For the film The Kid From Texas, the star role of Billy the Kid was portrayed by a war hero. His name was Audie Murphy.

Audie Murphy was the recipient of 33 U.S. military awards, including three Purple Hearts and the Medal of Honor, making him the most decorated soldier of World War II.
After demonstrating exceptional bravery during the invasion of Sicily, Murphy was promoted to Corporal. In a subsequent battle in France, he lost his closest friend, which fueled his determination. Corporal Murphy engaged the enemy forces responsible for his friend’s death, displaying remarkable courage by commandeering a German machine gun and grenades. He then launched an assault on enemy positions, resulting in the neutralization of multiple adversaries. For his extraordinary valor, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, achieving this distinction at the young age of 21. By the conclusion of the war, he had personally accounted for the destruction of 240 enemy soldiers and endured three separate wounds.

Upon Murphy’s return to the United States in the summer of 1945, he was warmly welcomed as a national hero. Numerous parades and prestigious banquet dinners were organized to pay tribute to his valor.
LIFE magazine honored the courageous, youthful soldier by featuring him on the cover of its July 16, 1945 issue.
This prominent exposure caught the attention of actor James Cagney, who subsequently invited Murphy to Hollywood to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, ultimately leading to his role as Billy the Kid.

Universal Studios commenced filming in 1948 at various locations, including the Jack Garner Ranch in the San Bernardino National Forest, Idyllwild, and Universal Studios in Universal City, California.
The film features Audie Murphy in the role of Billy the Kid, alongside Frank Wilcox as Pat Garrett, Robert Barrett as Governor Lew Wallace, Albert Decker as Kain (McSween), Shepperd Strudwick as Jameson (Tunstall), and Paul Ford as Sheriff Copeland.
The Kid From Texas is rich in action sequences, inspired by actual historical events.
As with many films about Billy the Kid, some factual elements have been fictionalized, incorporating unique interpretations from the filmmakers while preserving the essential narrative. The depiction of the battle in Lincoln and the dramatic escape from the burning McSween home provides a revised perspective on McSween’s demise…
FBI founder and director J. Edgar Hoover was an admirer of Murphy and offered to narrate the film; however, Parley Baer was ultimately chosen for this role.