John Henry Holliday was born in 1851 in Griffin, Georgia. He became a skilled dentist, but shortly after starting his practice, he discovered that he had contracted tuberculosis. Following the advice of his doctors to move to a dry climate, Doc packed up and headed West. But the climate in Dallas did not improve his condition. As a result, his dental business declined. And John had to find other means of earning a livelihood.

It became apparent that he possessed a natural ability for gambling and this quickly became his sole means of support. In those days, a gambler in the west had to be able to protect himself. Doc was well aware of this and faithfully practiced with six-gun and knife.

Very soon he had gained the reputation of being a cold-blooded killer: "Holliday has a big reputation as a fighter, and has probably put more rustlers and cowboys under the sod than any other one man in the west."

Doc Holliday himself once claimed he almost lost his life a total of nine times. Four attempts were made to hang him and he was shot at in a gunfight or from ambush five times. But most surprisingly Doc Holliday did not die in a gunfight but from tuberculosis. After having been ill for weeks in 1887, he awoke one morning and asked for a glass of whiskey. It was given to him and he drank it down with enjoyment. Then he said, "This is funny", and died.