The only major actors still alive from the Virginian

After “gunsmoke” prepared the way for western adults on televisionThe sluice gates opened with each network trying to ride the wave success with Oaters themselves as “Rawhide,” “Bonanza,” and “Wagon Train.” The chief among them was “The Virginian,” which holds the honor of being the third longest -running network of the west of the West ever. The NBC series ran for nine seasons and 249 episodes between 1962 and 1971. The difference it has over most of its Cowboy TV counterparts is that it was the first western 90 -minute series, with chapters running for 75 minutes along with ads.

Based freely on the 1902 novel Owen Wister “The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains,” “The Virginian” has been modified four times in feature movies, with The version starring Gary Cooper who was considered among his best films. Nearly three decades later, James Drury performed a test drive for the character in a 1958 chapter of the half -hour anthology series “Decision.” Many changes have been made to this version of the character; Originally, by the sympathy of conspedition, it became the Wyoming home for the Shiloh Ranch. Throughout its nine -season run, the Virginian title would never ever have a back name or storage, and would often work under a portion of ranch owners.

The late 19th century west would alternate his Cast Roster across his life. Unfortunately, most of the cast have died in the time since its cancellation in the early ’70s. Charles Bickford (John Grainger) was the only cast member to pass while the show was on the air, after dying from pneumonia in 1967 at the age of 76. After canceling the show, Lee J. Cobb (Judge Garth) surrendered to a heart attack in 1976 at the age of 64. John McIntire (Clay Grainger) became ill with emphysema and died in 1991 at the age of 83. Doug McClure (Trampas) died of lung cancer a few years later in 1995 at the age of 59. Series leader James Drury (the Virginian) of natural causes in 2020 died at the age of 85, as did Clu Gulager (Sheriff Ryker) in 2022 at 93. Sara Lane (Elizabeth Grainger) was the latest “Virginian” alum to pass away at the time of writing, after dying of breast cancer aged 2023.

As it would happen, however, given the rotation of the actors of the series, there are still quite a few students from “The Virginian” who are still staying with us.

Gary Clarke appeared throughout the first few years on “The Virginian” as Steve Hill, a good friend to Trampas McClure and the hand of Ranch Titular Drury. The character would be a major support in the first two seasons, becoming a guest star in the third season, and then eventually leaving the show with 63 episodes under his belt. Clarke’s lot of time was spent in the industry making guest spaces on series such as “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Laramie,” “Wagon Train,” “Gunsmoke,” “Cannon,” “Dynasty,” and “The A-Team,” among other countless others. He also had circular roles on the Parodi Spy series “Get Smart” (also wrote six episodes), TV version oft-Morgotten of the movie John Wayne “Hondo,” and detective drama “Michael Shayne,” which included the largest amount of episodes of any shows he has been involved in since “The Virginian.” Clarke’s TV output would slow down once the ’90s came around.

When he came to the silver screen, Clarke starred overall in B movies and exploited photos. His first flagship role was in the “Dragstrip Riot” film in 1958, but usually appeared in a supporting function with a low budget price as “how to make a monster,” “” missile to the Moo, “” Cat-Women of the Moon, “” Date Bait “and” Dance P. Wilde “Wird Play” wird geeanke in George. Paperboy, “with his latest role to date is the Indie 2025 horror thriller called” House of Abraham “alongside Lin Shaye’s” Insidious “star.

Clarke also had a short -lived music career in 1962 with the single “Tomorrow May Never Come” for RCA Victor Records, as well as releasing a cover of the “Virginian” themed song the following year for Decca Records.

It is mainly known that “The Virginian” has many male leaders, who made Roberta Shore’s presence as one of the few female leaders even more. For the first four seasons, Betsy, a young girl who adopted Judge Lee J. Cobb Garth. Betsy was often cared for by Clarke’s Trampas Steve and McClure, who would come to their help in troublesome times. Eventually, Shore left the series only a few chapters into season 4; Her final chapter was “The Awakening,” where her marriage prompted her minister of her move in the universe from the Shiloh Ranch after 70 chapters.

Before “The Virginian,” Shore initially went by her birth name, Roberta Jymme Schourop, and sang with country-western singer Tex Williams at his show at Knott’s Berry Farm at just 10 years old. The young star would eventually find his way to the television space with circular roles on “Annette,” “Father Know Best,” “The Mickey Mouse Club” (though not like Mousketeer), “The Bob Cummings Show,” and “The Adventures Ozzie and Harriet.” In addition, he would make some one -off appearances on shows like “Maverick,” “The Donna Reed Show,” and “Laramie.”

1959 was a busy year for the Shore, as its big screen output featured Disney Animal Comedy “The Shaggy Dog,” a film adaptation of the Broadway Show “Blue Denim,” and Phaseo in the romantic drama “and Summer Place.” It is also worth noting that she has an undulated role in A provocative adjustment 1962 Stanley Kubrick of “Lolita.”

Once Shore left “The Virginian” in 1965, however, she was also saying goodbye to the industry as a whole was just 21 to become Formon and building her family over the remaining decades. Shore’s last known screen credit is “The Book of Mormon Movie, Volume 1: The Journey.”

For the second, third, and fourth season “The Virginian,” Randy Boone Randy Benton played a ranch hand that would feel lost without his guitar. The character was considered to replace Gary Clarke. Boone went on the show by leaving college and hitchhiking throughout the United States, playing his guitar. His ultimate talents were discovered in 1962 when he was cast on the NBC’s “It’s a Man’s World” DRIMYDY series as Vern, a college student who lives on a house boat in the Ohio River.

Boone named some guest spots on “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour,” “The Twilight Zone,” and “Wagon Train” before landing the role of Benton. After playing the Ranch Singing for 70 episodes on “The Virginian,” Boone made once and for all appearances on “Combat!,” “Bonanza,” “Hondo,” “Gunsmoke,” “” Kung Fu, “” “” “” Kung Fu, Fu, “” Kaddak: The Night Stelker “and the Michael Landon Angelic” Highway to Highway “Highway” Highway. “

The only other TV series Boone had himself was the Western CBS “Cimarron Strip” with Stuart Whitman in 1967 as correspondent Francis Wilde. Boone’s last known screen credit is operating comedy in 1987 directed by Beau Bridges called “The Wild Pair,” and has not been involved in the industry since.

Don Quine joined “The Virginian” for the fifth and sixth season of the show as Stacey Grainger, grandson of John Grainger, who would often be considered a big brother figure by Elizabeth Sara Lane. When he came to Quine’s acting career, he mainly clung to the television, banning the odd TV film here and there. Like most actors, he made guest appearances on shows like “Rawhide,” “Dr. Kildare,” “The Fugitive,” “The FBI,” “Lancer,” and “Hawaii Five-0.” Apart from “The Virginian,” his only other circular role was Joe Chernak on the late 60s soap opera “Peyton Place.”

Outside his acting career, Quine brought kick-boxing to American audiences by co-establishing the Professional Karate Society (PKA) in 1974. Since then there are author books like “American Karate” and “Killer Payback,” the first in a series of books called “Venture’s Nest.”