Secrets Of TV’s The Rifleman: More Than Just Guns And Good Times

#11. Widower's Peak

Lucas McCain’s character proved to be a groundbreaking parent on American television. He was the first widowed parent to be portrayed raising a child alone. Connors credited Sam Peckinpah with writing strong, robust scripts that made the father-son relationship depicted on the show realistic and appealing. And other television series soon caught on…

#12. Copycat

It may have taken some time, but the idea of a single parent raising a child alone popped up on other series before too long. Another show that featured a single dad was the 1950s series Bachelor Father starring John Forsyth. And in the 1960s-1970s show Julia, the title character was beautifully played by Diahann Carroll. Julia was a widowed registered nurse who didn’t tote a gun but had interchanges with her young son similar to those between Lucas and Mark McClain.

#13. All-Around Athlete

Chuck Connors, a native of Brooklyn, was a member of the very first Boston Celtics team in 1946. He also had the distinction of being the first professional basketball player credited with shattering a backboard. Scouts and coaches recognized Connors outstanding natural athletic abilities and it wasn’t long before his sports career really took off.

#14. The Dream Continues

He left the Celtics to play with his childhood heroes, the Brooklyn Dodgers. After that, Connors joined the Chicago Cubs in 1951, where he played first base. The icing on the cake: He was also drafted by the Chicago Bears. Maybe playing all those sports fostered Connors impressive ambidextrous talents.

#15. Hopping Around

Long before Dennis Hopper jumped on a motorcycle in Easy Rider, he appeared in the premiere episode of The Rifleman called “The Sharpshooter.” Hopper appeared on an episode down the road as a totally unrelated character in an installment called, “Three Legged Terror.” He wasn’t the only actor doing double-duty, though.

Secrets Of TV’s The Rifleman: More Than Just Guns And Good Times

#11. Widower's Peak

#12. Copycat

#13. All-Around Athlete

#14. The Dream Continues

#15. Hopping Around

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