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End of a Young Gun
Episode 3
Writer: Frank D. Gilroy
Director: Jerry Hopper
Original Air Date 10/14/1958

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain



Guest Cast
Mel Carter as Outlaw
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.

Charles Cooper as Hank Fulton

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).

Carolyn Craig as Ann Bard

Carolyn Craig, born Adele Ruth Crago, was an American film and television actress whose promising career was tragically cut short following a fatal gunshot wound in 1970.  Although her career lasted just a little over a decade, she appeared in more than 40 movies and television shows.  She was a versatile actress, guest-starring in crime dramas, including "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), starring Raymond Burr; "M Squad" (1957–1960), starring Lee Marvin; and "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.; as well as the long-running daytime drama "General Hospital" (beg. 1963).  Craig made one guest appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Ann Bard in "End of a Young Gun" (episode 3).  She also guest-starred in the westerns "Annie Oakley" (1954–1956), "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961) and "Laramie" (1959–1963).

Joe Haworth as Marshal Bennett

Joe Haworth was an American film and television actor, in addition to being a notable Hollywood photographer.  Born into an acting family, Haworth appeared in more than 100 movies and television shows during his 40-year career.  Most of his movie roles were uncredited; although, he appeared in many film classics, including the noir film "Thieves' Highway" (1949), the war dramas "Gung Ho!: The Story of Carlson's Makin Island Raiders" (1943), which was his film debut, "Red Badge of Courage" (1951) and "The Caine Mutiny" (1954).  He also appeared in the action-adventure film "3:10 to Yuma" (1957), and Stanley Kubrick's Oscar-winning film based on the novel of the same name, "Spartacus" (1960).  Haworth also appeared in the western "The Royal Mounted Rides Again" (1945), in which he replaced Addison Randall, who was killed on the first day of filming.

In television, Haworth proved to be quite a versatile actor, guest-starring in many popular series of the 1950s through the 70s, including the comedy "The Abbott and Costello Show" (1952–1953), the action series "Highway Patrol" (1955–1959), "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" (1954–1990), the crime dramas "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" (1957–1960) and "M Squad" (1957–1960), Rod Serling's iconic anthology series "Twilight Zone" (1959–1964), the espionage thriller "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973), and the long-running family drama "Little House on the Prairie" (1974–1983).

Haworth made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Marshal Bennett in "End of a Young Gun" (episode 3) and Davis in "The Grasshopper" (episode 63).  Haworth guest-starred in several other popular westerns of the 1950s and 60s, including "My Friend Flicka" (1955–1958), starring Frank Ferguson, "Alias Smith and Jones" (1971–1973), starring Ben Murphy and Pete Duel, "Sky King" (1951–1962), starring Kirby Grant and Gloria Winters, "The Lone Ranger" (1949–1957), starring Clayton Moore, "Annie Oakley" (1954–1956), starring Gail Davis, "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen, "The Deputy" (1959–1961), starring Henry Fonda, "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts and Michael Landon, and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness.

Michael Landon as Will Fulton
Michael Landon

Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director and producer, whose prolific career spanned 35 years.  He appeared in two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, playing Will Fulton in "End of a Young Gun" (episode 3) and Billy Mathis in "The Mind Reader" (episode 40).  Over three decades, he went on to star in three popular NBC TV series.  He is widely known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in "Bonanza," Charlie Ingalls in "Little House on the Prairie," and Jonathan Smith in "Highway to Heaven."  Landon was nominated for a Golden Globe award in 1979 for his role in "Little House on the Prairie."  He produced, wrote and directed many of the series' episodes, including the short-lived production, "Father Murphy," which starred his friend and "Little House" co-star Merlin Olsen.  In 1976, Landon wrote and directed an autobiographical movie, "The Loneliest Runner," and was nominated for two Emmys.  He also hosted the annual long-running NBC coverage of the "Tournament of Roses Parade" with Kelly Lange. The Western Writers of America honored Landon with a Bronze Wrangler Award in 1971 for "Bonanza" and again in 1981, with a Spur Award for Best Script for "May We Make Them Proud," a 1974 episode of "Little House on the Prairie."


Lucas is forced to give refuge to a young bank robber who has been injured while saving the life of Lucas' young son Mark.  Trouble ensues when the rest of the outlaw gang appear.  The young robber has had a change of heart and wants to go straight, but the gang insists that he will rejoin them.  Wanting to help the young man, Lucas is caught in the fight.