Robert La Tourneaux as Cowboy Tex La Tourneaux was the good-natured but dim hustler Cowboy Tex who's hired for Harold as a birthday present. Sadly, after The Boys in the Band, La Tourneaux's career declined, with him blaming it on the movie. La Tourneaux died in 1986 due to an AIDS-related illness and was cared for by Cliff Gorman and his wife in the final months before his death. His role was taken on by Charlie Carver in the 2020 Netflix adaptation. Image Source: Getty / Michael Ochs Archives