated for Entertainer of the Year at the CMA and ACM Awards more than any other artist and has made millions throughout his career from his massive tours alone.

Producer Jerry Weintraub

Jerry Weintraub, notably the producer of the Karate Kid series and numerous other films, had prior ties to the music business before working on Pure Country. He organized and managed arena tours for the likes of Elvis Presley and John Denver before setting his sights on Hollywood. Weintraub's last credit before his death was working as an executive producer on the popular HBO series Westworld.

Weintraub passed away in 2015.

Director Christopher Cain

Before Pure Country, Christopher Cain's filmography included The Stone Boy, starring his stepson, Superman and Hallmark actor Dean Cain, as well as the 1988 western Young Guns. More recent credits for the elder Cain include 2010's Pure Country 2: The Gift.

Cain's wife, Sharon Thomas, actually appears in the film as Monique James.

Writer Rex McGee

North Texas native Rex McGee said he based his script on what it might've been like for Elvis Presley to cut ties with his manager Col. Parker and return to his roots that made him fall in love with music in the first place.

"I was hired to write a movie for George Strait," McGee told Wide Open Country. "Jerry Weintraub, who was the producer of Pure Country, had a deal at Warner Bros., and he was the protege of Elvis' manager, Col. Tom Parker. Col. Parker was the one who suggested to Jerry that he should put George in the movies like [Parker did for Presley]. It took a while to convince George because he did not want to be an actor and he is not demonstrative on stage. He gets up there and sings, and that's about it. He doesn't jump around like Garth Brooks does."

"My only instructions from the producer was it's got to have 10 songs in it because they were going to put out an album and somewhere in the movie, George has to rope something because he's a rodeo guy and team roper and loves doing that," McGee added.

These days, McGee is working on turning Pure Country into a musical, featuring some additional new music.

Kyle Chandler

Before he played Friday Night Lights' beloved coach, Eric Taylor, Chandler tried to Milli Vanilli us all as country superstar impersonator Buddy Jackson. Pure Country was just the second film role for the star of such recent television series as Catch 22 and Netflix's Bloodline. As for the Jackson character, if there's a storyline need to fake it, you might as well do it with songs by such talents as Jim Lauderdale and Steve Dorff.

Isabel Glasser

Strait's love interest Harley Tucker was played by an actor with prior on-screen experience with Mel Gibson and Jamie Lee Curtis (Forever Young, 1992), plus future roles in Albert Brooks' Mother (1996) and multiple Law and Order series. Isabel Glasser hasn't appeared in anything onscreen since 2006 when she starred opposite Kate Mara in Fireflies.

Lesley Ann Warren

Strait's on-screen manager, Lula Rogers, played by Lesley Ann Warren, is probably best known for a Broadway career that began in the '60s or a run on the classic TV show Mission: Impossible. But country music fans might recognize her from another film. She picked up a Golden Globe nomination for her role in Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson's Songwriter (1984).

John Doe

West Coast punk legend John Doe played Dusty Chandler's drummer and longtime best friend, Earl Blackstock. His work with iconic band X and on solo projects often incorporates country and folk influences, making him a forefather of Americana.

For more on Doe's punk roots, watch The Decline of Western Civilization, a documentary produced by fellow Pure Country actor Jeff Prettyman.

Rory Calhoun

An accomplished actor known mostly for western films and TV series, played Harley's dad, Ernest Tucker. It wound up being the final film role for a veteran whose past credits included Marilyn Monroe's boyfriend in River of No Return (1951). As a small-screen cowboy, Calhoun notably starred in CBS' The Texan (1958-1960). Calhoun passed away in 1999.

Molly McClure

The actress portraying Grandma Ivy Chandler also appeared in both City Slickers films and made two different guest appearances on Walker, Texas Ranger. McClure passed away in 2008.

Bob Tallman

The radio announcer heard in the film is better known as rodeo announcer Bob Tallman. Tallman has announced the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for over 30 years and has worked the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas more times than any other announcer. He's a 2019 inductee into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.

James Terry McIlvain

Tim Tucker was played by a real-life rodeo cowboy whose filmography already included Platoon. In 2000, James Terry McIlvain appeared on camera with a second country singer: South of Heaven, West of Hell co-star Dwight Yoakam.

Julie Johnson

Beyond those listed above, the film includes character actors Eric Randall, Roy Kieffer, Fred Fontana, Fred Ellis and Julie Johnson, a seasoned actress who has made a huge contribution to children's television. For years, she's been the voice behind Barney's pal Baby Bop. Johnson appears in Pure Country as a waitress. Johnson's also known for playing a country legend in the play A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline.

As for other familiar faces, King George's only starring role to date (as Wyatt "Dusty" Chandler) paired him with Benny McArthur, Rick McRae, and other members of The Ace in The Hole Band.

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