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Dan Blocker believed that there was an advantage to not being good looking in television
"I look like Porky Pig," said Blocker. "Who can hate him?"
Look, while many people would like nothing more than to spend the rest of their lives following the latest trend in an attempt to make themselves appear better looking, such preoccupations are not universal.
Dan Blocker was more than willing to admit to anyone who would listen that he wasn't very much of a looker. However, when he considered where he was as a successful television star, he admitted that sometimes his life seemed too good to be true.
"I'm so happy I think it's a frame-up," said Blocker during an interview with the UPI Hollywood Correspondent.
Blocker had no ambitions to become a romantic lead. Rather, he kept a more brutally honest look at public life, and about himself.
"I say 90 percent of the people in this world aren't beautiful physically," said Blocker. "Most of the men are ugly and the women are homely. Well, I'm one of them."
However, that didn't mean that Blocker would never become a star. Rather, it endeared him to audiences, who found him more relatable.
"In recent years, there's been a great revolution in all the arts from romanticism to realism," said Blocker. "Audiences want someone to identify with."
The Bonanza actor was incredibly humble, partially crediting his rather large stature for his big break in the entertainment industry.
"If it weren't for my size, I never would have played Hoss," said Blocker. "So my bulk has given my entree to innumerable career opportunities. But there are hundreds of thousands of outsize guys. So I had to capitalize on my talent too."
Better than a pretty face, Blocker had something much more impressive: Integrity and a sense of humor. "My face?" he asked. "I look like Porky Pig. And who can hate him?"
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9 Comments
or downright homely cast. The only two I could think of was "Bilko", there wasn't a
Cary Grant in the bunch, just a lot of gifted comics. Produced by the genius Nat Hiken,
his "Car 54 Where Are You" was also full of talented, average looking schnooks like
Fred Gwynn, but it's second and last season was brilliant, a young Charlotte Rae was
outstanding as Al Lewis's wife, the writing a joy, borsht humor at it's best, thankfully
there preserved as the venues where it once thrived are just memories now.
I exchanged 2 letters with Carl Reiner, he went on and on about Car 54.
He cited season 1's "The Courtship of Sylvia Schnauser" as well as lauding how good season
two was.
I agree Mrs. Harris. So Sway, how much are you willing to sell Perry for?
Dan Blocker did comedy well on Bonanza, I love him in the tv movie The Cockeye Cowboys of Calico County 1970.
Another actor that passed away too young in 1972
in the history of Hollywood. That's a likability factor. People took a shine to him almost
immediately.
He was a decorated Korean War combat veteran - Pork Chop Hill - and taught English
at a junior college in Texas. Not at all like Hoss, which is a tribute to his acting.
Rest in peace, big guy.