Dan Blocker was a unique and respected member of the acting community. Known mainly as Hoss from Bonanza, many who knew him said that there were a number of similarities between Dan Blocker the man and Hoss Cartwright the character. Let’s have a look at the career of Dan Blocker. Blocker’s death in 1972 prevented him from staying with Bonanza for it’s entire run as the series lasted one more year ending in 1973. Hoss was much beloved on the show and many say the episodes without him did not have as much “heart” as those episodes where he was present. Blocker played Hoss Cartwright in 389 episodes of Bonanza, quite an achievement.While known of course for the role of Hoss Cartwright, Blocker has a TV western pedigree that few others can match. A look at some of the TV westerns that he is credited with appearing in:

Cheyenne
Sheriff of Cochise
Tales of Wells Fargo
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
Colt .45
Zane Grey Theater
Wagon Train
Sugarfoot
Have Gun, Will Travel
Jefferson Drum
Gunsmoke
Zorro
Cimarron City
Maverick
The Rifleman
The Restless Gun
The Rebel
Troubleshooters
and of course… Bonanza

When you appear in 19 different TV western series, it would be hard to say you hadn’t made your mark on the genre.

Keep in mind that this is also just looking at Dan Blocker’s acting career… he was also at different times a teacher and rodeo performer.

Dan Blocker, one of the greats.