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Pernell Roberts did not want to wear a toupee on Bonanza — and it once fell off in a scene
Adam Cartwright had a hair-raising stunt in season six.
The Cartwright clan might have looked mighty different. Bonanza series creator David Dortort had different actors in mind early in the casting process. For the patriarchal role of Ben, Dortort initially considered Lee J. Cobb, who would land a role on The Virginian. Former Little Rascal and future Baretta Robert Blake nearly had the role of Little Joe, as did Robert Fuller, who saddled up on Laramie instead.
The rugged Claude Akins, hot off roles in The Caine Mutiny (1954) and Rio Bravo (1959) came to Dortort's mind as a potential Adam Cartwright. Dortort took notice of Pernell Roberts on the Universal lot. An NBC exec had likewise taken note of Roberts in the big-screen Western Ride Lonesome. The decision was made to cast the Georgia native as the eldest son.
In the first week of shooting, Roberts walked into Dortort's office. He removed his toupee. Dortort was not aware that Roberts wore a hairpiece.
Roberts suggested that he'd rather play Adam au naturel, without his toupee. Dortort refused, claiming the star looked "15 years older without it." He was 31 years old at the time. For perspective, Greene, his fictional pa, was 44.
So, Adam Cartwright kept his hair.
Well, for the most part.
In the opening scene of "Thanks for Everything, Friend," an early episode from season six that aired in 1964, Adam falls into a river when freeing a trapped calf. The rapids sweep the friendly Man in Black away — and rip off the actor's toupee. For a fleeting moment, the viewer can spot a bald Roberts flailing about in the water. The flap of hair quickly returns. You can watch the clip above.
Roberts should not have felt shame. In fact, he was hardly alone. Both Greene and Dan Blocker (Hoss) wore hairpieces, as well. Greene had his own toupee mishap when leaping into a pond for a stunt. Michael Landon was the only one of the four core Cartwrights to not wear a toupee. Roberts would get his wish to act without it, at last, when he became the star of the M*A*S*H spin-off Trapper John, M.D.
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25 Comments
It's interesting reading this post I am Pernell Roberts first cousin all the men a percentage were bald my dad his dad my brothers all on the Roberts side. We all had a sense of humor about it. As a female of the group I have thin hair but long. I miss him dearly. He was a great guy.
Interesting, is what the actors will do to get started in Hollywood, then to gain a reputation. Given, is the necessity for talent. But it’s a body-business too, the visual, the impression, the personality, as applied to the role. The actor can recite his lines convincingly, but if PR looked more LG’s brother than his son, what’s the point of "Bonanza" as a storyline. Actors want adjustments, once confident. But read the premise, men. Respect the story's moral tales. About family, patriarch, life-lessons, loyalty, and relationships! But watch out for egos, meaning ML had his eyes on stardom long before PR earned it. Interesting, is the tale of a toupee, gone deeper. We discover, dissatisfaction in general.
Currently, loving Mannix, for lots of reasons. One being how he (writers) incorporated his brash, toughness, brutal self-defensive maneuvers with an innate kindness for the underdog. He displays a lot of dual emotions in the early years. Especially now that the series has recycled back to the beginning (Intertech). LB (of Desilu) had the show retooled refocusing on JM’s softer side playing out with (GF’s) Peggy Fair. Then replacing that tension between JC with Lt. Malcom's doubt, which made for a little more “give” in his personality! JC was about to have a stroke in every episode from sheer frustration, but his single dimension personality, would've worn thin.
What’s the point? Dramatic series evolve and actors should respect the dynamic that grows from doing so. Usually, if the overall story arc is allowed to play out, then it keeps a series going 8 to 10 seasons. The best of Producers can smell success, they keep the vision!
Currently, loving Mannix, for lots of reasons. One being how he (writers) incorporated his brash, toughness, brutal self-defensive maneuvers with an innate kindness for the underdog. He displays a lot of dual emotions in the early years. Especially now that the series has recycled back to the beginning (Intertech). LB (of Desilu) had the show retooled refocusing on JM’s softer side playing out with (GF’s) Peggy Fair. Then replacing that tension between JC with Lt. Malcom's doubt, which made for a little more “give” in his personality! JC was about to have a stroke in every episode from sheer frustration, but his single dimension personality, would've worn thin.
What’s the point? Dramatic series evolve and actors should respect the dynamic that grows from doing so. Usually, if the overall story arc is allowed to play out, then it keeps a series going 8 to 10 seasons. The best of Producers can smell success, they keep the vision!
Oh sorry, I left out the connection between actors and toupees, which are more commonly known today as very expensive tailor-made hair pieces (if not other inventions to regrow a hairline). For so many male actors it's just necessary. And I can't figure out if Mike Connors did in Mannix. It's not easily looked up, though there's one tiny, cryptic reference if taken for truth. In later episodes the way his hair is combed, is carbon copied, hair strand by hair strand, weekly. Early episodes show a much shorter look, but amazing how the part in his hair is natural, even in water. His look, very attractive, not caring however it was achieved!!
Love the trivia about the shows I become to love
I’m currently watching Bonanza on You Tube, up to season 12 now. Yes, Adam Cartwright was my favorite of the Cartwright clan and I was upset he was no longer on the show after season 6. His replacement later on was Guy Williams who would have been a good fit but only lasted a few episodes. I had heard something about Little Joe being jealous of him when around females casts and was probably responsible for his departure, how true I don’t know. Later on Candy was also selected to fill in the void and lasted up to season 11 and then came season 12 with a different theme song which I thought the producer completely went overboard.
While I mostly liked the CHARACTER of Adam, I'm not the biggest fan of Pernell who seemed to literally flip his wig because not everything was exactly to his liking. I didn't even like his part at the beginning of the shows where all four Cartwrights ride up to the camera and Pernell sits on his horse stone faced, expressionless, barely cracking a smile with what looked like an arrogant smirk. Smug indifference was the only emotion I saw, rug or no rug. I liked Candy a LOT more.
Pernell did not like the way his character was written. Adam was the eldest son & his father's right hand man but always had to get permission from his father to do anything. In 1 episode, 3 grown men had to stand around & wait for their father to tell them to get the doctor & the sheriff for a badly injured man. In another episode, Ben Cartwright sends his 3 grown sons to bed like like little kids.
Definitely - he was brought up in south Georgia during the "Jim Crow" era and had witnessed prejudice and discrimination, was dead-set against it and became very socially conscious and rightfully so. He abhorred the racial stereotypes projected on the show and tried hard to promote a different atmosphere. He was labeled a 'trouble maker' like all people who stand up for justice and fair treatment of their fellow man regardless of race, age, gender, etc. He paid a huge price for it by getting kicked off or being forced to walk off - there are varying versions of this including he supposedly got into a compromising situation with Michael Landon's wife and got fired! At any rate, his character Adam had grown up hard losing his mother [when he was only days old] and 2 stepmothers to violent deaths [Hoss' in an Indian attack and Little Joe's to an extra-marital affair gone bad]. This was enough to make anyone obtuse and indifferent, distrustful. Yet he evolved in a violent and ruthless environment into a very civilized, as well as deeply compassionate and caring man. He was a multi-dimensional, 'kick-ass', good-looking as all get out [female fans had no complaints that I know of] and smart as anyone else in the room - usually smarter! He was tough, sometimes unrelenting and intellectually arrogant to know end. When he was right about something, he NEVER backed down - even went against Ben! I liked that he got his way in some respects...he just was never one to be kicked around on or off set. People endure a lot of persecution for not going along to get along and thank God some if us still have GUTS!
I believe that Guy Williams was given a role as a Cartwright cousin who was cast as the essential replacement to cover Pernell Roberts departure.
I loved Lorne Greene as father Ben Cartwright, but I think Lee J. Cobb wouldn’t have been bad for that particular part either, could see him doing it too.
He was never comfortable in that role as Adam Cartwright. It should have been played by another actor . He stood it as long as he could and left in 1965 - but, like the prodigal,the grass off the PONDEROSA wasn't much greener . He did finally land his own tv series on CBS TRAPPER JOHN ,MD - which lasted seven seasons. He afterwards did things his way - and was known for his versatile characters played and versatile personality off the screen. He died of pancreatic cancer in 2010.
He went back to doing theater when he left Bonanza & also had many guest starring roles in other shows.
The article mentioned a man named Greene, but didn't say who Greene was. It did say 'fictional pa to Adam' however...so, Ben wasn't the dad? Did someone whose real name is Greene show up in the series? Inquiring minds....
I'm assuming they're referring to Lorne Greene
They are talking about Lourene Greene. That is who played Ben, Adam's dad.
All hairline "adjustments" come with the caveat, "You want it. You take it. You pay the price." (Old Springsteen lyric)
Dead-rodent toupees, the desperate, not-seen-so-much-anymore bar-code comb-over or experiments in colorizing...don't blame the world for noticing. Or laughing.
Did anyone see John Fogerty at a recent July 4th concert? Still sounded like the old CCR guy, but looked like he joined the Shameless Dye Guy Club with Carlton Fisk, Tony LaRussa...
You probably know a few yourself.
Dead-rodent toupees, the desperate, not-seen-so-much-anymore bar-code comb-over or experiments in colorizing...don't blame the world for noticing. Or laughing.
Did anyone see John Fogerty at a recent July 4th concert? Still sounded like the old CCR guy, but looked like he joined the Shameless Dye Guy Club with Carlton Fisk, Tony LaRussa...
You probably know a few yourself.
I don't see much hair on David Gilmour anymore. He's prit'neer bald, used to be he had more hair than you could shake a stick at.
My favorite Cartwright with or without toupee
My favorite too.
I hope Pernell was able to scoop his rug out of the water! Probably looked like a beaver out there 😂
Hated the Cartwright Adam glade he wss replaced
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After a couple of years, the Candy character, even though he was not a son. Candy left too, later, but he came back in an attempt to fill the loss of Hoss.
I never knew Claude Akins was considered for the part of Adam. Honestly I would have rather seen him getting the part as he was a big favorite of mine.
I always liked Claude Akins, but I as a teenager I loved Pernell Roberts as Adam. He was my favorite Cartwright. I rarely watched Bonanza after he left.
Lol
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