Lorne Greene, the actor who anchored Bonanza as patriarch Ben Cartwright for all 14 seasons, died on September 11, 1987, at the age of 72. The cause was complications from pneumonia following surgery for an ulcer. Before becoming one of television’s most beloved father figures, Greene was known in Canada as “the voice of doom” for his grim radio broadcasts of World War II news. His deep, commanding tone made him a natural fit for Ben Cartwright, a role he played in nearly 400 episodes from 1959 to 1973.
Greene’s character was defined not by violence but by integrity and wisdom. Cast and crew described him as a calming presence on set, and Michael Landon later called him a father figure in more than one way. After Bonanza ended, Greene hosted documentaries, released spoken-word albums, and returned to primetime in 1978 as Commander Adama in Battlestar Galactica. Michael Landon, who played youngest son Little Joe, joined Bonanza at just 22 years old.
Over 14 seasons, he became a household name not only for his looks but for the emotional depth he brought to the role. He also wrote and directed episodes, including the tribute episode “Forever” written after the death of Dan Blocker. After Bonanza, Landon created and starred in Little House on the Prairie and later Highway to Heaven, playing characters defined by compassion and resilience. In April 1991, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
He went public with his battle, appearing on The Tonight Show to speak openly about the disease. He died just three months later, on July 1, 1991, at the age of 54. Dan Blocker, who played middle brother Hoss, was born in Texas in 1928 and reportedly weighed 14 pounds at birth, making him the largest baby ever born in Bowie County. Before acting, he served in the Korean War and earned a Purple Heart.
He later pursued a master’s degree in theater and taught school before turning to television. Blocker brought warmth and humanity to the Western genre, turning what could have been a one-dimensional big-guy role into a beloved character. In May 1972, he entered the hospital for routine gallbladder surgery and suffered a pulmonary embolism afterward. He died at just 43 years old.
His death was never directly addressed on the show. His character was not recast, and the episode “Forever,” written by Landon, became a subtle tribute. Bonanza struggled to recover and came to a close one year later after 14 seasons. Blocker’s son, Dirk Blocker, later became known for his role on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Pernell Roberts, who played eldest son Adam, joined Bonanza in 1959 with a strong background in Shakespearean theater. He grew disillusioned with the show, criticizing the scripts as formulaic and objecting to limited roles for minorities. He left in 1965 after six seasons, becoming one of the first actors to walk away from a hit series at its peak. Roberts later returned to prominence as Dr.
Trapper John McIntyre in Trapper John, M. D. , which ran for seven seasons. He rarely gave interviews and avoided Bonanza reunions.
He died in 2010 at the age of 81 from pancreatic cancer, the same illness that claimed Michael Landon. Victor Sen Yung, who played beloved housekeeper and cook Hop Sing, appeared in over 100 episodes. Born in San Francisco in 1915, he studied animal husbandry before stumbling into acting in the 1930s. His breakout came in the Charlie Chan films, where he played detective’s son Jimmy Chan.
Despite his talent, Sen Yung was often confined to stereotypical roles due to Hollywood’s racism. He was an accomplished chef who wrote The Great Wok Cookbook. In October 1980, police found him dead in his North Hollywood home. The cause was carbon monoxide poisoning from a malfunctioning gas heater.
He was 65. Ray Teal played Sheriff Roy Coffee in over 90 episodes. Born in 1902, he began his career as a musician before transitioning to film in the 1930s. His character resolved conflict with reason rather than force, offering viewers a rare example of measured masculinity in a Western.
Teal died on April 2, 1976, at the age of 74. David Canary joined the series in 1967 as Candy Canaday, a foreman who became family to the Cartwrights. He left briefly due to contract disputes, but viewer backlash brought him back for the final season. After Bonanza, he became a daytime television legend on All My Children, playing dual roles that earned him five Daytime Emmy Awards.
He died on November 16, 2015, at the age of 77. Bing Russell played Deputy Clem Foster in over 50 episodes. Born in Vermont in 1926, he balanced Hollywood with baseball, having been a bat boy for the New York Yankees in the 1930s. He founded the Portland Mavericks, an independent baseball team, and mentored his son Kurt Russell.
His story was told in the 2014 documentary The Battered Bastards of Baseball. He died on April 8, 2003, at age 76. Roy Engel played Doc Martin in 18 episodes between 1961 and 1969. Born in 1901, he had a long career in radio, film, and television.
He died on September 29, 1980, at age 70. Bruno VeSota, who played bartenders and shopkeepers, died in 1976 at age 54. Harry Holcombe, who later portrayed Doc Martin, died in 1987 at age 80.
