Bonanza Cast Member Leaves Behind A Truly Bewildering Legacy
Think of Lorne Greene, Michael Landon and Dan Blocker, and immediately you picture the Cartwright family on the Ponderosa, right? Bonanza was such a phenomenon in the 1960s that it’s hard to separate the men from their characters. Yet these actors probably didn’t want their legacies to be just about their time in a beloved TV show. So perhaps that’s why one of them spent his life behind the scenes doing the most unexpected things.
Hoss Cartwright
You’ll remember, of course, that Dan Blocker played Eric “Hoss” Cartwright. Hoss was the middle Cartwright brother and the dictionary definition of a “gentle giant.” He was undoubtedly a favorite with Bonanza fans – and Blocker became synonymous with the role for his entire career. Behind the scenes, though, the star was a very different person.
Not so simple
Don’t get us wrong: we’re not saying Blocker was a bad man. Quite the opposite! The actor even told Cactus Pryor in a 1965 interview that he and Hoss were “both happy men.” But whereas Hoss was seen as “simple-minded,” Blocker was anything but. And his legacy away from the Ponderosa ranch proves that.
An educated man
There’s nothing that highlights the difference between Hoss the character and Blocker the actor than Blocker’s educational background. The man got both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Sul Ross State University as well as serving in the Korean War. He then started a Ph.D. course in Los Angeles – and quickly began shaping the minds of America’s youth.
In the classroom
Yes, the real-life Hoss Cartwright spent his early career teaching kids. Blocker taught English and drama at a high school in Texas before teaching sixth-grade kids in New Mexico. And even as he started to become a pro actor, he still spent time as a substitute in Los Angeles. That path wouldn’t prove to be his biggest legacy, though.
