Bonanza
NBC (ended 1973)
Cast & Crew
EDIT
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Lorne Greene
Ben Cartwright
Canadian-born Lorne Greene began acting while attending Canada's Queen's University, and after graduation got a job in radio broadcasting. His rich, deep, authoritarian voice quickly propelled him to prominence as Canada's top newscaster. He left Canada in the early '50s for a film career in Hollywood, and soon began appearing regularly in television, films and on radio. His greatest successes came in two television series, the long-running western Bonanza, in which he played the patriarch of a wealthy frontier family, and the sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica. Lorne Green died on September 11, 1987 from pneumonia he contracted after heart surgery.moreless -
Michael Landon
Joseph "Little Joe" Francis Cartwright
Michael was a well-rounded actor. He starred in three extremely successful series during his career. As 'Joe Cartwright' in Bonanza, Michael made many friends that went on to co-star with him when he portrayed 'Charles Ingalls' in Little House on the Prairie. After that series ended, Michael played an angel, 'Jonathan Smith', in the series Highway to Heaven. His friend from both previous series, Victor French, co-starred as Jonathan's best friend Mark.
Michael died on July 1, 1991 of cancer.moreless -
Dan Blocker
Eric "Hoss" Cartwright (1959-1972)
Dan was a big child. At birth he weighed 14 lbs, making him the largest baby ever born in Bowie County, Texas. By 18, he stood a towering 6'3" and weighed almost 300 lbs. However, inside his massive frame beat a huge heart. Dan was known for being one of the most gentle and kind people you would ever meet. He is best known for his portrayal of Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright on the long-running western Bonanza. In the series he played a character that was clumsy, because of his size, but gentle and sweet to all those around him. It wasn't much of a stretch for Dan to play. Dan married and had four children, two boys and two girls. After having a routine gall bladder surgery, Dan suffered a blood clot in his lung that killed him. His family and friends deeply mourned his loss, and even Bonanza suffered--lasting only one season after his death.moreless -
Pernell Roberts
Adam Cartwright (1959-1965)
Pernell Roberts began his career on the Broadway stage, but soon became famous for his portrayal of Adam Cartwright on the long-running series Bonanza. Roberts left the series at the end of the 1964/1965 season due to his displeasure with the writing and direction of the show, but he still remained a legend to Bonanza fans. He caught the role of Dr. John McIntyre in Trapper John, M.D. and guest-starred in many popular series before and after. His last television appearance was in an episode of Diagnosis: Murder in 2001. Along with his extensive career in television, Pernell also had a brief stint into major motion pictures that included cult classics, Ride Lonesome, Four Rode Out, and Kashmiri Run.moreless -
David Canary
Candy Canaday (1967-1970, 1972-1973)
David was born on 25 August 1938 in Elwood, Indiana. David is best known for the part of Candy on the series Bonanza. In 1981, he appeared on the soap opera Another World as Steven Frame. He remained on the show until 1983. He then joined the cast of All My Children in the role of Adam Chandler. David has remained on the series ever since. He has won five Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor and has been nominated another ten times.moreless -
Mitch Vogel
Jamie Hunter-Cartwright (1970-1973)
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Tim Matheson
Griff King (1972-1973)
Still best remembered as Eric "Otter" Stratton in the 1979 comedy movie "Animal House", Tim has come a long way since his first acting role on "Window on Main Street" at the tender age of 12. While still at school, he appeared in many well known TV Series such as "My Three Sons" & "Leave it to Beaver" & went on to star as the voice of "Jonny Quest" in the cartoon series "The Adventures of Jonny Quest". On leaving school he attended Northridge University, studying psychology,whilst still receiving plenty of offers of work from TV studios. Tim soon realized that acting was the only career he wanted & he left University to study at the Actors & Directors Lab in L.A. for two years. Tim's first Movie was in 1967, "Divorce American Style" starring Dick van Dyke & Debbie Reynolds & a year later he appeared in the Movie "Yours Mine and Ours" starring Lucille Ball & Henry Fonda. Regular TV roles in the western series Bonanza & The Virginian soon followed & in 1976 he starred in "The Quest" with Kurt Russell. Tim also made several Guest appearances on hit TV Shows such as "Hawaii Five-0", "The Magician" & "Ironside". Tim was also to be seen on stage in San Francisco & New York in such shows as "True West" & "Bus Stop". By the Mid 80's, Tim was king of the TV Movies, making several movies each year, from Comedies to Thrillers to Science Fiction to Romance, Tim is as popular today as he was in the 1960's.moreless -
Ray Teal
Sheriff Roy Coffee
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Victor Sen Yung
Hop Sing
Victor is best known for having played comical cook "Hop Sing" on the long-running drama, Bonanza. Victor began acting in 1938. He was in many, many movies as the son of Charlie Chan. Sadly, Victor died from the effects of a gas leak in 1980. He was 65 years old.moreless -
Bing Russell
Deputy Clem Foster
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Roy Engel
Doctor/Dr. Martin/Various
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Grandon Rhodes
Doctor/Dr. Martin/Various
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Cosmo Sardo
Bartender
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Betty Endicott
Various
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Martha Manor
Various
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Bill Clark (I)
Various/Stunts
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Bob Miles
Various/Stunts
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Clint Sharp
Various/Stunts
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Troy Melton
Various/Stunts
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Bruno Vesota
Bartender
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Guy Williams
Will Cartwright
His parents arrived in the USA from Sicily shortly before Armand Catalno was born. He attended public school where he excelled in mathematics. He also attended Peekskill Military Academy. Having no interest in college, Armand's good looks soon landed him a job as a print model, which he said later paid well and allowed him the time to enjoy the money. In 1946, Armand, now called 'Guy', was signed to a 1-year contract with Universal Studios and moved to California. Despite the promise of a movie career, Guy appeared in only one movie, The Beginning or The End, a war movie. Guy's contract was not optioned and he returned to New York, where he studied acting and resumed his modeling career. It was during a photo shoot in 1948 that Guy met Janice Cooper, a beautiful young Powers model. It was love at first sight and, after a whirlwind courtship, the two were married in December of that year. By this time, Guy had already had a short-lived movie career, making one film in 1946 about the bombing of Hiroshima. A small role, it led him nowhere and he returned to New York, where he and Janice met. In 1952, Guy and Janice moved to California and Guy began his movie work. But, it was in 1957, that he would earn the role that would change his life. Guy went on a casting call at the Disney studios, which was developing a new series based upon the Spanish legend, El Zorro (The Fox). Guy was destined to play the role, if he could just convince Disney of that. It didn't take a lot of convincing, once Disney saw Guy wield the sabre. How could they be so lucky as to find a great looking, experienced actor who could fence? Disney knew what to do and signed Guy to an exclusive contract. Zorro debuted on ABC, and the series was an immediate hit. Disney, in the midst of a struggle with ABC over ownership of the series, pulled the plug in May, 1959. The show was dead as a weekly series. Four 1-hour specials were aired as part of the Disney weekly show. While Disney continued the legal battle with ABC and to be sure Guy was unavailable to continue his duel role of Don Diego/El Zorro should ABC prevail, Disney kept Guy under an exclusive contract but offered him no work. Guy's last project for Disney Studios was the award winning The Prince & The Pauper. Having completed his contract with Disney, Guy did some writing. He then moved to the role of Will Cartwright on Bonanza. After completing his contractual obligation, Guy decided to leave the series without further appearances. Guy did several movies in Europe (where he was wildly popular) over the next few years, including Sindbad (in Germany) and Damon & Pythias (in Italy). In 1964 Guy was lured back to weekly television in the sci-fi classic series Lost in Space, portraying Professor John Robinson. In the mid-1980's Guy was maintaining residents in both Argentina and the United State. Sadly, Guy passed away in his Buenos Aires apartment in May, 1989. Guy and Janice had two children, Guy Steven and Antoinette (Toni). In 2000, Guy's hometown honored him with a street sign on the Bronx Walk of Fame. Also in 2000, thousands of Guy's fans banned together to petition the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to honor Guy with a long-overdue Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That star was dedicated on August 2, 2001, amid one of the largest fan turnouts for such an event in the history of the famous walk. Guy's fans are now trying to repeat this feat by petitioning the United States Postal Service requesting a commemorative stamp be issued in his honor. Guy Williams has been gone for 17 years, but both Zorro and Lost in Space are still seen throughout the world and have been shown continuously since their initial debuts.moreless -
Lou Frizzell
Dusty Rhodes
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Remo Pisani
Bartender
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Harry Holcombe
Dr. Martin
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Bern Hoffman
Bartender
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Herb Vigran
Bartender
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Herb Vigran
Card Player
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Herb Vigran
Charlie
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Joan Hackett
Judith Coleman
She died far too young and never quite got to be the international star she might have been, given her talent. But then, she was too unusual, too unconventional - she was the sort of actress whose work people treasure, and remember long after her death. TV, oddly enough, is where most people (outside of US theatregoers, at least) knew her best. She brought unusual sensitivity and depth to a vast number of 1960s guest shots on all the big shows of the period, and lots of TV movies, too; she also did the occasional prestige drama special, like the TV version of O'Neill's "Mourning Becomes Electra". Movies didn't use her often enough, but her work in "The Group", "Will Penny" and "The Last Of Sheila" is very memorable.moreless -
Joan Hackett
Margarita Miguel
She died far too young and never quite got to be the international star she might have been, given her talent. But then, she was too unusual, too unconventional - she was the sort of actress whose work people treasure, and remember long after her death. TV, oddly enough, is where most people (outside of US theatregoers, at least) knew her best. She brought unusual sensitivity and depth to a vast number of 1960s guest shots on all the big shows of the period, and lots of TV movies, too; she also did the occasional prestige drama special, like the TV version of O'Neill's "Mourning Becomes Electra". Movies didn't use her often enough, but her work in "The Group", "Will Penny" and "The Last Of Sheila" is very memorable.moreless
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Categories
Action & Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Themes
For The Nostalgic, Gunfights, Old Time America, Parents And Children, Period Piece
