Everyone thinks that in order to become a star, you need to act in starring roles. But that's simply not the case. The truth of the matter is that there are no small parts, only small actors. A performer can certainly maintain a career by playing side characters, and sometimes, they find these roles to be even more enriching than that of a leading man or woman.

During an interview with the Effingham Daily News, Paul Brinegar revealed that it was the secret to his success.

Rawhide viewers may remember Brinegar as George Washington Wishbone, the camp cook on the series. Brinegar made his mark on the television industry through a series of smaller roles in television and film. "My stage acting background, with stock companies and Los Angeles productions, prepared me not only for movies but also for TV when it began becoming big," said Brinegar during an interview with the Effingham Daily News.

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Though Wishbone's appearances were infrequent on Rawhide, they were certainly memorable.

Brinegar revealed that he didn't mind his sporadic appearances on the hit Western. In fact, they were what made his career sustainable.

"The one thing that made all the difference," said Brinegar, "is not being the star on whom the production rode. Thus, I wouldn't be in all the scenes and might clean up a week's work in two or three days. All in all, it was delightful."

Working in television was a paradise for an actor like Brinegar, who admired the rapid process that a television show implemented.

"Television is my career," Brinegar said during an interview with The Ithaca Journal. "I'm better geared to its faster pace. The slowness of movie-making leaves me bored and unhappy."