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The Bullet
Episode 163
Writer: Lowell Barrington
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Original Air Date 02/25/1963

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Richard Anderson as Griff
Richard Anderson

Richard Anderson is an American actor whose career in film and television spanned more than fifty years.  He first became interested in acting at an early age, appearing in high school plays, and after serving in the Army, he began doing summer stock, radio work and playing bit parts in movies.  He performed comedy scenes modeled on a "screen test" format for a TV series called "Lights, Camera, Action" (1950).  Shortly thereafter, MGM offered him a contract.  Anderson went on to have a prolific television career with roles in genres ranging from detective dramas to westerns, including a recurring role in the last season of "Perry Mason" (1964–1966), playing police Lt. Steve Drumm, and also "Zorro," "Death Valley Days," "I Spy," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "The Fugitive," "The Big Valley," and many others.  In the 1970's he appeared in "Gunsmoke," "Ironside," and "The Love Boat," and in the 1980's he guest starred on "Charlie's Angels" and on "Dynasty."  Anderson is best known for his role as Oscar Goldman, boss to Lee Majors' "Six Million Dollar Man" and Lindsay Wagner's "Bionic Woman."

Richard Anderson made six guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, playing a different role in each episode.  He played Tom Birch in "One Went To Denver " (episode 25), the title role of Lariat Jones in "Lariat" (episode 67), Duke Jennings in "Miss Bertie" (episode 90), Jason Gowdy in " Flowers By the Door " (episode 92), Harry Chase in "Milly's Brother" (episode 140), and Griff in "The Bullet" (episode 163).

Harry Lauter as the Hired Gun

Herman Arthur "Harry" Lauter was a prolific American character actor of television and film.  He appeared in more than 300 movies and television shows during his 50-year career.  He is best-remembered for playing heavies and supporting roles.  Although the vast majority of his early roles were in film, Lauter spent most of his later career working in television.  He had many uncredited roles in major films, including the dramatic comedy "A Foreign Affair" (1948), starring Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich and John Lund; the noir films "White Heat" (1949), starring James Cagney, and "The Mob" (1951), starring Broderick Crawford; the action drama "Twelve O'Clock High" (1949), starring Gregory Peck; the crime drama "The Big Heat" (1953), starring Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame, and the action comedy "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" (1963), featuring a star-studded ensemble cast.  He had a few credited roles appearing with more well-known actors, including Police Lt. Porter in the crime drama The Cry Baby Killer" (1958), starring Jack Nicholson; the doctor in the western "More Dead Than Alive" (1969), starring Clint Walker, Vincent Price and Anne Francis; and Gen. Winthrop in the sci-fi action film "Escape from the Planet of the Apes" (1971), starring Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter.  He garnered more significant roles in B-movies, including Ben Fish in the drama "The Women of Picairn Island" (1956) and Clay Lanier in the crime drama "Louisiana Hussy" (1959).

Lauter guest-starred in many popular shows of the 1950s through the 70s, including the mystery action series "Peter Gunn" (1958–1961), the Lloyd Bridges adventure series "Sea Hunt" (1958–1961), the long-running family drama "Lassie" (1954–1974), the comedy series "Gilligan's Island" (1964–1967), the suburban sci-fi comedy "My Favorite Martian" (1963–1966), the family comedy "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" (1952–1966), the campy superhero series "Batman" (1966–1968), the action adventure "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969), and the espionage thriller "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973), as well as the crime dramas "Richard Diamond: Private Detective" (1957–1960), "M Squad" (1957–1960), "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964) and "Adam-12" (1968–1975).

Lauter also played several recurring roles, including Jim Herrick in the adventure series "Waterfront" (1954–1956), Atlasande in the family sci-fi series "Rocky Jones, Space Ranger" (1954), and Ranger Clay Morgan in "Tales of the Texas Rangers" (1955–1959).  He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying the hired gun in "The Bullet" (episode 163).  He guest-starred in numerous other westerns, including "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), "Annie Oakley" (1954–1956), "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), "Bat Masterson" (1958–1961), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), "The Deputy" (1959–1961), "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), "Bonanza" (1959–1973), "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), "Rawhide" (1959–1966), "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975), "Branded" (1965–1966), "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), and "The Virginian" (1962–1971).

Norman Leavitt as the Hotel Clerk

Normal Leavitt, born Norman Turner Leavitt, was an American film and television actor.  He appeared in more than 200 movies and television shows during his 30-year career.  Although the majority of his early work was in film, he segued into television in the 1950s.  He had numerous uncredited roles in major films, appearing in the musical comedy "Two Sisters from Boston" (1946), starring Kathryn Grayson and June Allyson; the dramatic comedy "A Foreign Affair" (1948), starring Marlene Dietrich and Jean Arthur; the film adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' "The Three Musketeers" (1948), starring Lana Turner, Gene Kelly and June Allyson; the war drama "The Red Badge of Courage" (1951), starring Audie Murphy; the drama "Full House" (1952), featuring a star-studded ensemble cast; and the adventure drama "The Ten Commandments" (1956), also starring an ensemble cast headed by Yul Brynner and Charlton Heston.  In television, he played several recurring roles, including Ralph in the western "Trackdown" (1957–1959); Wally in the family comedy "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960–1968); the telegrapher in "Bonanza" (1959–1973); and Mr. Felton in the family comedy "Mayberry R.F.D." (1968–1971).

Leavitt also guest-starred in a numerous television shows between the 1950s and 70s, including the mystery action series "Peter Gunn" (1958–1961), the family comedies "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" (1957–1960) and "Dennis the Menace" (1959–1963), the suspense series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1955–1962), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series, "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), the comedy "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962–1971), the western action adventures "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969), and "Kung Fu" (1972–1975), as well as the crime dramas, "M Squad" (1957–1960), "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), "Perry Mason" (1957–1966) and "Arrest and Trial" (1963–1964).

Leavitt made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Jeptha Docking in "Short Rope for a Tall Man" (episode 103) and the hotel clerk in "The Bullet" (episode 163).  He guest-starred in many other westerns, including "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954–1959), "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), "Maverick" (1957–1962), "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), "Laramie" (1959–1963), "Rawhide" (1959–1966), "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), "Death Valley Days" (1952–1975), "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), and "The Virginian" (1962–1971).

Asa Maynor as Molly

Asa Maynor, born Virginia Maynor, is an American film and television actress.  She has appeared in nearly 30 movies and television shows during her 16-year career.  She appeared in several memorable films, including the leading role as Connie Hayward in the sci-fi B-movie "Man Beast" (1956) and Nikki the secretary in the black comedy "The Loved One" (1965), starring Robert Morse, Anjanette Comer, Rod Steiger, John Gielgud and Liberace.  She played Mrs. Riley in the science fiction film "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes" (1972), starring Roddy McDowall, Don Murray, Ricardo Montalban and Natalie Trundy and had an uncredited role in the musical comedy film "Never Steal Anything Small" (1959), starring James Cagney and Shirley Jones.

Maynor guest-starred in several popular television shows of the 1950s through the 60s, including the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), the sitcom "McHale's Navy" (1962–1966) and Rod Serling's iconic anthology series, "The Twilight Zone" (1959–1964).  She also had a recurring role as Dixie in the adventure series "Straightaway" (1961–1962).  She made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Molly in "The Bullet" (episode 163).  She also guest-starred in the western "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), starring John McIntyre and Ward Bond.

Dallas "Dal" McKennon as Judge Hopkins

Dal McKennon, born Dallas Raymond McKennon, was an American television and voice actor.  He appeared in nearly 180 television shows and shorts during a career spanning more than 50 years.  He attended the University of Washington prior to enlisting in the Army Signal Corps during World War II, but when he segued into acting, he became a familiar face on-screen.  His tall, gangly stature and unruly beard made him an easily recognizable character actor, and his voice was so malleable, he could contort it to play any kind of character.  McKennon is best-known for his voice work, having brought to life many iconic characters, including Woody Woodpecker's arch nemesis, Buzz Buzzard, and also Q.T. Hush, Gumby, Tintin, and many of the voices in the "Archie" cartoons.  His voice also can be heard in various Disney theme park attractions, as well as movies, including "Mary Poppins" (1964) and "Lady and the Tramp" (1955).  Among his film roles, he played small parts in the Alfred Hitchcock suspense thriller "The Birds" (1963) and the Elvis Presley vehicle "Clambake" (1967).

McKennon guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1950s through the 70s, including the crime dramas "Dragnet" (1951–1959) and "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), the sitcoms "My Three Sons" (1960–1972) and "My Favorite Martian" (1963–1966), the medical drama "Ben Casey" (1961–1966) and the detective series "Cannon" (1971–1976).

McKennon often portrayed the villain in westerns and once quipped, "I specialized in barn-burnings."  He made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Judge Hopkins in "The Bullet" (episode 163) and Judge Moze in "Which Way Did They Go" (episode 167).  He guest-starred in several other western series, including "Laramie" (1959–1963), starring John Smith and Robert Fuller, "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness, "The Virginian" (1962–1971), starring James Drury, "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), starring John McIntyre and Ward Bond, "The Big Valley" (1965–1969), starring Barbara Stanwyck, and "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts.  He also had a recurring role as Cincinnatus, the tavern owner, in "Daniel Boone" (1964–1970), starring Fess Parker.

Reg Parton as the Victim

Regis "Reg" Parton was an American film and television actor, and also a stunt man.  He appeareed in nearly 60 movies and television shows during a career spanning more than 40 years.  He did stunt work for iconic films that included Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation of "Spartacus" (1960), Stanley Kramer's adventure comedy romp "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" (1963) and Mel Brooks' western comedy "Blazing Saddles" (1974).  He played minor parts in the science fiction film "This Island Earth" (1955), starring Jeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex Reason and Lance Fuller, and in the musical "Never Steal Anything Small" (1959), starring James Cagney and Shirley Jones.  He guest-starred in several popular television shows, including the espionage thriller "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." (1964–1968) and the crime drama "Mannix" (1967–1975).  Parton made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying the victim in "The Bullet" (episode 163).  He also guest-starred in the westerns "Rawhide" (1959–1966), starring Clint Eastwood, and "Branded" (1965–1966), starring THE RIFLEMAN's Chuck Connors.

Harold J. Stone as the Marshal

Harold J. Stone was an American film and television character actor.  Born Harold Hochstein to a Jewish acting family, he began his career on Broadway in 1939.  He made his motion picture debut in the Alan Ladd film, "The Blue Dahlia" (1946). He went to work in small but memorable roles in films that included "The Harder They Fall" (1956) with Humphrey Bogart, Alfred Hitchcock's "The Wrong Man" (1956), "Somebody Up There Likes Me" (1956), "Spartacus" (1960), "Girl Happy" (1965) and the gangster epic, "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre" (1967), in which he played Chicago mobster Frank Nitti.

Stone became a recognizable face to television viewers, appearing in many police dramas, including "77 Sunset Strip" (1958), "Naked City" (1958), "The Untouchables" (1959), "Mannix" (1967), "Mission: Impossible" (1966), "The Rockford Files" (1974) and "Kojak" (1973). and having made more than 150 guest appearances on numerous television shows that included "I Spy" (1967), "The Barbara Stanwyck Show" (1961), "Griff" (1973), "The Untouchables" (1960–1963), "The Twilight Zone" (1961), "Hogan's Heroes" (1968–1971), and "Get Smart" (1966).  He had a recurring role in the short-lived series "Bridget Loves Bernie" (1972–1973), starring Meredith Baxter and David Birney.  Stone also appeared in three episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, playing Oat Jackford in "Home Ranch" (episode 2), Ben Stark in "Trail of Hate" (episode 77) and the Marshal in "The Bullet" (163).

In the 1960s and 70s, while still working in television, Stone returned to the stage, directing several off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway productions, including "Ernest in Love" and "Charley's Aunt."

Gene Tyburn as Deputy Ben

Gene Tyburn is an American actor who has worked primarily in television.  He has appeared in 45 movies and television shows during a 20-year career.  He guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1960s through the 80s, including the war comedy "McHale's Navy" (1962–1966), starring Ernest Borgnine, Joe Flynn and Tim Conway; the fantasy anthology series "The Outer Limits" (1963–1965), the adventure drama "It Takes a Thief" (1968–1970), starring Robert Wagner; the western action adventure "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969), starring Robert Conrad and Ross Martin; the family comedy "My Three Sons" (1960–1972), starring Fred MacMurray and Don Grady; the espionage thriller "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973), starring an ensemble cast led by Peter Graves, Barbara Bain and Martin Landau; the legal drama "Ironside" (1967–1975), starring Raymond Burr, and the primetime soap operas "Dallas" (1978–1991) and "Falcon Crest" (1981–1990), both starring ensemble casts led by Larry Hagman and Jane Wyman, respectively.  Tyburn made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Deputy Ben in "The Bullet" (episode 163).  He also guest-starred in the westerns "The Virginian" (1962–1971), starring James Drury, "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts, and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness.


Away from North Fork on a trip for the Cattleman's Association, Lucas rescues a man and is drawn into a fight with the crooked owner of a gambling establishment.  Lucas goes to the Marshal for help, who seems adverse to cooperating.  It soon develops however, that the Marshal is more clever than he appears on the surface, and he and Lucas startle the town and the court when they resolve the dispute and the crime with a new science known as "ballistics."