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Conflict
Episode 155
Writer: Ed Adamson
Director: Arthur Nadel
Original Air Date 12/24/1962

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). 

Ralph R. Moody as Doc Burrage
Ralph Moody

Ralph Moody was an American actor who appeared in over 50 movies and 100 television shows.  Often cast in Westerns as indians, his many television credits include "The Lone Ranger" (1949 1950), "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1955–1959), "Dragnet" (1952 1959), "The Texan" (1959), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1958–1961), "Perry Mason" (1958–1964), "Gunsmoke" (1959–1966), "Dragnet 1967" (1967–1970) and "Bonanza" (1960 1971).

Moody appeared in 12 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Jonathan Dodd in "The Visitor" (episode 58), Roy Merrick in "The Spoiler" (episode 61), and Eban Muchen in "The Hangman" (episode 76).  Moody also played the recurring character of Doc Burrage in nine episodes, including "Six Years and a Day" (episode 91), "The Actress" (episode 94), "Dark Day at North Fork" (episode 100), "The Mescalero Curse" (episode 106), "Man From Salinas" (episode 130), "Quiet Night, Deadly Night" (episode 146), "Mark's Rifle" (episode 150), "Conflict" (episode 155), "Requiem at Mission Springs" (episode 164).

Eddie Quillan as Angus Evans
Eddie Qullan as Angus Evans, the Gunsmith

Eddie Quillan was an American actor whose career as a performer spanned more than 70 years.   Born in Philadelphia, his career began at age seven, first appearing in a vaudeville act, "The Rising Generation," with his siblings and later playing in a succession of silent films.  He had a natural gift for comedy and his vibrant personality and expressive face garnered Quillan mostly comedic parts and supporting roles.

Quillan's early film credits include "Big Money" (1930), "Girl Crazy" (1932), "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1935), "Young Mr. Lincoln" (1939) and "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940).  His later comedic turns included "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" (1965) and "How to Frame a Figg" (1971), both starring Don Knotts, and "Angel in My Pocket" (1969), starring Andy Griffith.  He appeared in scores of television shows, including "The Real McCoy," "Perry Mason," "The Addams Family," "Julia," "Mannix," "Lucas Tanner," "Here's Lucy," "Police Story," "Baretta," "Little House on the Prairie" and "Highway to Heaven."

Quillan appeared in THE RIFLEMAN twice in the fourth season playing Angus Evans, the Gunsmith—first in "Mark's Rifle" (episode 150), then in "Conflict" (episode 155).  He guest-starred in numerous other Westerns throughout much of his long career, including "Death Valley Days," "Gunsmoke," "The Guns of Will Sonnet," "Daniel Boone," "The Virginian," and "The Wild, Wild West."  Quillan made his last television appearance in Andy Griffith's show, "Matlock" in 1987.  He passed away in 1990.

Rhodes Reason as Ben Todd [credits show Ben Kendrick]

Rhodes Reason is an American actor who has worked primarily in television.  He has appeared in more than 60 movies and television shows during a 20-year career.  He made his acting debut at age 18 in a production of "Romeo and Juliet," directed by Charles Laughton.  Among his film appearances were roles in "Yellowstone Kelly" (1959), starring Clint Walker, and the Vincent Sherman drama "A Fever in the Blood" (1961), starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. and Angie Dickenson.  He portrayed Daddy Warbucks in the Broadway musical "Annie" during the 1980s.

Reason guest-starred in several popular television shows of the 1950s through the 70s, including the action crime drama "Highway Patrol" (1955–1959), the macabre anthology series "Thriller" (1960–1962), the private detective series "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the science fiction cult classic "Star Trek" (1966–1969) and the espionage action adventure "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973).  He had several recurring television roles, including the leading role of John A. Hunter in the adventure series "White Hunter" (1957–1959) and Sheriff Will Mayberry in the dramatic series "Bus Stop" (1961–1962).  He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Ben Todd in "Conflict" (episode 155).  He also guest-starred in the westerns "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), starring Clint Walker; "Laramie" (1959–1963), starring John Smith and Robert Fuller; "Daniel Boone" (1964–1970), starring Fess Parker; and "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), starring Barbara Stanwyck.


While out on a cougar hunt, a frightening incident causes Lucas to lose faith in his ability as a rifleman.  His resulting worry and ill temper begin to alienate his friends and almost get him into an all-out gun battle.