In Wagon Train, he played wagon master Major Seth Adams from 1957 until his death in 1960. Denny Scott Miller (born Dennis Linn Miller; April 25, 1934 September 9, 2014) was an American actor, perhaps best known for his regular role as Duke Shannon on Wagon Train, his guest-starring appearances on Gilligan's Island and Charlie's Angels, and his 1959 film role as Tarzan. figure in "The Jim Bridger Story" (May 10, 1961) when Bridger is Gatsby tells Hale that the Leftons should leave the wagon train. What can I say? and mentored by legendary scout Jim Bridger. 7.24 [250] Wagon Train: . He became the first blond Tarzan in Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959)), a low-budget quickie that lifted most of its footage from earlier Johnny Weissmuller movies. I was surprised to learn that one of my musical heroes Sheldon Allman (who co-composed the theme for the Jay Ward cartoon "George Of The Jungle") made an appearance on the show. . We learn more of the Hale family's fate in "The Janet Hale Emily Hawks was played by Irene Windust, who was also billed under her maiden name, which was Corlett. Late in his acting career, he appeared in two episodes of Walker Texas Ranger and was the spitting image of Jim Davis as Jock Ewing from Dallas, the greatest show of all time. It was at University High School in Los Angeles where Denny and Kent came to the attention of coach John Wooden. Took a much-needed break to do some fun research. Overview The series initially starred veteran movie supporting actor Ward Bond as the wagon master, later replaced upon his death by John McIntire, and Robert Horton as the scout, subsequently replaced by lookalike Robert Fuller a year after Horton had decided to leave the series. Courtesy of Everett Collection Denny Miller, who played scout Duke Shannon on the classic TV Western Wagon Train and was the first blond Tarzan on the big screen, has died. I recently found all the episodes of Wagon Train on YouTube and have been binge watching the show that I enjoyed as a kid. He was always a class act. a search to bring the two old fools back. joined the cast as scout Duke Shannon and Robert Horton left mid-season for Broadway (110 in the Shade). I am watching season 6 at the moment. By the end of the season, Bill has decided to work full-time on the wagon train, and he even becomes an owner of one of the vehicles. It was the original wagon master Ward Bond who insisted on Warner Bros signing on both Terry and Frank for the show. The Robert Harrison Clarke Story. My current brother-in-law, who now resides in Utah, and is about 87, was born and reared, in I believe, Eureka, Mt. After that he did guest spots on a number of TV series, finally becoming a regular on Wagon Train (1957) as Duke Shannon (his name was then Scott Miller). Several officers arrived and arrested Edwards for trespassing, calling for a police wagon to take her to jail. Her second on-screen husband, who was played by John Howard, later sought revenge against her killers. country from Missouri to California each season, they never seem to get Miller also worked in such films as Making It (1971), written by Peter Bart, Buck and the Preacher (1972) and The Norseman (1978). A minor actress named Kay Stewart popped up in eleven episodes from 1958 to 1964, playing eleven different women. Wagon-train transportation moved westward with . Terry died in 1999 at the age of 75. Missouri-born Frank played the series comic relief character Charlie Wooster, the wagon trains irascible cook, and would grace all but 13 of the 284 episodes shot over eight seasons. in 50s or 60s. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. True; he was Bert in Its a Wonderful Life, the perennial Christmas movie. - Hotel de Paree In Season 1, Bill and his wife, Emily Hawks, travel on the wagon train. Glad to find for your site Ill check in again! "The Duke Shannon Story" (April 26, 1961) in which his Two years after the Wagon Train series ended, Frank succumbed to a heart attack at 64. At the beginning of the show's run in 1957, the character of Bill Hawks was a smaller one, and he was actually a guest passenger on the wagon train. However, McIntyre did such a good job as Christopher Hale, the new wagon train boss, that he would later be earmarked to succeed the late Charles Bickford as the patriarch in another popular series The Virginian. My hope is that the younger generation might take an interest in them, rather than Jersey Shore or The Kardashians. - Adventures of Champion - Sugarfoot - Bronco his burnt homestead's porch after Indians massacred his family while he was - Alias Smith and Jones In 1960, the 26-year-old Miller appeared as Wilkie, the son of a powerful rancher, in the "License to Kill" episode of Laramie. Its first five seasons were broadcast on the NBC network and the remaining three on ABC. The two were true cowboys.After a unfathomably successful film career, Bond settled into television on the popular Western series Wagon Train. A former stunt man and rodeo performer, he was notoriously fond of a drink, a weakness that often gave him the Dutch courage to pick fights which he invariably lost. Wagon Train fell to 25th place while James Drury nailed #26 in the Nielsen ratings. - Buckskin He came on the Universal lot while I was doing Laramie to start working on Wagon Train. Fuller portrayed chief scout Cooper Smith in 60 episodes of Wagon Train towards the end of the series, but is probably best remembered as Jess Harper in Laramie (1959-63). Just checked out your site, glad I found it. Preston of the Yukon Now, nothing on TV except all these Reality type shows, and most of them are so awful, so unreal, so scriptednever fell in to that trap thank goodness. Attempts to settle down and give up their traveling are foiled. He is seen here at lower left next to Frank McGrath. He and his brother played basketball in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Baldwin, New York, before the family moved to Los Angeles. Prior to finding him Flint and the His other film credits included Making It (1971), Doomsday Machine (1972), Buck and the Preacher (1972), The Gravy Train (1974), The Island at the Top of the World (1974), The Norseman (1978), Caboblanco (1980) and Circle of Power (1981). Suddenly, Wagon Trains hour-long black and white episodes looked somewhat paltry next to the expansive full color outdoor Western which felt more like a movie than a TV episode. that it has already been cleaned out attempt to blow up Henry and Wooster The strapping 6-foot-4 Miller, who played basketball at UCLA for legendary coach John Wooden in the 1950s, also is known for his role as Western movie actor Wyoming Bill Kelso in the delightful 1968 Peter Sellers comedy The Party, directed by Blake Edwards. Each season covers a trek from St Joe or St Louis to California/Oregon. - Boots and Saddles into their virtual family. A native of Bloomington, Indiana,[1] the 6'4' Miller was a basketball player for the UCLA Bruins at UCLA, where his father was a physical education instructor. Sadly, she died in 1968 aged just 51. Terry Wilson so he accepts an invitation to go off with Frank McHugh and look for Barney and Bill time, with some of the new gang. years, he played the Gorton's Fisherman in TV commercials.[1]. I had no idea you were an American, Mike. McGrath recalled, When Ward was alive, he and Terry and I were always together. Like you, I grew up with all those shows (except Bronco) and they were part of the reason why I fell in love with TV and movies. Duke Shannon Denny Miller (1934 - 2014) 106 episodes (1961-64) - Bret Maverick it was empty. It was very sudden. - Buffalo Bill Jr. Unlike you, I thought they were always on the same trip and I was forever wondering when they would reach their destination. McCullough It is already absent in their future. I was born in 42 so Maverick, Wagon Train, etc., were significant to me (but TV reception was terrible). McCullough is finally able to convince Jameson that the civilians must be - Whispering Smith Also following the old men are three men who hope to With his clever tall tales, old prospector Henry Shannon talks Charlie Wooster into coming with him to search for a gold mine. - Lancer - Page 2 (1950-1979). It seems far-fetched that she would have stayed in Sacramento for years without her husband, so the writers handled her absence in another way in later seasons. episode in which Adams asks him to temporarily take over leadership of the I am currently watching Season 4 on ME TV, and my wife and I are huge fans. While scouting for the wagon train, Charlie Wooster and Duke Shannon come upon a large and mysterious estate in the middle of nowhere. Was it either of them? Sadly, the star died midway through the fourth season of the show. The most powerful episode I have seen so far is S4 E19 The Prairie Story. Any romance they might strike It should also be noted that these 90 minute episodes are a wild mish-mash of ideas, some episodes abandoned the idea of the wagon train altogether (The Widow ORourke Story, Gus Morgan Story), some included slapstickish scenes (Kate Crawley Story, Grover Allen Story) and some just seemed tiresome at 90 minutes. - Davy Crockett Terry Wilson (1923-99) 267 episodes (1957-65). I stopped watching the show once Robert Horton (Flint McCullough) left it, so I missed the finale. I was born in 1947, so I was around to enjoy all those wonderful westerns & actors; Ty Hardin (Bronco) was my First Love Robert Fuller, watched all those shows; Wagon Train; Laramie: Sugarfoot: Cheyenne; Bronco of course; Its nice to see Robert Fuller still around; Another favorite of mine was Peter Brown; Dale Robertson; James Garner (Maverick) loved that show. When Hawks finds out about this, he rides out after the two men, along with Shannon's grandson Duke. - Branded Thanks for your comment, James. Was born and reared in Ft. Lauderdale, however I lived, several years, in Kalispell, Mt. now as a retired senior citizen, i am "discovering" ALL the original westerns that i had no interest in as a kid. Why after season 7 was in color is the following season in B&W? why did robert fuller leave wagon train. I was a nervous, inexperienced person in the acting field and he and I became very good friends. . The plot of the western series was supposed to take place entirely in the first few years after the Civil War, which ended in 1865. Learn how your comment data is processed. One of my earliest heroes was Robert Horton as Flint McCullough, Sandra. Stars for everyone. - Overland Trail He was one of the best stuntmen that ever lived. Shannon dying peacefully at having correctly found the legendary mine, even if away leading another wagon train west. It was a pleasure to walk into that show and work with him., Denny Miller recalled, I was a stranger in a strange land. They were both so nice great people. [4], "From jungle to ocean: the life and times of 'what's his name', "Denny Miller, Star of 'Tarzan' and 'Wagon Train,' Dies at 80", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Denny_Miller&oldid=1137269256, This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 18:59. At that point Denny Miller comes looking for his grandfather McHugh and he and Terry Wilson go off looking for these old adventurers. He appeared on early-'60s TV Westerns including Laramie, Have Gun Will Travel and The Rifleman before landing a regular role on the popular Wagon Train in 1961. I stopped watching when Ward Bond died and Robert Horton left the series. - Shane the unexpected death of Bond didnt destroy the series with its viewers. Cain to wander the earth for the rest of their existence. Simply a matter of opinion I guess. Background [ edit] Denny Miller was Duke Shannon in the series from 1964-7 (seasons five through seven), but in 1965 he landed the role of Juliet Prowses husband in the sitcom Mona McCluskey and left Wagon Train to play it. Future lead scout Duke Shannon also gets his story told in this have a soap opera-ish flavor, never mind the contradiction that McCullough Due to the expensive 90 minute color episodes garnering such low ratings, in a final effort to save the show, ABC returned to one hour black and white episodes with season 8 (64-65). was raised by Angie Matthewson rather than Jim Bridger. Bond shockingly passed on November 5, 1960. He was very much a part of the Ward Bond coterie along with Frank McGrath. Most powerful episode I have seen so far is S4 E19 the Prairie Story of coach John Wooden and been! 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