Dan Blocker

Dan Blocker (December 10, 1928 – May 13, 1972) was an American actor.

 Career 
Born in  De Kalb, Bowie County, Texas. He began his career as an actor in short films such as Hook a Crook (1955) with Joe Besser, and Outer Space Jitters (1957), starring The Three Stooges. 

Blocker also starred in several roles in the series The Restless Gun (1957), with John Payne. 
Then play a regular role in Cimarron City 1958-1959, as Tiny Carl Budinger.  

He was also a guest-star on the TV western Sheriff of Cochise, Zane Grey Theater, Have Gun - Will Travel, Cheyenne, Gunsmoke, Maverick, The Rebel, Colt 45, Wagon Train, Jefferson Drum.   

He worked on such films as Gunsight Ridge (1957), with Joel McCrea, Come Blow Your Horn (1963), and Lady in Cement (1968) featuring Frank Sinatra., and participation in the TV movie with John Wayne, Swing Out, Sweet Land (1970) he plays a funny Indian.

In 1970 Dan Blocker starred in Western Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County, accompanied by genre figures Noah Beery Jr., Jack Elam, and special star Mickey Rooney.

 Bonanza 
Dan Blocker is known for playing the role of Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright, in Bonanza, with Lorne Greene, Michael Landon and Pernell Roberts. The American series was made by NBC (1959-1973).

Hoss formed a great duo with 'Little Joe', Michael Landon recording very comic and serious scenes, also in alternating chapters of Bonanza, gunmen stories of drama and comedy.

Dan Blocker's "Hoss" character was personified in 415 chapters from 1959 to 1972.

 Filmography 
+ Film Year Títle Role Note 1955 Hook a Crook    short 1957 Black Patch    Blacksmith  (uncredited)  1957 The Girl in Black Stockings    Mike, the Bartender   1957  Gunsight Ridge  Bartender (uncredited)1958  Outer Space Jitters  Zombie  (The Three Stooges short)1957/1958  The Restless Gun   several roles TV series1958/1959  Cimarron City  Tiny Carl Budinger  TV series1959  The Young Captives     1959/1972 Bonanza   'Hoss' Cartwright   1963  Come Blow Your Horn    Mr. Eckman    1968 Lady in Cement     1968 Something for a Lonely Man    John Killibrew 1970  Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County    Charley 1970 Swing Out, Sweet Land  Indian TV movie

Other websites

 Roadside America, Dan Blocker Memorial




 Biography by Bruce Eder, Allmovie 
 Biography from Handbook of Texas online

Category:American movie actors
Category:American television actors
Category:Actors from Texas
Category:1928 births
Category:1972 deaths