Shea Whigham Is Always Wearing a Historical Hat
CultureOkay, maybe not always. But from Boardwalk Empire to Perry Mason to his newest role in American Primeval, it’s happened a lot.By Gabriella PaiellaJanuary 9, 2025Photographs: Netflix, HBO, FX, Getty Images, Paramount; Collage: Gabe ConteSave this storySaveSave this storySaveShea Whigham: We love that guy! He’s an esteemed character actor. He’s not Steve Zahn (although we love that guy too). He’s someone we’re always happy to see pop up in whatever we’re watching.Our latest “Oh hell yes, Shea Whigham’s in this?” moment came just a few minutes into the new limited series American Primeval, out today on Netflix. From Friday Night Lights creator Peter Berg—and starring Dillon Panthers alumnus Taylor Kitsch—American Primeval is set in 1857 on the Utah frontier. Life is rough out there. Mormons, Native Americans, and the federal government are all caught in a brutal ongoing battle.But first, Shea Whigham, wearing a historical hat. He plays Jim Bridger, the proprietor of the Fort, a place for passing travelers to rest and acquire supplies. He’s a classic fixer—pleasant, helpful, and grizzled as all hell.This is notable for a few reasons. First of all, of course there are historical hats in American Primeval: it’s a Western, a genre as amenable to hats as a horse to a cowboy.And of course Whigham is wearing a hat. As I watched him in American Primeval, I had an unbidden flashback of Whigham in a cavalcade of period pieces—Boardwalk Empire, Perry Mason, and so on. And I realized—Shea Whigham is kind of always wearing a historical hat. Of course, this isn’t technically, factually true. He’s appeared in a lot of stuff sans chapeau. But spiritually, it is. So without further ado, we present to you our gallery of Shea Whigham in historical hats.Collection Christophel / Alamy Stock Photo1/10Boardwalk EmpireWhigham, right, as Sheriff Eli Thompson in Boardwalk Empire—a show that gave us a veritable bounty of both That Guys and Historical Hats.HBO2/10Perry MasonI was intrigued by Perry Mason, but didn't fully lock in until I saw Whigham in a newsboy cap and knew I was in good hands.3/10Perry MasonLeo on a CitiBike could never.Matt Kennedy4/10American PrimevalThe second this moment in haberdashery showed up, I fully leaned toward my TV.Emerson Miller5/10Lawmen: Bass ReevesAs a villain in the Yellowstone spinoff.Bobby Bank6/10EileenThe adaption of the Otessa Moshfegh novel is set in 1964 Massachusetts. Whigham plays the sad, alcoholic father of the titular character—and as soon as these paparazzi photos dropped during filming, I knew exactly what we were getting.Bobby Bank7/10EileenAnother pap shot of the Eileen hat.Matt Kennedy/Getty Images8/10Agent CarterA Marvel Cinematic Universe historical hat—but a historical hat nonetheless.Copyright 2017, FX Networks. All Rights Reserved.9/10FargoFargo season three takes place between 2010-2011. Basically ancient history.HBO10/10Vice PrincipalsHonorable Non-Hat Shea Whigham Accessory Award: the sunglasses in Vice Principals.Gabriella Paiella is a senior staff writer at GQ, where she covers culture in the form of features, profiles, and Q&As. She’s profiled Nicolas Cage, Jeremy Strong, and Zoë Kravitz for the cover of the magazine, explored why men are so obsessed with the 2003 nautical drama Master and Commander,... Read moreSenior Staff WriterXInstagramRelated Stories for GQEntertainmentMoviesTVHatsNetflixRead MoreSales (Style)The Best Menswear Deals of the WeekBy Reed NelsonGift Ideas55 Tech Gifts for Gadget Freaks and Non-Geeks AlikeBy Sara KlausingGQ RecommendsThe Alex Mill Sale Just Went Double PlatinumBy Gerald OrtizStyleGolden Globes 2025 Red Carpet: All the Best Celebrity Menswear Looks LiveBy The Editors of GQ
Shea Whigham: We love that guy! He’s an esteemed character actor. He’s not Steve Zahn (although we love that guy too). He’s someone we’re always happy to see pop up in whatever we’re watching.
Our latest “Oh hell yes, Shea Whigham’s in this?” moment came just a few minutes into the new limited series American Primeval, out today on Netflix. From Friday Night Lights creator Peter Berg—and starring Dillon Panthers alumnus Taylor Kitsch—American Primeval is set in 1857 on the Utah frontier. Life is rough out there. Mormons, Native Americans, and the federal government are all caught in a brutal ongoing battle.
But first, Shea Whigham, wearing a historical hat. He plays Jim Bridger, the proprietor of the Fort, a place for passing travelers to rest and acquire supplies. He’s a classic fixer—pleasant, helpful, and grizzled as all hell.
This is notable for a few reasons. First of all, of course there are historical hats in American Primeval: it’s a Western, a genre as amenable to hats as a horse to a cowboy.
And of course Whigham is wearing a hat. As I watched him in American Primeval, I had an unbidden flashback of Whigham in a cavalcade of period pieces—Boardwalk Empire, Perry Mason, and so on. And I realized—Shea Whigham is kind of always wearing a historical hat. Of course, this isn’t technically, factually true. He’s appeared in a lot of stuff sans chapeau. But spiritually, it is. So without further ado, we present to you our gallery of Shea Whigham in historical hats.
Collection Christophel / Alamy Stock Photo1/10Boardwalk Empire
Whigham, right, as Sheriff Eli Thompson in Boardwalk Empire—a show that gave us a veritable bounty of both That Guys and Historical Hats.
HBO2/10Perry Mason
I was intrigued by Perry Mason, but didn't fully lock in until I saw Whigham in a newsboy cap and knew I was in good hands.
3/10Perry Mason
Leo on a CitiBike could never.
Matt Kennedy4/10American Primeval
The second this moment in haberdashery showed up, I fully leaned toward my TV.
Emerson Miller5/10Lawmen: Bass Reeves
As a villain in the Yellowstone spinoff.
Bobby Bank6/10Eileen
The adaption of the Otessa Moshfegh novel is set in 1964 Massachusetts. Whigham plays the sad, alcoholic father of the titular character—and as soon as these paparazzi photos dropped during filming, I knew exactly what we were getting.
Bobby Bank7/10Eileen
Another pap shot of the Eileen hat.
Matt Kennedy/Getty Images8/10Agent Carter
A Marvel Cinematic Universe historical hat—but a historical hat nonetheless.
MV5BODI0MzU0Mzc1Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTExMTY5MTI@._V1_.jpg)
Copyright 2017, FX Networks. All Rights Reserved.9/10Fargo
Fargo season three takes place between 2010-2011. Basically ancient history.
MV5BOTI2NzUzOTcwNl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTU2NzE0OTE@._V1_.jpg)
HBO10/10Vice Principals
Honorable Non-Hat Shea Whigham Accessory Award: the sunglasses in Vice Principals.
