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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.

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.

TRIBUTES
to some of our favorite cowpokes, lawmen, heroes, and villains who recently took that last ride across the Great Divide. HC attracted many of the finest actors to participate in guest starring roles, which, large or small, all contributed to making the show as great as it was. To find out more about any of them, check out their bios on IMDB.

	Denny Miller 1934 - 9/2014 A Way of Justice Kolos	Denny Miller may have been best known as the "Gorton Fisherman" in a series of commercials dressed in yellow rain gear, but he was a significant character actor for over 40 years. He was the first blond Tarzan in Tarzan the Ape Man in 1959 and played a similar role later in Gilligan's Island. His first recurring television role was as Duke Shannon on Wagon Train. Later he played Mike McCluskey with Juliet Prowse in Mona McCluskey. Other Western guest roles included Overland Trail, Have Gun - Will Travel, Riverboat, Laramie, The Rifleman, Stagecoach West, The Deputy, Death Valley Days, The Virginian, Gunsmoke, Bordertown, Lonesome Dove: The Series, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and Hell to Pay in 2005. In 1972 he appeared with Cameron Mitchell in Buck and the Preacher.
	Don Keefer 1916 - 7/2014 Spokes Opus, the telegrapher	Don Keefer started acting in television in 1947 and didn't retire until 1997 after appearing in Jim Carrey's movie, Liar, Liar. He played the train's fireman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Some of his Western credits included Wichita Town, Rawhide, Wagon Train, Have Gun - Will Travel, Whispering Smith, The Dakotas, The Loner, Iron Horse, Dundee and the Culhane, Cimarron Strip, Death Valley Days, The Outcasts, The Virginian, The Guns of Will Sonnett, Alias Smith and Jones, Bonanza, and Gunsmoke.
	Lew Brown 1925 - 7/2014 The Badge Parsons	Lew Brown had a largely forgettable role in one of HC's few generally panned episodes, but he was a successful character actor in many TV series over 30 years. Starting in 1960 his Western credits alone included Maverick, Two Faces West, Outlaws, Have Gun - Will Travel, Laramie, Rawhide, Wild Wild West, Cimarron Strip, The Outcasts, Death Valley Days, The Virginian, Alias Smith & Jones, Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, and Gunsmoke
	Larry D. Mann 1922 - 1/2014 Spokes Tobin Boggs	Larry D. Mann started acting in 1952 and continued as an extremely prolific character actor through 1991. Best known for roles in The Sting and In the Heat of the Night he is credited in 159 productions in film and television. His Western credits include: The Dakotas, The Big Valley, Legend of Jesse James, Iron Horse, Shane, Here Come the Brides, Bonanza, The Wild Country, Gunsmoke, and How the West Was Won.
	Ruskin, Joseph 1924 - 2013 Lady Fair Ainsworth Pardee	A familiar character actor to many, Joseph Ruskin appeared in over 150 productions over a sixty-year career. Known to Star Trek fans for his numerous appearance on both the television and movie versions of Star Trek, he also appeared in Prizzi's Honor and The Scorpion King. His Western credits include: Bronco, Wanted Dead or Alive, Zane Grey Theater, Law of the Plainsman, Colt .45, The Magnificent Seven, Stagecoach West, Two Faces West, Outlaws, Tales of Wells Fargo, Lawman, Death Valley Days, The Dakotas, Gunsmoke, and The Wild, Wild West.
	Michael Ansara 1922 - 7/2013 For the Love of Carlos Alberto Ruis	Michael Ansara's film career covered over 50 years with his last roles as the voice of Mr. Freeze in the Batman animated movie and series. His first major role was as Cochise in the 1950's Western series, Broken Arrow. He appeared in numerous Westerns, often playing Native American and other ethnic roles. Besides The High Chaparral, his Western credits included Frontier Doctor, Zane Grey Theater, The Rifleman, Law of the Plainsman, The Rebel, The Westerner, The Comancheros, Tales of Wells Fargo, Wagon Train, Rawhide, Branded, Texas Across the River, The Virginian, Daniel Boone, Iron Horse, Gunsmoke, The Road West, Here Come the Brides, and Guns of the Magnificent Seven. His biggest sci-fi role was as Klingon commander Kang on three of the Star Trek series.
	Nate Esformes 1932 - 6/2013 An Anger Greater Than Mine Francisco	Nate Esformes was a writer and actor for more than 25 years. One of his first acting roles was on The Monkees in 1967. His movie credits include All the President's Men and Petulia. Even though his career began after the peak of the Western era, his Western roles included Iron Horse, The Virginian, Daniel Boone, The Wild Wild West, The Big Valley, and Billy the Kid.
	Val de Vargas 1935 - 6/2013 An Anger Greater Than Mine Rodrigo The New Lion of Sonora Rodrigo	Val de Vargas had the recurring role of Rodrigo, the foreman at Rancho Montoya. Best known for his roles in Hatari!, To Live and Die in L.A., Hellfighters, and Touch of Evil, he often played Latino heavies in an acting career that spanned nearly 50 years. His other Western credits included The Adventures of Jim Bowie, Colt .45, Broken Arrow, The Magnificent Seven, Tales of Wells Fargo, Rawhide, Bonanza, Daniel Boone, Cimarron Strip, Gunsmoke, Death Valley Days, and Kit Carson & the Mountain Men.
	Steve Forrest 1924 - 5/2013 The Guns of Johnny Rondo Johnny Rondo "Sixteen tried and sixteen died at the hands of Johnny Rondo. Now it’s over and done. You don’t need a gun. You’re headin’ west with your son, Johnny Rondo." From the song, The Guns of Johnny Rondo	Steve Forrest had a film career that spanned 60 years from the early forties to 2003. Perhaps best known for his seventies role as Hondo in the TV series, S.W.A.T., he also appeared in films such as Spies Like Us and Mommie Dearest. He guest starred in dozens of television series. Besides The High Chaparral, his Western credits include: Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Alias Smith and Jones, Cimarron Strip, Rawhide, The Virginian, Death Valley Days, and The Outlaws. He did a great job as the brooding Johnny Rondo, the only character on The High Chaparral to have his own theme song and lyrics!
	Malachi Throne 1928 - 3/2013 Bad Day for a Bad Man Matar The New Lion of Sonora Parts 1 & 2 Julio Armendaris	Malachi Throne attended HC Reunions and always treated his many fans with respect and affection. The power he brought to his villainous roles on HC was truly memorable. Malachi started acting on stage and television in the 1950's and was still working in productions in 2007. Besides The High Chaparral, his Western appearances included Death Valley Days, Rawhide, Iron Horse, The Big Valley (three times), Laredo, Jericho, The Wild, Wild West, and The Virginian. He turned down the role of Dr. McCoy in Star Trek, but guest starred several times in Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation.
	John Kerr 1931 - 1/2013 Sudden Country Creed Hallock	John Kerr came from a stage and film acting family and started acting on stage in the early 1950's. Probably best known as Lt. Joe Cable in the film version of South Pacific, he also starred in the stage and film versions of Tea and Sympathy. In the 1960's he decided to pursue a career in law, but continued to guest star in many television series throughout the seventies. Besides The High Chaparral, his Western credits include Rawhide, Gunsmoke, The Virginian, Wagon Train, Yuma, and Alias Smith & Jones. He also had regular recurring parts on Peyton Place and Streets of San Francisco.
	Charles Durning 1923 - 2012 The Reluctant Deputy Hewitt	One of Hollywood's greatest character actors, Charles Durning was just beginning his acting career when he played the perfect foil for Blue in "The Reluctant Deputy". With hundreds of film and TV appearances to his credit, his last production has not yet been released. Major films include The Sting, O Brother Where Art Thou, Evening Shade, North Dallas Forty, Breakheart Pass, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Hudsucker Proxy, Dog Day Afternoon, To Be or Not to Be, The Man with One Red Shoe, and Tootsie.
	Joaquin Martinez 1930 - 2012 Ghost of Chaparral Little Cloud The Promised Land Innocente A Way of Justice Louis Only the Bad Come to Sonora Peon	Joaquin had just completed his medical degree in Mexico when he put his medical career on hold to come to Hollywood where he made his television debut on HC in 1967. He never returned to medicine, but went on to appear in three more episodes on HC as well as do guest appearances in more than twenty other television shows and numerous feature films, including Jeremiah Johnson, Joe Kidd, The Cowboy Way, Ulzana's Raid, and Die Another Day. He played Antonio Banderas' father in The House of the Spirits. He started his own production company, Victoria Films International.
	Luke Askew 1932 - 2012 Shadow of the Wind Johnny Ringo	Luke Askew was fondly remembered by Bob Hoy, Don Collier, and others at the HC reunions. His role as Johnny Ringo was a significant one on HC. He had roles in nearly 100 TV and film productions over his forty-year career. Major roles included those in Easy Rider, Cool Hand Luke, Everwood, Will Penny, The Magnificent Seven Ride!, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, The Culpepper Cattle Co., Wanda Nevada, and The Greatest Game Ever Played.
	Warren Stevens 1919 - 2012 Best Man for the Job Captain Dabney	Many of us had the pleasure of meeting Warren Stevens at one of the Los Angeles reunions. He was certainly gracious and spoke very highly of his HC experience. Acting in dozens of films and hundreds of TV episodes since the early 1950's, his career spanned nearly six decades. He had multiple appearances on The Virginian, Mission: Impossible, Ironside, Bracken's World and others. Other Western appearances besides The Virginian included Tales of Wells Fargo, Laramie, Lawman, The Rebel, Wagon Train, The Dakotas, Gunsmoke, Have Gun - Will Travel, Rawhide, Death Valley Days, Daniel Boone, and Iron Horse.
	R. G. Armstrong 1917 - 2012 Wind Ed Henderson	Another of the great character actors whose career spanned five decades, his actual name was Robert Golden Armstrong. His films included El Dorado, My Name is Nobody, Children of the Corn, and Predator. He guest starred in many Westerns, including Bonanza, Rawhide, Death Valley Days, Gunsmoke, and Daniel Boone. Best known more recently for his recurring role in Friday the 13th.
	Garry Walberg 1921 - 2012 No Irish Need Apply O'Fierna The Lieutenant Sgt. Wilson It Takes a Smart Man Mike the Bartender	Another prolific character actor, probably best known for his regular role as Lt. Frank Monahan on Quincy M.E.. Garry started his acting career in the 1950's and was still acting well into the 1990's. Some of his other Westerns included Rawhide, The Rifleman, Tales of Wells Fargo, and Law of the Plainsman. He had a recurring role as Sgt. Goddard in Peyton Place and appeared in the 1976 version of King Kong.
	Pat Renella 1929 - 2012 Sangre Sangre	Pat Renella's acting career spanned more than thirty years, appearing frequently on many detective shows such as Mannix, Streets of San Francisco, Rockford Files, S.W.A.T., and Quincy M.E.. His most memorable feature film role was as Johnny Ross in Bullitt.
	Tony Epper 1938 - 2012 Auld Lang Syne Hanley	Son of Hollywood stuntman, John Epper, Tony has a long list of stunt credits to his name as well as acting roles. Active in both stunts and acting since the 1950's, his major cinema productions included those in Ulzana's Raid, The Cowboys, Lonesome Dove, The Rock, Con Air, Dracula, Thelma & Louise, Lethal Weapon 3, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. His television Western appearances included Daniel Boone, Iron Horse, Cimarron Strip, Gunsmoke, and The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang.
	Hal John Norman 1911 - 2011 For What We Are About to Receive Chief Koso	There is not much biographical information about Hal John Norman, but he appeared frequently playing Indian roles in the 1950's and 60's. His other Western appearances included Bonanza, Wagon Train, The Restless Gun, Tales of Wells Fargo, The Rifleman, The Tall Man, Rawhide, Shane, The Wild, Wild West, and Daniel Boone.
	Robert Broyles 1933 - 2011 The Badge Loosh	While "The Badge" was an awkward episode, mostly because Leif Erickson and Cameron Mitchell were too old to play their parts, the rest of the cast was outstanding. It included (besides Robert Broyles) Gary Busey (in his first credited role), Alan Oppenheimer, Jonathan Goldsmith, the great Morgan Woodward, and our own Henry Wills. Some of Rob's other roles were in Poltergeist, Close Encounters, Norma Rae, and Raise the Titanic.
	Leonard Stone 1923 - 2011 Ebenezer Stoop, the Bartender	Appearing in hundreds of television episodes and feature films, Leonard's career covered 50 years of Hollywood history. Notable film roles were in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and Soylent Green. He had recurring roles in many TV shows including Barney Miller, Quincy M.E., Alice, Falcon Crest, L.A. Law, Gunsmoke, Mannix, Dragnet, and Perry Mason. Some of his Western credits included The Rifleman, Rawhide, Hondo, Cimarron Strip, and The Virginian.
	Shelby Grant 1936 - 2011 Gold is Where You Leave It Dolly	Shelby's acting career was rather brief, from the early 1960's to the early 1970's. She was the wife of actor Chad Everett. She appeared in the films, Fantastic Voyage and Our Man Flint as well as several TV productions including Medical Center, Marcus Welby, Batman, and Bonanza.
	Don Diamond 1921 - 2011 To Stand for Something More Miguel	Don's acting career spanned forty years, beginning in radio in the 1940's and moving into television in the 1950's. He appeared in numerous early TV shows including The Adventures of Kit Carson, Death Valley Days, Zorro, Adventures of Superman, the Lone Ranger, Zane Grey Theater, and Wyatt Earp. He had a recurring role on F Troop as Crazy Cat and appeared with Spencer Tracy in the film, The Old Man and the Sea.
Note: There are certainly other HC Guest Stars whose passing is not widely known and therefore has not been posted on IMDB. If you know of any whose passing has not been noted on their guest star page, please let me know so that I can rectify it. Thanks, Charlotte