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The Journey Back
Episode 115
Writer: Herman Groves
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Original Air Date 10/30/1961

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Chris Alcaide as Will Carney
Chris Alcaide

Chris Alcaide made ten appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying different characters in each episode.  He is best known for his roles in westerns, having appeared in over 400 television western programs.  Alcaide, a veteran character actor of great range and talent appeared in a wide variety of projects, including "The Glass Menagerie," "The Wild One" with Marlon Brando, "Assassination" with Charles Bronson and "Kid Galahad" with Elvis Presley.  Other movie credits include "The Miami Story," "Gunslinger," "Miami Expose," "The 49th Man," "Massacre Canyon" and "Rock All Night."

John Anderson as Will Temple
John Anderson

John Anderson was an American actor who had a prolific career in both film and television spanning four decades.  He appeared in over 500 roles in film and television, frequently appearing in recurring roles, including in "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964).  Anderson is perhaps best remembered for his television role as Harry Jackson, MacGyver's grandfather, in the popular Richard Dean Anderson series.  Anderson portrayed President Abraham Lincoln twice, in "The Lincoln Conspiracy" (1977) and in the series "The Voyagers!" (1980), and he portrayed President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the 1979 mini-series "Backstairs at the White House."  Among his many film roles, he appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 classic horror film, "Psycho," Sam Peckinpah's 1962 iconic western, "Ride the High Country," John Sturges's 1965 western spoof, "The Hallelujah Trail," and John Sayles' 1988 chronicles of baseball's 1919 World Series scandal, "Eight Men Out."  Anderson also co-starred with Chuck Connors in the 1962 film, "Geronimo."

Anderson made eleven guest appearances in all five seasons of THE RIFLEMAN, playing a different character in each episode.  He portrayed Owny in "The Retired Gun" (episode 17), Chet Packard in "Shivaree" (episode 19), Eli Flack in "The Hawk" (episode 29), Sully Hobbs in "The Patsy" (episode 41) , Cass Callicott in "Day of the Hunter" (episode 55), Jess in "Mail Order Groom" (episode 56), John Beaumont in "Shotgun Man" (episode 69), Hank Clay in "Face of Yesterday" (episode 95), Will Temple in "The Journey Back" (episode 115), John Gangling in "Incident At Line Shack Six" (episode 156), and Sam Gibbs in "Old Man Running" (episode 166).

Harry Carey, Jr. as Lt. Bond

Harry Carey, Jr. is a prolific American film and television character actor.  He has appeared in more than 150 movies and television shows in a career spanning 65 years.  He has been a familiar fixture in westerns, but has appeared in a wide range of genres, from popular series of the 1960s, including the crime drama series "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), to cult classic films of the 1980s, including "Gremlins" (1984), in which he played Mr. Anderson, and "Back to the Future Part III" (1990), in which he made a cameo appearance as a saloon old-timer.  Carey and his father both appeared in the classic Howard Hawks western, "Red River" (1948); although, they did not share any scenes together.  He also was associated with the so-called John Ford Stock Company, appearing in many of the legendary director's films, including "3 Godfathers" (1948), "Wagon Master" (1950), "Rio Grande" (1950), "The Long Gray Line" (1955) and "Cheyenne Autumn" (1964).

Carey appeared in virtually every major western series of his era; although, he is perhaps most often recognized for his recurring role as Bill Burnett in the original, as well as the movie and the various reboots of "The Adventures of Spin and Marty" (1955).  He appeared in "Lawman" (1958–1962), "Laramie" (1959–1963), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), "Bonanza" (1959–1973), "The Virginian" (1962–1971) and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975).  Carey made two guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Lt. Paul Rolfe in "The Deserter" (episode 65) and Lieutenant Vaughn in "The Journey Back" (episode 115).  In 1987, Carey received a Golden Boot for his contributions to the western genre, and in 2003, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Carey also has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Mel Carter as Arnie Grady
Mel Carter

Mel Carter made eight guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying different characters in each episode.  He played an outlaw on "End of a Young Gun" (episode 3), Walkerman in "The Safe Guard" (episode 8), a cowhand in "The Challenge" (episode 28), Jed Healy in "The Woman" (episode 32), Arnie Grady in "The Journey Back" (episode 115), Jeems in "Outlaw's Shoes" (episode 141), George Vale's partner Bo Jackman in "Lou Mallory" (episode 145), and Mark Jones in "Death Never Rides Alone" (episode 147).  Carter appeared in many television shows from the late 1950's through late 1980's.  In 1987, he co-starred with Chuck Connors in "Werewolf," an episode of the "Father Jude" series.

John Milford as Jess Grady
John Milford

John Milford was an American actor, whose long career, primarily in television, included more than 164 acting roles spanning five decades.  His first big break came with an uncredited appearance in the 1956 Oscar awarding winning film "Marty," starring Ernest Borgnine.  Milford appeared in every television genre, from crime dramas, including "The F.B.I." (1965–1974) and "Mannix" (1967–1975), among many others, to sci-fi adventures, including "The Six Million Dollar Man" (1974–1978) and its spin-off "The Bionic Woman" (1976–1978).  He appeared in many of the most popular series of their eras, including the sci-fi thriller "The Invaders" (1967–1968), sci-fi mini-series "The Planet of the Apes (1974), the family dramas "Little House on the Prairie" (1974–1983) and "Highway to Heaven" (1984–1989), and the sci-fi mystery "The X-Files" (1993–2002).

Milford played recurring roles in several series, including Ike Clanton for one season in "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961), Sgt. Kagey in "The Lieutenant" (1963–1964), Lt. Paul Hewitt in "The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" (1969–1972), and a co-starring role as Captain Dempsey in the action comedy "Enos" (1980–1981).  In addition to the Wyatt Earp series, Milford appeared in many of the most popular western series of the 1950s through '70s, including "Bonanza" (1959–1973), "The Virginian" (1962–1971) and "The Big Valley" (1965–1969).

John Milford made eleven appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Ross Porter in "The Blowout" (episode 43), Dub in "The Coward" (episode 53), Jonas Winters in "The Horsetraders" (episode 60), Bro Hadley in "A Time for Singing" (episode 64), Morgan in "Meeting at Midnight" (episode 74), Marsh Watson in "The Pitchman" (episode 80), Hadley in "Baranca" (episode 82), Jack Solby in "Dark Day at North Fork" (episode 100), Reade in "The Clarence Bibs Story" (episode 104), Jess Grady in "The Journey Back" (episode 115) and Lt. Price in "The Assailants" (episode 149).  Milford also appeared in two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN spin-off "Law of the Plainsman" (1959–1960).

Milford ran the Chamber Theatre on Cahuenga Blvd. West in Hollywood, where he helped many young actors get a start in the entertainment industry.  He is also credited with the original design for the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Arlyne Varden as Angie, the Waitress

Arlyne Varden appeared in just three movies and television shows during a 20-year period.  She had minor parts in the musical comedy "Louisiana Purchase" (1941), starring Bob Hope and Vera Zorina, and the musical drama "Lady in the Dark" (1944), starring Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland and Warner Baxter.  She made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying the waitress Angie in "The Decision" (episode 116).


A new neighbor of the McCains, Will Temple, gives Mark a job on his ranch.  Mark is curious about Will's reluctance to talk about his past or about the unsightly burn scar on his face.  When an Army lieutenant comes to the McCain ranch looking for a deserter who fits Will's description, Mark is convinced that his new friend Will is a wanted man.  When the Lieutenant is found murdered, Mark confronts Will with his suspicions and is amazed and relieved when he learns the true story.