Television is often considered a superficial business. But the fact is, on many television shows, actors form bonds that last for years to come. Just as the Cartwright family remained close on Bonanza, so did the actors in real life.

Dan Blocker, Michael Landon and Lorne Greene were a tight-knit group of friends, both on and off the set. Of course, Bonanza was on television for a whopping 14 years, and the three men often made appearances together at fan events as well.

But Blocker and Landon looked up to Greene, seeing him as a sort of surrogate father. Much like their characters, the two men would come to Greene with any issues they were struggling with, and Greene would help guide them through.

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Sadly, Dan Blocker passed away in 1972, just before Bonanza officially ended. In a 1974 interview with The Toronto Star, Greene remembered his old friend fondly.

He also shared his personal opinion that perhaps Bonanza would have been a better show if it had ended when Blocker died, rather than attempting to adapt without him.

"The death of anybody would have had some effect," Greene said. "You know, when you go to a house where there's been a death, you feel a little uncomfortable."

"I thought they were going to cancel it then, and now I think they should have," Greene continued. "It was a different show after that. They didn't change the direction right. But it was never a grind."

The death of a major actor is always difficult, though Greene never regretted the time and energy he spent working on Bonanza. Fourteen years may have been enough for Bonanza, but the memories lasted much longer.

"I don't consider 14 years in Bonanza a failure," Greene said.