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Sheer Terror
Episode 113
Writer: Arthur Browne, Jr.
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Original Air Date 10/16/1961

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Tommy Cook as Andy Carr

Tommy Cook is an American television and film actor who has appeared in 90 movies and television shows in a career spanning nearly 45 years.  He made his acting debut in the western film "Adventures of Red Ryder" (1940), portraying Little Beaver.  Cook has appeared in various crime dramas, including "Dragnet" (1951–1959), "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" (1957–1960), "The Untouchables" (1959–1963) and "Perry Mason" (1957–1966).  In addition to television, he has been in a few films, including playing leading roles in the crime dramas "The Viscious Years" (1950) and "Teen-Age Crime Wave" (1955).  Cook also appeared in the noir film "Panic in the Streets" (1950), directed by Elia Kazan.  Cook guest-starred in one episode of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Andy Carr in "Sheer Terror" (episode 113).  He also made guest appearances in other westerns, including "Adventures of Wild Bill Hickock" (1951–1958) and "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961).

Bruce Hayward as Oliver, the Stagecoach Driver

Bruce Hayward made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying the stagecoach driver in "Sheer Terror" (episode 113).

Charles Macauley as Sloan

Charles Macauley was an American film and television actor.  He appeared in more than 70 movies and television shows during a career spanning more than 30 years.  He had a few memorable film roles, including Admiral Herb Corrigan in the disaster film "Airport '77" (1977), starring Jack Lemmon, James Stewart, Joseph Cotten, Christopher Lee and Olivia Havilland; and the President of the United States in the Ron Howard romantic comedy "Splash" (1984), starring Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, John Candy, Eugene Levy and Dody Goodman; in addition to various roles in several made-for-TV Perry Mason films.

Macauley guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1960s through the 80s, including the medical drama "Dr. Kildare" (1961–1966), the war drama "Combat!" (1962–1967), the crime dramas "Arrest and Trial" (1963–1964) and "Ironside" (1967–1975), the espionage series "I Spy" (1965–1968) and "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973), the science fiction series "Star Trek" (1966–1969), the adventure drama "It Takes a Thief" (1968–1970), the western action adventure "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969), the detective series "Cannon" (1971–1976) and the Aaron Spelling fantasy series "Fantasy Island" (1977–1984).  He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Sloan in "Sheer Terror" (episode 113).  He also guest-starred in the westerns "Daniel Boone" (1964–1970), starring Fess Parker, and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness.

Joan Taylor as Milly Scott, Owner of the General Store
Joan Taylor as Milly Scott, Owner of the General S

Joan Taylor was an American actress born to a family in the entertainment business.  Her mother, Amelia Berky, was a vaudeville dancer and singer in the 1920s.  Her father operated a movie theater, which inspired in her an abiding interest in the movies from an early age.  Taylor came to Hollywood in 1946 and worked on the stage at the Pasadena Playhouse for four years.  Discovered by Victor Jory when she played Regina in "Another Part of the Forest," she was contracted to Paramount Studios where she appeared in several Western pictures.  She guest-starred in numerous television series in the 1950s and early 60s, retiring from acting in 1962.

Taylor appeared in 18 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN between 1960 and 1962, playing Milly Scott, Owner of the General Store, which she bought from Hattie Denton.  An attractive young woman who figured as a love interest for Lucas McCain, her character was introduced in "Miss Milly" (episode 84).

Harlan Warde as John Hamilton, President of the North Fork Bank
Harlan Warde as John Hamilton, President of the No

Harlan Warde was an American actor who appeared in 180 films and television series over a 40 year career.  Most of his early film roles were uncredited.  He appeared in 18 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying John Hamilton, President of the North Fork Bank.  His character debuted in "The Safeguard" (episode 8).   Warde had recurring roles in other television series, many in the Western genre.  Among his many other TV credits, he also appeared in "Dragnet" ( 1954), "You Are There" (1953–1956), "Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre" (1955 1957), "Perry Mason" (1958–1966), "The Virginian" (1962–1971), "Bonanza" (1962–1972), "The Big Valley" (1965–1969) and "The Fugitive" (1966 1967).

Paul Wexler as Harris

Paul Wexler was an American character actor of film and television who appeared in 60 movies and television shows during his 30-year career.  Tall and physically imposing, with a deep baritone voice, he was well-suited to play sinister characters and villains.  He made his film debut in the Bowery Boys comedy "Feudin' Fools" (1952), and his most notable film roles were Deputy Sheriff Slim Adams in the film noir thriller "Suddenly" (1954), starring Frank Sinatra and Hayden Sterling, and the arch villain Captain Seas in the adventure film "Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze" (1975), starring Ron Ely.  Most of his other film roles were minor, including an uncredited role in the Cecile B. DeMille Bible epic "The Ten Commandments" (1956), starring an all-star ensemble cast led by Charlton Heston; one of the voices in the Disney animated feature "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" (1961), starring Rod Taylor, Betty Lou Gerson and J. Pat O'Malley in the leading roles; and an uncredited role in the western "The Way West" (1967), starring Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum and Richard Widmark.

Wexler guest-starred in some of the most popular television shows of the 1950s through the 70s, including the long-running family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974), the Buck Henry spy spoof "Get Smart" (1965–1970), the police drama "Police Woman" (1974–1978) and the Aaron Spelling detective series "Charlie's Angels" (1976–1981).  Wexler made four appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Cleek Watson in "The Pitchman" (episode 80), Les Foster in "The Queue" (episode 110), Harris in "Sheer Terror" (episode 113) and Joe Weiden in "Outlaw's Shoes" (episode 141).  He guest-starred in several other popular westerns, including "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975), hosted by Robert Taylor, "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen, "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), starring Hugh O'Brian, "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), starring Dale Robertson, "The Guns of Will Sonnett" (1967–1969), starring Walter Brennan and Dack Rambo, and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness.


The McCains' good friend Milly is held prisoner, along with young Mark McCain, in her own general store when two gunmen attempt a daring robbery.  Knowing that the North Fork Stagecoach will be carrying $50,000 in cash and will be making a stop in North Fork, they plan to use Milly's store as headquarters to ambush the stage and steal the money.  Milly's quick thinking alerts Lucas and the Marshal in time to prevent the theft.