Final answer:
Wyatt Earp is the Old West lawman and gambler portrayed by multiple actors in films, where the violence of the Wild West is often exaggerated compared to historical reality. Nonetheless, Earp's legacy lives on through cinematic representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Old West lawman and gambler who has been portrayed on film by a range of famous actors including Henry Fonda, Burt Lancaster, James Garner, Kurt Russell, Kevin Costner, and Jimmy Stewart is none other than Wyatt Earp. The portrayal of violence in the Wild West in media is often exaggerated, as actual historical accounts suggest that while the Old West had its fair share of roughness and violence, it was much more isolated and less glamorous than depicted in films and dime store novels. Nevertheless, figures like Wyatt Earp became legendary due to their involvement in infamous events such as the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, which have cemented their place in popular culture and history through countless cinematic adaptations.
Western films are quintessential in representing the lore of the Old West despite their decline in mainstream popularity. Various actors have notably contributed to the mythos and character of Wyatt Earp over the years, embodying the rugged lawman in film narratives that highlight a fascination with the romanticized violence of the frontier, despite the reality of the West's challenges like disease and economic hardship often being neglected in these tales.