Dan Blocker was an American actor born and raised in Texas.   He attended Texas Military Institute, played football at Hardin-Simmons University in 1946 and later graduated from Sul Ross State Teacher's College in Alpine, Texas, with a master's degree in drama.  Blocker was drafted into the Army and served in the Korean War as a First Sergeant.   Later, in Sonora, Texas; Carlsbad, New Mexico; and California, he taught high school English and drama.

A tall big bear of a man with a tender heart who played roles true to his character, Blocker appeared in several television shows in the late 1950's before landing the role for which he is best-remembered—Eric "Hoss" Cartwright in the long-running NBC western television series "Bonanza" (1959–1973).   He appeared in one episode of THE RIFLEMAN, playing Pete Snipe in "The Sister" (episode 9).

In 1968, Blocker appeared with Frank Sinatra in "Lady in Cement," film sequel to "Tony Rome."  Director Robert Altman befriended Blocker while directing episodes of "Bonanza" and years later, he cast Blocker as Roger Wade in "The Long Goodbye."  Sadly, Blocker died before filming commenced and Sterling Hayden stepped into the role.  Released in 1973, the film was dedicated to Dan Blocker.

John Dierkes was an American actor who appeared in numerous films and television shows in a career spanning 25 years.  Previously, he worked in the United States Department of State and later joined the Red Cross, serving in Great Britain during World War II, where he met film Director, John Huston, who encouraged him to become an actor.  After the war, however, he returned to government work, but eventually his employer, this time the US Treasury Department, sent him to Hollywood to be a technical consultant on the 1948 film, "The Day the Earth Stood Still."  In the same year, Orson Welles cast him in his adaptation of Shakespeare's "Macbeth."  Dierkes returned to his Treasury Department job, but John Huston coaxed him back to Hollywood to appear in his film, "The Red Badge of Courage" (1951).  Among his numerous film credits, Dierkes portrayed Morgan Ryker in the western classic "Shane" (1053); and he appeared in the Yul Brynner film, "The Buccaneer" (1958);the film adaptation of Gore Vidal's "The Left Handed Gun" (1958), starring Paul Newman; "The Hanging Tree" (1959), starring Gary Cooper; John Wayne's "The Alamo" (1960); and "Oklahoma Crude" (1973), starring George C. Scott and Faye Dunaway.

Dierkes made two guest appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, playing the semi-regular character, Nels Svenson (variously Swenson, Swensen).  One of seven actors to play the role of the blacksmith, he appeared in "Duel of Honor" (episode 7) and "The Sister" (episode 9).  Dierkes appeared in many other television shows, including numerous Westerns, including "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1955), "Wagon Train" (1957–1959), "Bonanza" (1959), "Peter Gunn" (1961), "Rawhide" (1962–1964) and "Gunsmoke" (1956–1973).

Lance Fuller was an American television and film actor.  He garnered over 50 credits as an actor during a career spanning more than three decades.  Although he had his start in film, almost all of his early roles are uncredited.  He made one appearance on THE RIFLEMAN, playing Earl Battle in "The Sister" (episode 9).  In addition to THE RIFLEMAN, Fuller also appeared in the westerns "Colt .45" (1957–1960), "Tombstone Territory" (1957) and "Lawman" (1958–1962).

Michael Harris was an American actor whose filmography was limited to performances in THE RIFLEMAN.  He appeared in an uncredited role in "The Sister" (episode 9), played a cowhand in "The Challenge" (episode 28) and portrayed Ed Bundy in "The Anvil Chorus" (episode 154).

Sherry Jackson is an American actress and former child star who had a prolific career spanning three decades, mostly in television.  She made her film debut at age seven in the 1949 musical "You're My Everything," starring Anne Baxter.  She is probably best remembered for her role as Terry Williams (appearing from 1953 to 1958) on "The Danny Thomas Show."  Jackson appeared in one episode of THE RIFLEMAN, playing Rebecca Snipe "The Sister" (episode 9).

Jackson blossomed from child star into a curvaceous beauty.  She appeared in a number of low-budget films, including "Gunn" (1967) and "The Mini-Skirt Mob" (1968) and continued to work in television in the 1960's through 1980, including appearances in episodes of "Batman" (1966), "Lost in Space" (1965), "Star Trek" (1966), "The Wild Wild West" (1965), "Barnaby Jones" (1978), a starring turn in "Brenda Starr, Reporter" (1979), and "Charlie's Angels" (1980).  Fans of the original "Star Trek" will recognize her as the sexually appealing android Andrea in the 1966 episode, "What are Little Girls Made Of."

Mort Mills, born Mortimer Morris Kaplan, was an American film and television actor.  He appeared in nearly 140 movies and television shows during a career spanning more than 20 years.  He had a few roles in memorable films, including Martin in the drama "Affair in Trinidad" (1952), starring Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford; Al Schwartz in the Orson Welles crime thriller "Touch of Evil" (1958), starring Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Joseph Calleia, Akim Tamiroff and Marlene Dietrich; and the highway patrol officer in the Alfred Hitchcock suspense film "Psycho" (1960), starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh.

Mills guest-starred in many popular television shows of the 1950s through the 70s, including the Disney adventure series "Zorro" (1957–1959), the Disney anthology series "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" (1954–1990), the crime dramas "The Untouchables" (1959–1963) and "Mannix" (1967–1975), the adventure drama "The Fugitive" (1963–1967), the western action adventure "The Wild Wild West" (1965–1969), the police dramas "The Mod Squad" (1968–1973) and "The Streets of San Francisco" (1972–1977), and the espionage thriller "Mission: Impossible" (1966–1973).  He also had a few recurring roles, including Marshal Frank Tallman in the western "Man Without a Gun" (1957–1959), Sheriff Madden in "The Big Valley" (1965–1969) and Sgt. Ben Landro in the legal drama "Perry Mason" (1957–1966).

Mills made two appearances in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Joshua Snipe in "The Sister" (episode 9) and Jake Owens in "The Jealous Man" (episode 136).  He guest-starred in many other westerns, including "The Lone Ranger" (1949–1957), "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957–1963), "Bat Masterson" (1958–1961), "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958–1961), "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957–1962), "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955–1961), "Cheyenne" (1955–1963), "Zane Grey Theater" (1956–1961), "Maverick" (1957–1962), "Laramie" (1959–1963), "Bonanza" (1959–1973) and "Gunsmoke" (1955–1975).

Michael Morgan is an actor who has worked primarily in television.  He has appeared in 13 television shows during a career spanning just over a decade.  He guest-starred in a few popular television shows of the 1950s, including the crime drama "Dragnet" (1951–1959) and the anthology series "Schlitz Playhouse" (1951–1959).  He made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Injun Adams in "The Sister" (episode 9).  He also guest-starred in the westerns "Laramie" (1959–1963), starring John Smith and Robert Fuller; "Tombstone Territory" (1957), starring Pat Conway; and "Gunslinger" (1961), starring Tony Young.

Hope Summers was an American actress of the stage, radio, film and television.  Her acting career began in the 1930's, when she worked primarily in community and stock theater and radio.  Her career was most active in the 1950's and 1960's, when she appeared in numerous films and television shows.   Her film credits include "Zero Hour!" (1957), "Inherit the Wind" (1960), "Spencer's Mountain" (1963), "The Hallelujah Trail" (1965), "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" (1966), "The Shakiest Gun in the West" (1968), "Rosemary's Baby" (1968), "Charley Varrick" (1973) and her last movie, "Foul Play" (1978).

Summers began working in television in the 1950's, guest-starring in a wide variety of genres, but especially Westerns.  Her television credits include "The Loretta Young Show" (1956–1959), "Maverick" (1957) and "Wagon Train" (1957), "Gunsmoke" (1958–1963), "Dennis the Menace" (1959), "Petticoat Junction" (1963) and "The Phyllis Diller Show" (1966).  She played numerous memorable recurring roles in many hit television series, including "Hawkins Falls: A Television Novel" (1950).  Her best-known role was Clara Edwards, Aunt Bee's gossipy neighbor, in "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960-1968) and its spin-off, "Mayberry R.F.D." (1968–1971).  Summers appeared in 16 episodes of THE RIFLEMAN as Hattie Denton, owner of the General Store.  Hattie was first introduced in "Eight Hours to Die" (episode 6).  Her last regular television role was playing Olive in "Another Day" (1978).

David Tyrell was an American stage, film and television actor.  He appeared in six movies and television shows during a 30-year period.  He began acting on Broadway.  He had minor parts in a few memorable films, including the film adaptation of "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930), starring Lew Ayres; the comedy "Love Before Breakfast" (1936), starring Carole Lombard; and the musical comedy "It Happened at the World's Fair" (1963), starring Elvis Presley.  He had a recurring role as Charlie Burr in the comedy "Mister Peepers" (1952–1955).  Tyrell made one appearance in THE RIFLEMAN, portraying Roy Thursby in "The Sister" (episode 9).