Law of the Plainsman (1959)

Law of the Plainsman is a Western television series starring Michael Ansara that aired on the NBC television network from October 1, 1959, until May 5, 1960. The character of Native American U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart was introduced in two episodes of the popular ABC Western television series The Rifleman starring Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain. Law of the Plainsman is distinctive and unique in that it was one of the few television programs that featured a Native American as the lead character, a bold move for U.S.network television at that time. Ansara had earlier appeared in the series Broken Arrow, having portrayed the Apache chief, Cochise. Ansara, however, was not Native American but of Syrian descent. Ansara played Sam Buckhart, an Apache Indian who saved the life of a U.S. Cavalry officer after an Indian ambush. When the officer died, he left Sam money that was used for an education at private schools and Harvard University. After school, he returned to New Mexico where he became a Deputy Marshal working for Marshal Andy Morrison. He lived in a boarding house run by Martha Commager. The only other continuing character was 8-year old Tess Logan, an orphan who had been rescued by Buckhart. Robert Harland, later of Target: The Corruptors! starred in seven episodes as Deputy Billy Lordan. Wayne Rogers, who went on to star in another Four Star western, Stagecoach West, and later, M*A*S*H, also played deputy Lordan in several episodes.

Law of the Plainsman

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as Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart

as Tess Wilkins

as Marshal Andy Morrison

as Martha Commager

as Deputy Billy Lordan as Deputy Forbes as Deputy Billy Forbes as Deputy Nick Forbes

as Deputy Billy Lordan as Frank Anderson

as John Wesley as Knappe as Trigger Strelling

Joseph V. Perry

Joseph V. Perry

as Conroy as Dan as Wolf

as Jason as Elijah Wesley

as Jeb Wicken as Clyde Santee as Matthew Bannock

as Bunsing as Dort as French

as Ross Drake as Theodore Roosevelt

J. Pat O'Malley

J. Pat O'Malley

as Doc Leonard as Jonas

Roberto Contreras

Roberto Contreras

as Pedro as Frank Ramay

as Newt as Frank Jackson

as Helen Jakowsky as Rosa Costello Slade

as Hodie Carver as Marshall Jim Gordon

as Cy Erby as Johnny Varga

as Cora as Abigail Ellis Wicken

as Dave Meggers as Cal James

as Lilly McGrath as Holly Telford

Jess Kirkpatrick

Jess Kirkpatrick

as Deputy Timmins

as Walt Timmins

Hampton Fancher

Hampton Fancher

as Sheriff Max Chaffee

Brian G. Hutton

Brian G. Hutton

as Mrs. Garnett

George Mitchell

George Mitchell

as Stevie Mullen

as Don Esteban Ramores

as Constance Valeri

as 'Gentleman' Frank Deegan

as Governor Lew Wallace

as Sheriff Clifford Shaw

as Mr. Schuyler

as Stella Meeker

James Westerfield

James Westerfield

as Joshua Jones

Robert J. Wilke

Robert J. Wilke

as Amos Cameron

as Sarah Gordon

as Jasper Mullen

Francis McDonald

Francis McDonald

Charles Stevens

Charles Stevens

William Fawcett

William Fawcett

as Sheriff Shep Collins

Robert Osterloh

Robert Osterloh

as Deputy Billy Lordan

as Hardy O'Hara

as Walter Shannon

as Charlie Banner

as Marshal Penrose

Patricia Huston

Patricia Huston

Patricia Donahue

Patricia Donahue

Richard Anderson

Richard Anderson

as Jessie Lawrence

as Staff Meeker

as Clancy James

as Charlie Slade

as Horace Arnold

Lawrence Dobkin

Lawrence Dobkin

as Manuel Ramores

as Sgt. Sean McGrath

Christopher Dark

Christopher Dark

as Qwert Phillips

as Zeb - Driver

as Quinn Wesley

as Col. Efram Springer

as Truck Garnett

as Connie Drake

as Deputy Billy Lordan

as Hobey Jarrod

William D. Gordon

William D. Gordon

as Nora Chaffee

as Western Express Agent

as J. Roberts Pawley

as Abbey Hollis

as Rick Modesto

Michael Vandever

Michael Vandever

as Comanchero Leader

Robert F. Simon

Robert F. Simon

as Frank Keller

as First Posse Rider

as Stan Jakowsky

as Ellen Dawson

as Davey Coleman

as Lester Coleman

as Hattie Mullen

Michael Raffetto

Michael Raffetto

as Father Robles

Jacques Aubuchon

Jacques Aubuchon

as Reverend Jordan

as Sheriff Arturo Robledo

Theodore Lehmann

Theodore Lehmann

as September Smith

Michael T. Mikler

Michael T. Mikler

Jose Gonzales-Gonzales

Jose Gonzales-Gonzales

as Stagecoach Driver

as George the Livery Man

as Mike Williams

Natalie Norwick

Natalie Norwick

as Clara Williams

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Seasons

Season 1

Season 1

Episodes season 1

1x1

Prairie incident
1x2

Full circle
1x3

A matter of life and death
1x4

The hostiles
1x5

Passenger to mescalero
1x6

Blood trails
1x7

Desperate decision
1x8

Appointment in santa fe
1x9

The gibbet
1x10

The dude
1x11

The innocents
1x12

Clear title
1x13

Toll road
1x14

Calculated risk
1x15

Fear
1x16

Endurance
1x17

The comet
1x18

The rawhiders
1x19

The imposter
1x20

Common ground
1x21

The matriarch
1x22

A question of courage
1x23

Dangerous barriers
1x24

The show-off
1x25

Rabbit's fang
1x26

Stella
1x27

Amnesty
1x28

Jeb's daughter
1x29

Cavern of the wind
1x30

Trojan horse

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