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The Patsy
Episode 41
Writer: Harry Kronman
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Original Air Date 09/29/1959

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
John Anderson as Sully Hobbs
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).

Whit Bissell as Sam Barrows

Whit Bissell, born Whitner Nutting Bissell, was a prolific American television and film actor who made his acting debut on Broadway.  He appeared in nearly 300 television shows and movies in a career spanning more than 40 years.  Although he appeared in several cult horror films of the 1950s, including the classic sci-fi thriller, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956), he is probably best-known for portraying the mad scientist who turned Michael Landon into a beast in "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" (1957).  Bissell appeared in numerous TV shows of every genre popular in the 1950s through the early 80s, including "Peyton Place" (1965), "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), "Marcus Welby, M.D." (1970–1973), "The Incredible Hulk" (1979–1980), and many western series, including "The Lone Ranger" (1947–1959), "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), "Wagon Train" (1958–1964), "Bonanza" (1959–1973) and "The Virginian" (1963–1964).  Bissell also had recurring roles as Bert Loomis in the comedy series, "Bachelor Father" (1957–1962), and Lt. Gen. Heywood Kirk in the sci-fi series, "The Time Tunnel" (1966–1967).

Bissell made four appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Sam Barrows in "The Patsy" (episode 41), Gabe Fenway in "The Flourflusher" (episode 72), Volney Adams in "The Hangman" (episode 76) and Henry Waller in "The Long Gun from Tucson" (episode 121).  In 1994, Bissell received a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films.  He also served on the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild and represented the actors branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences board of governors.

Dennis Cross as Lafe Oberly
Dennis Cross

Dennis Cross made six appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Witcherly in "The Safe Guard" (episode 8), Ned Dunnell in "The Gaucho," (episode 14), Lafe Oberly in "The Patsy" (episode 41), Dorn in "The Hero" (episode 59), Fance Degnan in "The Vision" (episode 66), and Martin in "The Quiet Fear" (episode 127). Cross studied acting on the G. I. bill at the Actors Lab in Hollywood. He later moved to New York, where he appeared in live television programas and commercials. He appeared in the Philco Television Playhouse show, "A Trip To Bountiful," appearing with Lillian Gish, icon of the silent film era.

Don Grady as Jeff Barrows

Don Grady, born Don Louis Agrati, was an American composer and film and television actor.  He appeared in nearly 30 movies and television shows in a career spanning almost 30 years.  He is best-remembered for having grown up on television as a child actor.  He was a Mousketeer on "The Mickey Mouse Club" and had a recurring role as Robbie Douglas in the long-running family comedy "My Three Sons" (1960–1972), starring Fred MacMurray.  Grady made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Jeff Barrows in "The Patsy" (episode 41) and David Chase in "Heller" (episode 62).  He also guest-starred in many iconic westerns of the 1950s and 60s, including "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), starring Ward Bond and later John McIntire, and "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), starring Richard Boone, "The Restless Gun" (1957–1959), starring John Payne and Dan Blocker, "Wichita Town" (1959–1960), starring Joel McCrea, "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), starring Dick Powell, and "Law of the Plainsman" (1959), starring Michael Ansara as Sam Buckheart (a character he also portrayed on THE RIFLEMAN).  Grady arranged and composed 19 television specials and documentaries, including writing and performing the music for the Blake Edwards comedy "Switch" (1991), starring Ellen Barkin and Jimmy Smits, and most recently the "AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Meryl Streep" (2004).  Grady passed away on June 27, 2012, at the age of 68.

Steve Marlo as Doke Marvin
Steve Marlo

Steve Marlo made four appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Doke Marvin in "The Patsy" (episode 41), The Domino Kid in "The Hero" (episode 59), Sgt. Will in "The Assailants" (episode 149), Stagg in "The Anvil Chorus" (episode 154).  An alumnus of Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio, New York, Marlo had a prolific career on the stage.  He won the Pulitzer Prize and Drama Critic's Award for his role in "Picnic."  Marlo also had many screen credits in film and television.  He appeared in "The Bob Cummings Show," "Law of the Plainsman," "Ben Casey," "Death Valley Days," "Combat!," "Bonanza," "Mission: Impossible," "Star Trek," "The F.B.I.," "Land of the Giants," "Emergency," "Eight Is Enough," "Falcon Crest," among many other TV series.  He also was a dialogue coach.


A group of outlaws wants to take over the town of North Fork, but decide if they are to succeed, they must eliminate Lucas in a manner that will not obviously involve them.  They bully the town barber, a cowardly drunk, into calling McCain out for a gunfight.  Lucas, sensing more than meets the eye about the drunk's behavior, refuses to fight, shocking the town and his own son into wondering if he, too, is a coward.