Darrell Winfield, the real Marlboro Man, dies at 85

Tally-ho, Marlboro Man. Best known as the rugged cowboy who starred in the Marlboro Man cigarette advertisements, Darrell Winfield died Monday at home in Wyoming at age 85.

His cause of death was not listed in his obituary on a Fremont County, Wyoming, news website.

Often called the most successful tobacco advertising campaign ever, the Marlboro Man appealed to American men because of his masculinity, individuality and freedom.

Though some of the Marlboro Men in the famous cigarette advertisements launched in the 1950s were actors, Winfield was the real thing.

Winfield was working at a Wyoming ranch in 1968 when Leo Burnett/Philip Morris Advertising came looking for real cowboys to feature in the campaign, according to his local obituary.

He often wore his own clothes and provided many of the animals in the photo shoots.

"His family said he loved horses, rodeo, especially team roping, ranching, and the cowboy way of life," according to his obituary. "He liked to tease, was quite a character, and never met a stranger. He collected bits and spurs, loved to read western non-fiction, history, and stories of the Native Americans."