Status of Our Hartland Western Heroes

Text & Photographs Copyright Mike Jackson 1998-2008
In January of 2003, Richard Simmons passed away. The event was noted on the Western Bulletin Board. Immediately following that post, a group of collectors helped me complete a listing of the status of the TV stars who appeared in our favorite '50s westerns. I have created this chart to help compile all the information into a single, useable document—filled with dates supplied by the collectors.
Special thanks to: Joe Borejko, Jack Canning, Tim Campbell, Lonnie Chapman, Andy Bilodeau, Richard Gelles, Rick Stough, and others.

HORSE AND RIDERS
Show
Name		 Star’s
Name		 Figure’s Name Show Year Status Brochure
Years
The Lone
Ranger		 Clayton
Moore		 Lone
Ranger		 1949-
1957		 Died
1999		 1955-1962
The Roy
Rogers
Show		 Dale
Evans		 Dale Evans 1951-
1957		 Died
2001		 1955-1961
Sergent Preston
of the Yukon		 Richard
Simmons		 Sgt. Preston 1955-
1958		 Died
2003		 1958-1961
The Lone
Ranger		 Jay
Silverheels		 Tonto 1949-
1957		 Died
1980		 1955-1962
The Roy
Rogers
Show		 Roy
Rogers		 Roy Rogers 1951-
1957		 Died
1998		 1955-1963
Davy
Crockett
(series)		 Fess
Parker		 Davy
Crockett		 1954-
1955		 Living 1956
(The Life and Legend of) Wyatt Earp Hugh
O’Brian		 Wyatt
Earp		 1955-
1961		 Living 1956-1963
Brave
Eagle		 Keith
Larson		 Brave
Eagle		 1955-
1956		 Living 1957-1961
Broken
Arrow		 Michael
Ansara		 Cochise 1956-
1958		 Living 1957-1961
The Adventures of Jim Bowie Scott
Forbes		 Jim Bowie 1956-
1958		 Died
1997		 1957-1961
Cheyenne Clint
Walker		 Cheyenne 1955-
1963		 Living 1957-1963
Show
Name		 Star’s
Name		 Figure’s
Name		 Show
Years		 Status Brochure
Years
Broken
Arrow		 John
Lupton		 Tom
Jeffords		 1956-
1958		 1993? 1958-1961
Gunsmoke James
Arness		 Matt Dillon 1955-
1975		 Living 1958-1963
Annie
Oakley		 Gail
Davis		 Annie
Oakley		 1952-
1956		 Died
1997		 1958-1961
Wagon
Train		 Ward Bond Major
Seth Adams		 1957-
1962		 Died
1961		 1958-1961
Trackdown Robert
Culp		 Hoby Gilman 1957-
1959		 Living 1959-1961
The
Rifleman		 Chuck
Conners		 Lucas
McCain		 1958-
1963		 Died
1992		 1960-1961
The Texan Rory
Calhoun		 Bill Longley 1958-
1960		 Died
1999		 1959-1961
Wanted-
Dead or
Alive		 Steve
McQueen		 Josh Randall 1958-
1961		 Died
1980		 1959-1961
Mackenzie’s
Raiders		 Richard
Carlson		 Ranald
Mackenzie		 1958 Died
1977		 1959-1961
Show
Name		 Star’s
Name		 Figure’s
Name		 Show
Year		 Status Brochure
Years
Rawhide Eric
Fleming		 Gil Favor 1959-
1966		 Died
1966		 1960-1963
The Rebel Nick
Adams		 Johnny
Yuma		 1959-
1961		 Died
1968		 1962-1963
Maverick James
Garner		 Bret
Maverick		 1957-
1962		 Living 1960-1963
Tales of
Wells Fargo		 Dale
Robertson		 Jim Hardie 1957-
1962		 Living 1959-1963
Have Gun
Will Travel		 Richard
Boone		 Paladin 1957-
1963		 Died
1981		 1959-1963

GUNFIGHTERS
Show
Name		 Star’s
Name		 Figure’s Name Show Year Status Brochure
Years
(The Life and Legend of) Wyatt Earp Hugh
O’Brian		 Wyatt
Earp		 1955-
1961		 Living 1958-1961
Colt 45 Wade
Preston /
Donald May		 Chris
Colt		 1957-
1960		 1992
/
?		 1958-1961
Maverick James
Garner		 Bret
Maverick		 1957-
1962		 Living 1958-1961
Tombstone
Territory		 Pat
Conway		 Clay
Hollister		 1957-
1959		 Died
1981		 1958-1961
Tales of
Wells Fargo		 Dale
Robertson		 Jim
Hardie		 1957-
1962		 Living 1958-1961
Restless
Gun		 John
Payne		 Vint
Bonner		 1957-
1959		 Died
1987		 1959-1961
Have Gun
Will Travel		 Richard
Boone		 Paladin 1957-
1963		 Died
1981		 1959-1961
The
Lawman		 John
Russell		 Dan
Troop		 1958-
1962		 Died
1991		 1959-1961
The
Lawman		 Peter
Brown		 Johnny
McKay		 1958-
1962		 Living 1959-1961
Bat
Masterson		 Gene
Barry		 Bat
Masterson		 1958-
1962		 Living 1959-1961
If you see any mistakes or incorrect dates, please let me know!
This page last modified Friday, October 19, 2007