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I Take This Woman
Episode 148
Writer: David P. Harmon
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Original Air Date 11/05/1962

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Patricia Blair as Lou Mallory, Owner of the General Store and the Madera House Hotel
Patricia Blair as Lou Mallory with Chuck Connors a

Patricia Blair was an American television actress whose career was active primarily in the 1950s and 1960s.   The Texas-born beauty began her career as a teenage model who went on to apprentice in summer stock before being discovered by Warner Bros.  She began acting in films under the names Patricia Blake and Pat Blake.   She appeared in a few films, including "Jump Into Hell" (1955), "Crime Against Joe" (1956) and "The Black Sleep" (1956), which reunited screen icons of the horror film genre Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., Basil Rathbone and John Carradine.   She also appeared in the suspense thriller "City of Fear" (1959), starring Vince Edwards.  She portrayed the Fashion Narrator in the Robert Redford romantic western "The Electric Horseman" (1979), co-starring Jane Fonda.

In 1962, Blair replaced actress Joan Taylor in a semi-regular role as Lou Mallory, Chuck Connor's love interest in the last season of THE RIFLEMAN.  Blair played the attractive red-haired, fiery Irish businesswoman, whose character was savvy Landowner and Owner of the General Store and the Madera House Hotel.  Blair's character of Lou Mallory appeared in 17 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN; she debuted in the title role of episode 145.  Blair also made guest television appearances on "The Bob Cummings Show" (1955–1959), "The Virginian" (1962–1971), "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), "Bonanza" (1959–1973), and she co-starred in "Daniel Boone" (1964–1970), playing wife Rebecca Boone opposite Fess Parker.   She also had a recurring role as Goldy in the western adventure series "Yancy Derringer" (1958–1959). 

Charles Cooper as Larsen, the Bartender

Charles Cooper made four guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying different characters in each episode. He played Hank Fulton in "End of a Young Gun" (episode 3), Rudy Crofts in "The Stand-In" (episode 114), Matt Yordy in "Honest Abe" (episode 118), and Larsen, the Bartender in "I Take This Woman" (episode 148).

Joe Higgins as Nils Swenson
Joe Higgins as Nils Swenson

Joe Higgins was an American actor working primarily in television and commercials from the 1960's through the 1980's.  His acting career began at age nine and while attending the University of Dayton in Ohio, he worked in radio.  He became a prolific character actor who often portrayed a sheriff in commercials, public service announcements and in print ads.  He won the CLIO award on two occasions for his acting in commercials.  His portrayal as a sheriff, "You in a heap o' trouble, boy!," in a series of memorable Dodge car commercials in the 1970's became his iconic signature role.

Higgins appeared in four episodes of THE RIFLEMAN playing different characters, and he played the semi-regular character, Nils Swenson, the Blacksmith, in 16 episodes.  He played recurring roles on other television series in addition to THE RIFLEMAN, including "Arrest and Trial" and later, he co-starred again with Chuck Connors in "Flipper" and "Geronimo."

Sean McClory as Dennis O'Flarrety

Sean McClory, born Sean Joseph McClory, was an Irish film and television actor.  He appeared in more than 130 movies and television shows during a career spanning nearly 50 years.  He had many film roles, including uncredited parts in the drama "The Glass Menagerie" (1950), starring Jane Wyman, Kirk Douglas, Gertrude Lawrence and Arthur Kennedy, and the Disney musical "Mary Poppins" (1964), starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, as well as several more memorable roles, including Owen Glynn in the John Ford romantic comedy-drama "The Quiet Man" (1952), starring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Victor McLaglen and Barry Fitzgerald; Maj. Kibbee in the science fiction film "Them!" (1954), starring James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon and James Arness; and Mr. Grace in the John Huston film "The Dead" (1987), starring Anjelica Huston, Donal McCann, Dan O'Herily, Donal Donnelly and Helena Carroll.

McClory guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1950s through the 90s, including the detective drama "Richard Diamond: Private Detective" (1957–1960), the anthology series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962), "Thriller" (1960–1962) and "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" (1954–1990), the crime dramas "The Untouchables" (1959–1963) and "Honey West" (1965–1966), the family dramas "Lassie" (1954–1974) and "Little House on the Prairie" (1974–1983), the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966) and the mystery series "Murder, She Wrote" (1984–1996).  He also had a few recurring roles, including Jack McGivern in the western drama "The Californians" (1957–1959) and Myles Delaney in the adventure series "Bring 'Em Back Alive" (1982–1983).

McClory made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Colonel Black in "The Knight Errant" (episode 117) and Dennis O'Flarrety in "I Take This Woman" (episode 148).  He guest-starred in numerous other westerns, including "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), "Bonanza" (1959–1973), "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), "Laramie" (1959–1963), "Rawhide" (1959–1966), "Daniel Boone" (1964–1970), "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975) and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975).

Bill Quinn as Sweeney, the Bartender
Bill Quinn as Sweeney, the Bartender

Bill Quinn was an American actor whose early career began in the 1920's in silent films and ended with the 1989 science fiction film, "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier."  Perhaps, his best-known role was Mr. Ranseleer, Archie Bunker's blind friend in "All In The Family" (1971-1978).  He also was a regular character in the Carroll O'Connor spin-off, "Archie Bunker's Place."  Quinn's other television credits include roles in "The Odd Couple" (1970-1975), "McHale's Navy" (1962-1966), and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970-1977), in which he play Mary Richard's father.  In 1971, he appeared in Universal Pictures' "How to Frame a Figg" starring Don Knotts.  Quinn was a regular character in THE RIFLEMAN, appearing in 40 episodes as Sweeney, the Owner/Bartender of the North Fork Saloon.


A charming Irishman comes to North Fork announcing that he is there to claim Lou Mallory as his bride.  Her friends are all puzzled, because she agrees to the marriage; although, she seems to dislike and disapprove of the man.  Lucas, whose interest in Lou has becomes more than just casually friendly, finally learns from her the reason for her willingness to go through with the marriage and eventually, to Lou's relief, persuades the Irishman to give up his plans.