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The Hero
Episode 59
Writer: Albert Aley
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Original Air Date 02/02/1960

Cast

Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain

Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain

Paul Fix as Marshal Micah Torrance



Guest Cast
Lynn Cartier as Alice

Lynn Cartier guest-starred in two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Mrs. Porter in "Panic" (episode 47) and Alice Bedford in "The Hero" (episode 59).

Dennis Cross as Dorn
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.

Robert Culp as Colly Vane
Robert Culp as Colly Vane in Hero

Robert Culp was an American actor, screenwriter and director who had a prolific career spanning six decades.  He also performed voice work.  He began his career with the TV western "Trackdown" (1957–1959), in which he played Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman.  His best-remembered film role was one of the title characters in the 1969 feature "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice," but he was better known for his work in television, especially for his roles portraying Kelly Robinson in the espionage adventure series "I Spy" (1965–1968) co-starring Bill Cosby; FBI agent Bill Maxwell in "The Greatest American Hero" (1981–1986); and Warren, Debra's father, in "Everybody Loves Raymond" (1996–2004).  Culp appeared in two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Colly Vane in "The Hero" (episode 59) and North Fork town hero Dave Foley in "The Man from Salinas" (episode 130).  Culp also wrote two RIFLEMAN episodes, "Waste, Parts I and II" (episodes 143 and 144).

Frank Ferguson as Sam Bedford

Frank Ferguson was a prolific American film and television actor.  He appeared in more than 300 movies and television shows in a career spanning more than 45 years.  Before embarking on a full-time screen career, he was a performer and director of the Pasadena Community Playhouse, where he coached up-and-coming young actors, including Dana Andrews, George Reeve, Robert Preston and Victor Mature.  Most of his acting assignments in the first 15 years of his career were uncredited roles in films playing dozens of bankers, ranchers, and police detectives.  His biggest screen roles were appearances in "Rancho Notorious" (1952), starring Marlene Dietrich, and "Johnny Guitar" (1954), starring Joan Crawford and Sterling Hayden.  Ferguson guest-starred in many of the most popular TV shows of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, often appearing multiple times in different roles or as a recurring character.  Some of his television credits include appearances in "Adventures of Superman" (1952–1958), starring George Reeves, the crime dramas "Richard Diamond: Private Detective" (1957–1960), starring David Janssen, "The Untouchables" (1959–1963), starring Robert Stack, "77 Sunset Strip" (1958–1964), starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., and "Perry Mason" (1957–1966), starring Raymond Burr, the family comedy series "Leave It to Beaver" (1957–1963), starring Jerry Mathers, and "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960–1968), the action-adventure series, "Kung Fu" (1972–1975), starring David Carradine, and the classic family dramas "Lassie" (1954–1964) and "Little House on the Prairie" (1974–1983), starring Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon, which he also directed.  Ferguson had recurring roles portraying Gus on the children's show "My Friend Flicka" (1955), Eli Carson in "Peyton Place" (1964–1969), and Dr. Barton Stuart in both "Petticoat Junction" (1964–1970) and "Green Acres" (1970).

Ferguson made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Sam Bedford in "The Hero" (episode 59).  In addition to THE RIFLEMAN, he guest-starred in many other popular westerns, making multiple appearances in many of them, including "The Lone Ranger" (1949–1957), starring Clayton Moore, "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen, "The Deputy" (1959–1961), starring Henry Fonda, "Bat Masterson" (1958–1961), starring Gene Barry, "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), starring Hugh O'Brian, "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), starring Richard Boone, "Maverick" (1957–1962), starring James Garner, "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), starring Clint Walker, "The Virginian" (1962–1971), starring James Drury and Doug McClure, "Wagon Train" (1957–1965), starring Ward Bond and John McIntire, and "Bonanza" (1959–1973), starring Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts and Michael Landon.

Richard Keene as Mr. Jethroe

Richard "Dick" Keene was an American film and television actor.  He appeared in more than 60 movies and television shows during a career spanning 30 years.  He appeared in numerous films, mostly in minor or uncredited roles, including Mac in the musical comedy "High Society" (1956), starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra; a producer in "The Great Gatsby" (1949); the royal cook in "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (1949); as well as minor parts in the musical comedy "road" pictures starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, including "Road to Singapore" (1940), "Road to Zanzibar" (1941) and "Road to Bali" (1952); the romantic comedy "My Favorite Brunette" (1948), starring Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour; and the musical "White Christmas" (1954), starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney.  Keene guest-starred in a handful of popular television shows, including the family comedy "Father Knows Best" (1954–1960); the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966).  He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Mr. Jethroe in "The Hero" (episode 59).  He also guest-starred in the westerns "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), starring Steve McQueen; and Gunsmoke" (1955–1975), starring James Arness.

Steve Marlo as The Domino Kid
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.


The body of a notorious outlaw, the Domino Kid, is brought in by Colly Vane, a local boy whose reputation is anything but heroic.  The town perversely turns against Colly because the Kid was shot in the back, not knowing that Colly actually shot in self-defense when the Kid whirled away from him to reach for his gun.  Lucas' defense of Colly is justified when Colly Vane, alone and unarmed, stands up to three friends of the Kid's who have come seeking revenge for his death.