Cast
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The High Chaparral cast was an ensemble of actors from a wide cultural background, spanning several decades in ages, sharing little in common except their love for acting. It was an excellent cast that developed great chemistry that played well off each other. Here is some background information provided by the actors themselves, their press agents, and/or their friends and relatives. |
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Leif
Erickson |
Cameron
Mitchell |
Mark
Slade |
Henry
Darrow |
Linda
Cristal |
| Don
Collier Sam Butler |
Bob
Hoy Joe Butler |
Roberto
Contreras Pedro Carr |
Ted
Markland Reno |
Jerry
Summers Ira Bean |
| Frank
Silvera Don Sebastian Montoya |
Rudolpho Acosta Vaquero |
Anthony
Caruso El Lobo |
Rudy
Ramos Wind |
Gilbert
Roland Don Domingo Montoya |
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Leif
Erickson
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He got into serious acting almost by accident. Paramount sent him a telegram in Peoria, where he was part of the cast of a touring version of Olsen & Johnson's Hellzapoppin. They wanted to screen test him, only they were looking for someone else named Erickson. By the time they discovered their mistake, Leif, then 23, had already been signed. By his own account, he has been in more than 100 movies, having signed his first contract with Paramount in 1935. From there, his career was non-stop, although he fell into the limbo reserved for near-stars who were too good-looking to be believable. It was only after he acquired that rugged, interesting face, which makes older men so attractive, that he captured the attention of America. David Dortort, creator of The High Chaparral, first noticed him in a Bonanza episode in 1961, where he played God, and signed him up as ranch patriarch John Cannon. Leif Erickson died on January 29, 1986 in Pensacola, Florida. |
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Cameron Mitchell, real name Cameron McDowell Mitzell, was born November 4, 1918 in Dallastown, Pennsylvania, one of seven children of a minister. As a child during the Depression, he wore his sisters' hand-me-down shoes and coats. While in school, he became interested in acting, and one of his high school teachers lent him the money to go to a New York City dramatic school. It was while he was struggling at odd jobs in New York that he wrote letters to producers, actors and agents. None of his hundreds of letters ever got a reply, until he criticized a performance of Alfred Lunt's in the motion picture The Guardsman. Lunt replied, inviting Cameron to audition. Afterward, Lynn Fontanne told him, "Acting is your life's work, and you're not only going to be a good actor, you're going to be a great actor." She changed his name to Mitchell, and the rest is history. With hundreds of film roles behind him, Cameron came to The High Chaparral when he ended up seated next to David Dortort and his wife, Rose on a flight to Tucson. By the time they reached Tucson, he had become Buck Cannon, younger brother to John Cannon. Cameron Mitchell died of lung cancer on July 6, 1994 in Pacific Palisades, California. |
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Mark Van Blarcom Slade was born May 1, 1939 in Massachusetts, spending most of his time in and around Danvers. From the moment he laughed his way through his first Charlie Chaplin movie as a child, he was fascinated with movie-making. In 1956, he enrolled in the Worcester Academy, intending to become a cartoonist, but after he filled in for a sick classmate, playing the role of an English professor in the play, The Male Animal, he knew he wanted to be an actor. He got the part of Billy Blue Cannon, son of ranch patriarch John Cannon on The High Chaparral, through his electric performance in producer David Dortort's office, even after the part had been temporarily assigned to another actor. Dortort was wanting a young man with just the right generation clash with authority, and Mark provided it by yanking Dortort up out of his chair by the lapel of his suit in the impromptu audition. Three hours later, Mark was hired. He is living in California and still active in his artistic career. You can visit his studio web site at: |
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Henry Darrow 1933 - 2021
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Henry almost missed his glory days on The High Chaparral because he chose an inopportune time to change his image. David Dortort had seen him act two years earlier, as a lighthearted Mexican peasant in The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit and had written the part of Manolito Montoya - the son of a powerful haciendado who renounces his father's wealth - with Henry in mind, only when it came time to offer the handsome young actor the part, Henry was nowhere to be found. Dortort had been searching for Henry under his former name, Enrique Delgado, but Henry, tired of being type-cast as a Mexican, had changed his name to Darrow. The part nearly went to Italian actor, Tony Franciosa, before Henry was located just two weeks before filming was scheduled to begin. Originally, the part of Manolito was intended to be a skulking villain, but Henry's charm came through so strongly that the character was changed from nasty to nice. Henry passed away March 14, 2021 at his home in North Carolina at the age of 87. |
Henry Darrow Henry Darrow's many loyal fans were saddened to hear of his passing March 14, 2021 at the age of 87. Born in New York to native Puerto Rican parents, he spent much of his childhood in Puerto Rico and became fluent in a variety of languages and dialects. On the High Chaparral he played the Mexican aristocrat, Manolito Montoya, an HC role with perhaps the greatest range of characteristics and styles of any other character on the show. His roguish charm and good heart earned him legions of fans.
His acting career spanned more than 50
years and over 140 film and television credits. You can see more about his
full filmography on IMDB. |
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. 1934 - 2020
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Linda Cristal, real name Marta Victoria Moya
Burges, was born February 25, 1934 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She had gone
into semi-retirement to raise her two sons, when John Wayne coaxed her out to do
the part of Flaca in his epic The Alamo in 1960. After that, she
took assignments only as the whim struck.
Linda was the last main cast member to be added to The High Chaparral, and she got the part through sheer determination and perseverance. David Dortort had been auditioning actresses for three weeks, seeking just the right person with stunning good looks and a fiery personality, who could breathe life into the aristocratic Victoria Montoya, and he had just about given up hope of ever finding the right person. When Linda finally heard about the part, her agent thought the role had already been cast, but she urged him to check, and history was made. She passed away June 27, 2020 at her home in California at the age of 89. |
The character she
played, Victoria Montoya Cannon, was admired for being a fiery, loving, and
intelligent woman who moved easily among a variety of cultures, generations,
and economic strata with strength, grace, and caring. No one who loved The
High Chaparral could ever imagine another actress of such range and spirit
who could have brought Victoria Cannon to life the way that Linda Cristal
did. She will be missed by legions of fans. |
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1928 - 2021
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His first movie was the Western, Massacre River,
to be followed in short order by Fort Apache
and Davy Crockett, Indian Scout.
After a stint in college, Don returned to acting with a starring role in the
highly acclaimed Outlaws in 1960, where he played the part of
U. S. Marshal Will Foreman during the notorious days of the Dalton Gang and Bill
Doolin's Wild Bunch in the Oklahoma Territory of the 1890's. He came to
the difficult and demanding role of Sam Butler because of his looks and
exceptional riding ability. |
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Born April 3,
1927 in New York, Robert Francis
"Bob" Hoy, has been a stuntman - actor - stunt coordinator - director
in television and the movies going back to the late 1940's. He made a
number of films with Alan Ladd and Audie Murphy, and among the many people he
has doubled are Tony Curtis, Charles Bronson, Robert Forster, Ross Martin,
Tyrone Power, Telly Savalas, Jay Silverheels, and David Janssen. He
crossed over from stunt work into acting while guest-starring on Bonanza.
A few of his film credits include Bite the Bullet, The Lone Ranger, Nevada
Smith, The Enforcer, Five Card Stud, and The Outlaw Josey Wales.
He guest-starred in numerous television shows, some of which were Wanted
Dead or Alive, The Wild Wild West, Streets of San Francisco, and Quincy.
When he became Joe Butler, the ranch hand and younger brother of ranch foreman Sam Butler on The High Chaparral, he rode into millions of hearts everywhere. Many people claimed he was the stunt double for Henry Darrow as Manolito, but that stuntman was Carl Petty. Bob stepped behind the camera to direct Zorro and The Three Musketeers. He was a founding member of The Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures, of which he was a lifetime member, and he was one of the most famous stuntmen in Hollywood. Bob passed away in February 2010 at the age of 82. |
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Roberto Contreras was born December
19, 1928 in Missouri and
he always knew he would be an actor. Tall and lean with the rugged good
looks of the Latin lover, he appeared in hundreds of television and movie roles,
usually cast as a Mexican peasant or lovable villain.
He came to The High Chaparral as the jack-of-all-trades ranch hand named Pedro in the first episode and quickly captured hearts everywhere. Ironically, he first worked with Don Collier in an episode of Outlaws in 1961, which also guest-starred Ted Markland, who became Reno on The High Chaparral. Roberto died July 18, 2000 in Burbank, California, after a short illness. His son, Luis, who followed him into an acting career, died June 20, 2004. |
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Born January 15, the son of an Army colonel, Ted Markland grew up all over the United States. When he decided to become an actor, he studied dramatic arts at Los Angeles City College. He also studied with famed actor Richard Boone, who rode into history as Paladin in Have Gun Will Travel. Ted had a deep interest in comedy, and his first manager, the legendary stand-up comic Lenny Bruce, booked him into such famous nightclubs as the Blue Angel in New York City, the Purple Onion in San Francisco, and the Troubadour in Los Angeles. From there, Ted's career was non-stop. Since he was tall and lanky, he was cast anywhere from the mean galoot to the tame pussycat. Some of his memorable television appearances were in Father Murphy, Dallas, Hunter, Bonanza, Renegade, and Murder She Wrote. His films ranged from Disney's Blackbeard's Ghost to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ulzana's Raid, and Waterhole #3. He won critical acclaim as the bad-ass biker Malcolm Pierce in Another 48 Hours with Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte, as well as Strap, the Be-Bop Killer, in Wanda Nevada with Peter Fonda and Brooke Shields. It was while he was performing at the Troubadour that director David Dortort spied him and wrote the part of Reno the ranch hand for him in The High Chaparral. Ironically, he first worked with Don Collier in an episode of Outlaws in 1961, along with another guest star Roberto Contreras, who would become Pedro in The High Chaparral. When not acting, Ted's hobbies included Navajo Indian culture, mountain climbing, and writing songs and scripts. He was actively involved in many fan-based events, especially all of The High Chaparral Reunions.
Ted passed away December 18, 2011 at the age of 78 in Yucca Valley, CA. |
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Jerry
Summers
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He was a stunt driver for the Dukes of Hazzard all seven years, doing crashes, rollovers and high speed gymnastics on a daily routine. Some of his films where he did stunts were Avalanche, Throw Momma from the Train, Alien Nation, Eddie Macon's Run, and The Gumball Rally. Some of his television acting credits include Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Night Gallery, Laramie, Virginian, Have Gun Will Travel, Tales of Wells Fargo, and some of his film roles include Coogan's Bluff, Dillinger, and Law of the Lawless. He said he got the part of ranch hand Ira Bean on The High Chaparral through sheer luck, but that is not quite the whole story. He was already well-acquainted with director Bill Claxton, and he had worked with most of the cast and crew members on one project or another, so with the added ability of being able to do just about anything required on the set, he was a shoo-in as a ranch hand. Although it was said that he often doubled Henry Darrow as Manolito in The High Chaparral, that stunt double was Carl Petty. Jerry left at the end of the first season to pursue his career in the stunt profession, becoming one of the most famous stuntmen in Hollywood. Jerry passed away January
1, 2006 at his home in California. |
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"ODE TO A
STUNTMAN"
By Jerry Summers
You only have one time on earth. Your one time in life. And my time was Summers Time. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Anything I ever wanted to do, I was able to accomplish. Anything I ever wanted to do, I did. Somebody once asked me if I had to do it all over again, would I? I didn't have to give it a second thought. It was a great life. It was Summers Time. I wouldn't trade it. I did it all.
I couldn't count the times I was shot and killed or all of the wars and fights I've been in. I played life over centuries and far into the future. I have been one of the first humans on earth. I fought with Spartacus and I fenced in the days of Sir Arthur. And I have been a crewmember of the Enterprise beamed up to a distant planet by Scotty, only to find myself as an Alien. I was a part of the Mafia and I have been on the side of the law as an Untouchable. I fought side by side with Custer in his fight with the Indians. And I have fought side by side with Geronimo against the cavalry. I have even fought with the Texas Rangers against the Dalton gang. And I robbed trains with Jesse James. A few times in my life I have even been part of the opposite sex. I have voluntarily put myself in a life threatening situation many times in my career. Believe me, I have done it all.
With jest in his voice but contempt in his heart he said. "You're so old, all you have left are eight by tens and memories of friends." I could have told him he wasn't immune but instead played the game. Sure I have memories. Memories of working with great actors, great directors. And all the great people behind the scenes that make it happen. When I was in my prime I never thought I'd make it to the age of thirty. When I hit forty, I said hey from here on in it's all a gift. Now that I'm retired and I look back at my mortality, it was all a gift. It was all Summers Time.
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He made his film debut in 1952's Viva Zapata, and shortly thereafter, he was prominently cast in two of Stanley Kubrick's films, Fear and Desire and Killer's Kiss. He was the founder of The Theatre of Being, which was devoted to helping young African American actors get started in show business. He also turned to directing stage plays in New York and Los Angeles. In 1967, he was chosen for the role of the aristocratic, but prankish, nemesis to the Cannon empire with his portrayal of Don Sebastian Montoya in The High Chaparral. Frank Silvera was accidentally electrocuted in his home on June 11, 1970. His
death became the basis for the two-hour television movie, "New Lion of
Sonora", which portrayed the death of Don Sebastian. |
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Rudolfo Acosta, called Rudy by his friends, was born July 29, 1920 in Chihuahua, Mexico. It is not known exactly when he first made his way to Hollywood to begin his acting career under John Ford, but he became one of the most successful character actors in the picture business. With his craggy features and fine bone structure, he was a photographer's dream, and his face became familiar to thousands of people long before they knew his name. He has played all sorts of characters in almost 100 movie and television appearances. In 1967, Rudolfo became a household name across America with his portrayal of Vaquero in The High Chaparral. He was somewhat of a jack-of-all-trades, having the capability, knowledge, and expertise to herd cattle, cook, doctor, and understand the Apaches and their language. As Vaquero, he gave willingly of his skills to the Cannon Ranch of Arizona. Rudolfo Acosta died from cancer on November 7, 1974 in Woodland Hills, California. |
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Caruso made his film debut in Johnny Apollo in 1939, and with his swarthy good looks, gravelly voice, and winning smile, he was soon in high demand, playing all sorts of ethnic types. Although he was in 11 Ladd films, he missed what could have been the biggest role. Alan Ladd had wanted Caruso to play the gunman in the 1953 classic Shane, but Caruso was in another film, and the part went to Jack Palance, making Palance a big star. By the time Caruso came to The High Chaparral as that loveable bandit El Lobo, he was a well-recognized film villain with more than 200 film and television roles to his credit. Anthony Caruso passed away April 4, 2003 |
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Born September 19, 1950 in Lawton, Oklahoma,, Rudy Ramos has been acting since he was a teenager. He came to The High Chaparral in Season Four, not to replace the missing Blue Cannon, but to add another aspect of Arizona life to the ranch. Playing the part of the half-Pawnee, half-white youth Wind, he managed to stir up controversy in the bunkhouse, tax Sam's patience with his hard-headedness, aggravate Buck with his stubbornness, and demonstrate the ethics of his upbringing when sparring with John. He went on in the motion picture business by taking guest roles in movies and television, before he once again took a series role in the highly acclaimed Hunter. He also took time to cut a record album. He is alive and well, living in California, and still acting. |
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He chose his screen name in homage to his two favorite movie stars, silent screen actors John Gilbert and Ruth Roland. He had his feature film debut in 1925's The Plastic Age and began to fulfill the demands of the dashing Latin lover, a role he seemed destined to play throughout his career. He slipped easily into talkies as a debonair leading man, and continued as a character actor into the mid-1980's. Loved and admired by film goers everywhere, he came to The High Chaparral in the role of Don Domingo Montoya, brother to Don Sebastian, after the accidental death of Frank Silvera in 1970. Gilbert Roland died of cancer on May 15, 1994 in Beverly Hills, California. |
