History UsefulNotes / BillyTheKid

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS14E1TreehouseOfHorrorXIII Treehouse of Horror XIII]]", Lisa brings him back to life, after reading a pacifist message on his gravestone, not knowing that William H. Bonney is in fact Billy the Kid. As a living skeleton he is joined by UsefulNotes/JesseJames, Frank James, Butch Cassidy, The Sundance Kid and Kaiser Wilhelm II to attack Springfield.

By this point sheriff Pat Garrett, [[WeUsedToBeFriends a former associate of Billy's]] before the Tunstall murder, had the ambition to bring Billy the Kid to justice. In 1880 he managed to capture him and brought him to Las Vegas, New Mexico (No, we don't mean Las Vegas, Nevada), where Billy was convicted of murder and sentenced to hanging. He was then sent to Lincoln New Mexico to await his execution. [[PrisonEscapeArtist He once again managed to escape]] by shooting both his guards and running away. Garrett managed to track him down again in 1881, where he was questioning someone in a darkened bedroom and Billy unexpectedly walked in. Billy was unable to see who was in the room and asked ''"Who is it? Who is it?"'' in Spanish. Garrett recognized his voice and put two bullets in him, killing him where he stood.

Billy's legend really took off after he was dead. In stark contrast to UsefulNotes/JesseJames, who gained a reputation as a FolkHero despite being a murderous pro-Confederate guerrilla and bank robber, Billy was painted as a sadistic young psychopath. Garrett published a sensationalized biography called ''The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid'', which made the outlaw infamous all over the world. A lot of urban legends about Billy are derived from this book, including several that painted Garrett in a much more heroic light. The most common myth about Billy the Kid is that he supposedly murdered 21 people, one for each of the years he'd lived. In reality there are only four confirmed murders by his hand, plus a couple of others that ''might'' have been him. There's also no evidence to suggest he was a sadistic psychopath who [[StartOfDarkness got his start]] torturing animals, a legend that began to spread when he had barely been dead a few years.

* ''Film/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventure'' has him appear as one of the "historical figures" the ditzy heroes collect for their report. Perhaps because it's a comedy, Billy is upgraded to a LovableRogue who doesn't actually shoot anybody (though he does engage in a bit of RecklessGunUsage and [[ThreeAcesCheater cheats at cards]]).

He was born as Henry [=McCarty=], but settled on "William H. Bonney" later in life instead. He was an orphan at age 14 and taken in by a neighbouring family, where he helped his adoptive parents to take care of a hotel. His criminal career began when he moved into a boarding house at age 15 and pursued odd jobs. In 1875 he was arrested for theft and placed in jail, where he escaped up the jailhouse chimney and became a fugitive. He was part of a gang of horse thieves and by 1877, at age 17, he committed his first murder, shooting a blacksmith who bullied and/or [[DisproportionateRetribution annoyed]] him. Most witnesses called the shooting self-defense, and local law enforcement agreed, but the youngster [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere didn't stick around to take his chances with a jury]] and crossed the state line from UsefulNotes/{{Arizona}} to Lincoln County, UsefulNotes/NewMexico. He briefly rode with a gang of cattle rustlers before finding more honest work on a cattle ranch owned by English immigrant John Tunstall. When Tunstall was murdered by men working for his rivals Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan, Billy and a couple of accomplices [[CycleOfRevenge went after those responsible and killed several]], including the county sheriff, [[CorruptCop who was in Murphy's pocket]]. As the violence escalated into what is now remembered as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_County_War Lincoln County War]], Billy and his gang became notorious all over TheWildWest.

Billy the Kid, born Henry [=McCarty=]; also known as William H. Bonney (September 17, 1859[[note]]Probably - there's some controversy over his exact birthdate. He may have been born in '61, and Pat Garrett may have claimed he was twenty-one because he wanted to portray Billy as a murderous man and not a teenager[[/note]] – July 14, 1881) was an infamous {{Outlaw}} from TheWildWest, matched in fame only by UsefulNotes/JesseJames.

Billy's legend really took off after he was dead. Garrett published a sensationalized biography called ''The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid'', which made the outlaw infamous all over the world. A lot of urban legends about Billy are derived from this book, including several that painted Garrett in a much better light. The most common myth about Billy the Kid is that he supposedly murdered 21 people, one for each of the years he'd lived. In reality there are only four confirmed murders by his hand, plus a couple of others that ''might'' have been him. There's also no evidence to suggest he was a sadistic psychopath, a legend that began to spread when he had barely been dead a few years.

* Film/TheThreeStooges: The film ''The Outlaws Is Coming'' has Billy appear as a literal YoungGun.

* Music/BillyJoel's "The Ballad of Billy the Kid", from his album ''Piano Man''.

He was born as Henry [=McCarty=], but settled on "William H. Bonney" later in life instead. He was an orphan at age 14 and taken in by a neighbouring family, where he helped his adoptive parents to take care of a hotel. His criminal career began when he moved into a boarding house at age 15 and pursued odd jobs. In 1875 he was arrested for theft and placed in jail, where he escaped up the jailhouse chimney and became a fugitive. He was part of a gang of horse thieves and by 1877, at age 17, he committed his first murder, shooting a blacksmith who bullied and/or [[DisproportionateRetribution annoyed]] him. Most witnesses called the shooting self-defense, and local law enforcement agreed, but the youngster [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere didn't stick around to take his chances with a jury]] and crossed the state line from UsefulNotes/{{Arizona}} to Lincoln County, UsefulNotes/NewMexico. He briefly rode with a gang of cattle rustlers before finding more honest work on a cattle ranch owned by English immigrant John Tunstall. When Tunstall was murdered by men working for his rivals Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan, Billy and a couple of accomplices [[CycleOfRevenge went after those responsible and killed several]], including the county sheriff, [[CorruptCop who was in Murphy's pocket]]. As the violence escalated into what is now remembered as the [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_County_War Lincoln County War]], Billy and his gang became notorious all over TheWildWest.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Treehouse of Horror XIII", Lisa brings him back to life, after reading a pacifist message on his gravestone, not knowing that William H. Bonney is in fact Billy the Kid. As a living skeleton he is joined by UsefulNotes/JesseJames, Frank James, Butch Cassidy, The Sundance Kid and Kaiser Wilhelm II to attack Springfield.

* Music/BillyJoel's "The Ballad of Billy the Kid", from his album ''Songs in the Attic''.

Billy the Kid, born Henry [=McCarty=]; also known as William H. Bonney (September 17, 1859 – July 14, 1881) was an infamous {{Outlaw}} from TheWildWest, matched in fame only by UsefulNotes/JesseJames.

Billy's legend really took off after he was dead. Garrett published a sensationalized biography called ''The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid'', which made the outlaw infamous all over the world. A lot of urban legends about Billy are derived from this book, including several that painted Garrett in a much better light. The most common myth about Billy the Kid is that he supposedly murdered 21 people, one for each of the years he'd lived. In reality there are only four confirmed murders by his hand, plus a couple of others that ''might'' have been him.

* ''Film/PatGarrettAndBillyTheKid'' is perhaps the most famous modern movie adaptation, with Music/KrisKristofferson as Billy the Kid, Creator/JamesCoburn as Pat Garrett and a soundtrack by Music/BobDylan, who also acts in the film.

By this point sheriff Pat Garrett, [[WeUsedToBeFriends a former associate of Billy's]] before the Tunstall murder, had the ambition to bring Billy the Kid to justice. In 1880 he managed to capture him and brought him to Las Vegas, New Mexico (No, we don't mean Las Vegas, Nevada), where Billy was convicted of murder and sentenced to hanging. He was then sent to Lincoln New Mexico to await his execution.[[PrisonEscapeArtist He once again managed to escape]] by shooting both his guards and running away. Garrett managed to track him down again in 1881, where he was questioning someone in a darkened bedroom and Billy unexpectedly walked in. Billy was unable to see who was in the room and asked ''"Who is it? Who is it?"'' in Spanish. Garrett recognized his voice and put two bullets in him, killing him where he stood.

* '''The Kid''', a 2019 movie directed by Creator/VincentDonofrio, stars Creator/DaneDeHann as Billy opposite Creator/EthanHawke as Pat Garrett.

* Creator/WoodyGuthrie wrote the song ''Billy the Kid'' about him.

!! Billy the Kid provides examples of:
* AntiVillain: Viewed somewhat sympathetically because of the harsh life he grew up in, and his time working for Tunstall might have been a [[HopeSpot genuine shot]] at redemption. But Tunstall's murder by his corrupt rivals Murphy and Dolan drove Billy towards a RoaringRampageOfRevenge and ruined any redemption...
* CharacterExaggeration: He is believed to have been a notorious outlaw who murdered many people in cold blood, yet in reality his body count is not higher than four and some even contest that most of it was self defense. His real-life accomplices, such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Coe_(Lincoln_County_War) George Coe]], say that he was a passionate and life-loving person, not a cold-blooded killer.
* DisappearedDad: It's unknown who his biological father was.
* EmbarrassingNickname: No youngster would enjoy being named ''The Kid''.
* FriendlyEnemy: Billy and Pat Garrett both knew each other from living in Ft. Sumner, and Billy might have attended Pat's wedding.
* FolkHero: Became somewhat of a folk hero among the Hispanic population in New Mexico.
* TheGunslinger: Though much of it is legend.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Has become ''THE'' outlaw to portray in a Western.
* IHaveManyNames: Known as William H. [=McCarty=], William Antrim and William H. Bonney. His real name was Henry [=McCarty=].
* {{Outlaw}}: Billy is by far the most famous outlaw of TheWildWest, together with UsefulNotes/JesseJames.
* PrisonEscapeArtist: Managed to escape from prison many times.
* RecognitionFailure: Was shot because he didn't recognize Pat Garrett standing in the bed room he just entered.
* TheSouthPaw: Because his photograph was often mirrored in reproductions some people thought he was actually left handed. This also explains the title of the film ''Film/TheLeftHandedGun'', with Creator/PaulNewman. He wasn't.
* TheTropeKid: Nicknamed ''The Kid'' because he was basically a teenager. May have been the TropeNamer too, for all other outlaws were named after him.
* UrbanLegend: Billy the Kid's short life is the source of many myths and legends, already debunked in the introduction. However, in many novels, comic strips, cartoons, films, TV series,... where he makes an appearance he will be much tougher and deadlier than he was in real life.
** There [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_the_Kid#Rumors_of_survival were stories that Billy]] - with Pat's help - faked his death, and various people stepped forward decades later claiming to be Billy in order to receive the outstanding pardon the territorial governor had offered him.
* WeUsedToBeFriends: A common interpretation of the legend paints Billy and Pat Garret as this. They knew each other, but how friendly they were is a topic of some debate.
* TheWildWest: Together with UsefulNotes/JesseJames, Creator/BuffaloBill and UsefulNotes/CalamityJane one of the four essential historical characters bound to show up or be referenced in any Wild West setting.
* YoungGun: A teenager lead to a life of crime and shot at age 21.

* IHaveManyNames: Known as William H. Mccarty, William Antrim and William H. Bonney. His real name was Henry [=McCarty=].

* WeUsedToBeFriends: A common interpretation of the legend paints Billy and Pat Garret as this. They knew eachother, but how friendly they were is a topic of some debate.

* Appeared in the really weird film ''Film/BillyTheKidVSDracula'' where [[OutOfCharacterMoment he appears totally out of character]] as a nice, well behaved young man who doesn't want to fight and even works along with the sherrif to get Literature/{{Dracula}}.

Despite a short life and a reputation that was more myth than fact he has become one of the most legendary characters in American history, inspiring countless appearances in popular culture. UsefulNotes/NedKelly occupies a similar position in {{Australia}}n popular culture.

* In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', Billy is one of the Archers introduced in Chapter Five of the main storyline.

* In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', one of the newly-introduced Archers is Billy the Kid himself.

By this point sheriff Pat Garrett, [[WeUsedToBeFriends a former associate of Billy's]] before the Tunstall murder, had the ambition to bring Billy the Kid to justice. In 1880 he managed to capture him and brought him to Las Vegas, New Mexico (No I do not mean Las Vegas Nevada), where Billy was convicted of murder and sentenced to hanging. He was then sent to Lincoln New Mexico to await his execution.[[PrisonEscapeArtist He once again managed to escape]] by shooting both his guards and run away. Garrett managed to track him down again in 1881, where he was questioning someone in a darkened bedroom and Billy unexpectedly walked in. Billy was unable to see who was in the room and asked ''"Who is it? Who is it?"'' in Spanish. Garrett recognized his voice and put two bullets in him, killing him where he stood.

From then Billy's true legend began. Garrett published a sensationalized biography called ''The Authentic Life of Billy, the Kid'', which made the outlaw infamous all over the world. A lot of urban legends about Billy are derived from this book, including several that painted Garrett in a much better light. The most common myth about Billy the Kid is that he supposedly murdered 21 people, each for the amount of years he lived. In reality there are only four confirmed murders by his hand, plus a couple of others that ''might'' have been him.

* RunForTheBorder: Escaped to Mexico, where he was eventually found and murdered.