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Authentic U.S. DVDs are available. |
. The last of the Bunk House Gang has ridden off into the sunset with the passing of Don Collier at the age of 92. Don was born in California but lived much of his life in the Tucson area near the site where The High Chaparral and many other Westerns were filmed. The quintessential cowboy actor, he appeared in over 200 different television and movie productions including leading roles in 50 episodes of Outlaws and 63 episodes as Sam Butler on The High Chaparral. Don performed with many other famous Western actors including John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Dean Martin, Tom Selleck, and James Arness.
Always popular with his many fans, Don
regularly attended Chaparral Reunions and was a speaker at numerous Western
film festivals. His acting career spanned more than 60
years and he was still active in the industry into his 90's. You can see his
full bio and filmography on IMDB. |
| One of the most successful
and highly acclaimed Westerns
on television was The High Chaparral, the name of the ranch owned by the Cannon family in the Arizona Territory during the 1870's. Stubborn, determined, 50-year-old John Cannon is the patriarch of the family with ambitions to establish a cattle empire while finding a way to co-exist with the Apaches and the Mexicans just across the border. To help him, he has his younger brother Buck, who can out-drink, out-shoot, out-fight, and when motivated, out-work any man alive. He also has his son, Billy Blue, a young man in his early 20's, whose mother is killed in the first episode. In an arranged marriage intended to keep peace with the neighbors, John then marries an aristocratic Mexican beauty, Victoria Montoya, daughter of Don Sebastian Montoya, a wealthy Sonoran rancher. Her brother, Manolito, accompanies Victoria to the Cannon ranch as her guardian, staying on as a member of the household even after the arranged marriage turns to one of substance and trust. |
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Created and produced by David Dortort, the genius behind Bonanza, the writing was superb with plenty of action and biting dialog. The series strove for realism...the sweat, the dirt, the heat, the desert...even the Apaches who worked on the set as extras were real. And it explored culture and class conflicts among white Americans, Mexicans, and various Indian tribes at a level not attempted before or since by a television Western. |
| While it aired, The High Chaparral remained in the Top 20 of the AC Nielsen ratings. It was Number One in Europe, and is still shown in syndication. Inside you will find a growing archive of information about the show and other items of interest for Western fans to enjoy. | |
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Last update: 06/30/2020
Yaphet
Kotto was born in New York of Cameroon royal ancestry. His film and
television career spanned 50 years and included more than 100
credits. He was an imposing character in detective, sci-fi, and
Western features. His character in "The Buffalo Soldiers" dominated
that episode. His other Western appearances included Death Valley
Days, The Big Valley, Five Card Stud, Bonanza, Daniel Boone,
Gunsmoke, Man and Boy, and Desperado. 
Gregory
Sierra's career as a character actor covered nearly 50 years in more
than 100 productions after first starting on stage with the National
Shakespeare Company in New York. He had recurring roles on several
television series including The Flying Nun, Sanford and Son,
Barney Miller, A.E.S. Hudson Street, Soap, Hill Street Blues, Zorro
and Son, Miami Vice, and Murder She Wrote. His Western
credits included Alias Smith and Jones, Culpepper Cattle Company,
The Castaway Cowboy, Gunsmoke, and Where the Hell's That
Gold?
Robert
Yuro had 30 years of film credits in nearly fifty productions but he
is also remembered for being one of the owners of Alice's Restaurant
which was the inspiration for Arlo Guthrie's song. Besides many
roles in detective shows, his Western film credits included
Rawhide, 12 O'Clock High, The Legend of Jesse James, The Big Valley,
Laredo, Iron Horse, The Ride to Hangman's Tree, The Virginian,
Shakiest Gun in the West, Death Valley Days, and Bonanza. 
Chuck
Bail had a film career that spanned nearly 40 years and included
acting, stunt work, and directing in more than 90 productions. His
other Western roles included The Roughriders, The Jayhawkers, Bat
Masterson, The Texan, Wanted Dead or Alive, Gunsmoke, The Big
Valley, The Monroes, The Virginian, Laredo, Daniel Boone, Bonanza,
and Gone with the West.
Anthony
James had a long film career playing a variety of very scary
villains. The High Chaparral was one of his first of 75 roles
in film and television. He played exceptional villains in High
Plains Drifter, Unforgiven, and In the Heat of the Night,
and even parodied himself in Naked Gun Two and a Half.
Besides High Chaparral, his Western credits included
Cimarron Strip, Sam Whiskey, The Big Valley, Gunsmoke, Bonanza,
Culpepper Cattle Co., High Plains Drifter, Hearts of the West,
Outlaws, and Unforgiven.
Graydon
Gould was a Canadian actor with a film career that spanned 50 years
including the prime decades of Western production, yet the only
other Western credit I can find for him is The Big Valley. He had
over 50 film credits, mostly for detective, suspense, and sci-fi
features.
Noah
Keen was a character actor who appeared in Battle for the Planet
of the Apes as well as multiple episodes of Six Million
Dollar Man, Ironside, Charlie's Angels, and 17 episodes
of Arrest and Trial. Altogether he appeared in almost 100
productions over forty years. His Western credits included Have
Gun - Will Travel, Wide Country, Stoney Burke, A Man Called
Shenandoah, A Big Hand for the Little Lady, Iron Horse, The
Virginian, Bonanza, The Big Valley
Victor
Campos was born in New York of Spanish and Puerto Rican heritage.
His role as Teniente, one of the bandits in this episode of THC, was
only his second film appearance. From here he went on to perform in
more than 70 television and film productions covering more than
forty years. His other Western credits included Bonanza, Lancer,
and The Master Gunfighter but most of his credits were in
police and detective series such as Kojak, Streets of San
Francisco, Mod Squad, Perry Mason, Cannon, Hill Street Blues,
and many more.
Robert
Phillips was a pro football player for the Washington Redskins and
the Chicago Bears despite being only 5'9" tall. He was also a Marine
Corps swimming and self-defense instructor and served as a bodyguard
for Governor Adlai Stevenson. Once he started in television and film
he was in demand for more than thirty years as a character actor in
more than 80 productions including The Dirty Dozen, Batman, Star
Trek, and Mission Impossible. His Western credits
included Cat Ballou, The Loner, Rawhide, Laredo, Bonanza, Hour of
the Gun, Cimarron Strip, The Wild Wild West, Mackenna's Gold, The
Outcasts, Yuma, Dusty's Trail, The Quest, and How the West
was Won.
Donald
Moffat was born in England and was a prolific stage and screen
actor, appearing in over 120 productions over a span of nearly fifty
years. He was a renowned Shakespearian actor on stage and a great
character actor on television and movies. He gave a standout
performance as Henry Simmons in his role on The High Chaparral
episode, The Lieutenant. His other Western credits
include: Lancer, Here Come the Brides, Bonanza, The Great
Northfield Minnesota Raid, Showdown, Gunsmoke, Little House on the
Prairie, The Chisholms, Houston: The Legend of Texas, Desperado,
and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. 
Tom
Reese was born Tom Allen but by 1960 was using his screen name which
carried him through more than 45 years of television and movie
productions. Some of his movie credits included Vanishing Point,
The Greatest Story Ever Told, and 40 Pounds of Trouble.
He had a starring role in Ellery Queen as Sgt. Thomas Velie.
He appeared in numerous police, and spy series on television, often
playing detectives or police officers. His other Western credits
included: The Man from Blackhawk, Law of the Plainsman,
Have Gun - Will Travel, Death Valley Days, Outlaws, The Great
Adventure, Destry, Blood on the Arrow, The Virginian, The Wild Wild
West, Rawhide, Laredo, Branded, Bonanza, Iron Horse, The Guns of
Will Sonnett, Cimarron Strip, Support Your Local Sheriff, Gunsmoke,
and Guns of Paradise. 
Heather
Menzies-Urich was best known for her role as Louisa in The Sound
of Music. In The High Chaparral she teamed up with Jo Ann
Harris to play two memorable teenage horse thieves. She appeared in
many TV series in the 1970's and 1980's, including a significant
recurrent role as Jessica in Logan's Run. Other Western
appearances included Bonanza and Alias Smith and Jones.
She was married to Robert Urich, star of Spenser: For Hire
and Lonesome Dove.
Like
his role on The High Chaparral, Charles Tyner excelled in
playing cold-hearted supervisors in many films and television
productions over his fifty year acting career. He played mean prison
guards in Cool Hand Luke and The Longest Yard. In one
of his most memorable roles he made fun of his usual overbearing
characters when he played Uncle Victor in Harold and Maude.
His other Western credits included Dundee and the Culhane, The
Big Valley, The Stalking Moon, The Cheyenne Social Club, Lawman,
Alias Smith and Jones, The Cowboys, Jeremiah Johnson, The Young
Pioneers, How the West Was Won, Little House on the Prairie,
and Guns of Paradise.
Ned
Romero was a favorite on The High Chaparral where he played
the likable recurring role as Perlita's boyfriend who was usually
being outwitted by Manolito in their romantic pursuits of the same
sweetheart. Born in Louisiana, Ned Romero began as an opera singer
with a powerful baritone voice. He held a Master's Degree in music
and was fluent in at least three languages. In a career that spanned
over 40 years he appeared in nearly 100 productions including a
starring role as Chief Joseph in I Will Fight No More Forever.
He appeared in both the original Star Trek series and in
Star Trek: The Next Generation. His other Western credits
included: Shane, Rango, Laredo, Winchester 73, Custer,
Bonanza, Hang 'Em High, The Virginian, Mark of the Gun, Lancer,
Death Valley Days, The Quest, Last of the Mohicans, The Deerslayer,
and The Magnificent Seven.
Harry
Dean Stanton was a prolific character actor, appearing in
major films such as Alien, The Green Mile, Paris, Texas, The
Godfather Part II, Cool Hand Luke, and Kelly's Heroes. He
served in the Navy during WWII and was in the Battle of Okinawa. He
appeared in over 100 films and 50 television episodes that spanned
over 60 years. His Western credits include Tomahawk Trail,
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Bat Masterson, The Texan, The
Rifleman, The Man from Blackhawk, Johnny Ringo, Gunslinger, Zane
Grey Theater, Have Gun - Will Travel, How the West was Won, Laramie,
Bonanza, Rawhide, A Man Called Shenandoah, The Big Valley, Ride in
the Whirlwind, The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones, The Wild, Wild
West, The Guns of Will Sonnett, Cimarron Strip, Gunsmoke, Daniel
Boone, Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, The Missouri Breaks,
and Dead Man's Walk.