September 19, 1962 - March 24, 1971
NBC Western - 249 Episodes
Cast:
| The Virginian: | James Drury |
| Trampas: | Doug McClure |
| Judge Henry Garth: | Lee J. Cobb |
| Steve Hill: | Gary Clarke |
| Betsy Garth: | Roberta Shore |
| Deputy Emmett Ryker: | Clu Gulager |
| Clay Grainger: | John McIntire |
| Holly Grainger: | Jeanette Nolan |
| John Grainger: | Charles Bickford |
| Randy Benton: | Randy Boone |
| Sheriff Mark Abbott: | Ross Elliott |
| Molly Wood: | Pippa Scott |
| Jim Horn: | Tim Matheson |
| Dr. Spaulding: | John Bryant |
| Cecil, ranch hand: | Cecil Combs |
| Morgan Starr: | John Dehner |
| Barney Wingate: | Roy Engel |
| Harper, ranch hand: | Harper Flaherty |
| Colonel Alan MacKenzie: | Stewart Granger |
| David Sutton: | David Hartman |
| Belden, ranch hand: | L.Q. Jones |
| Elizabeth Grainger: | Sara Lane |
| Roy Tate: | Lee Majors |
| Parker: | John McLiam |
| Bart the bartender: | Stuart Nisbet |
| Gene, ranch hand: | Jean Peloquin |
| Stacey Grainger: | Don Quine |
| Jennifer Sommers: | Diane Roter |
| Dick: | Dick Shane |
| Eddie, ranch hand: | Jan Stine |
| Danny the bartender: | Frank Sully |
| Seth Petit: | Ken Swofford |
| Sheriff Stan Evans: | Russell Thorson |
| Sheriff John Brannan: | Harlan Warde |
This long running drama was the first 90-minute Western
series. It starred James Drury as the laconic, mysterious
"Virginian," who never revealed his real name and who
"forced his idea of law and order on a Wyoming Territory
community in the 1890s"; and Doug McClure as the wild
young cowhand Trampas. Setting for the saga was the
Shiloh Ranch, owned successively by Judge Garth, the two
Grainger brothers (John and Clay), and finally Colonel
Alan MacKensie took over during the last season, at
which time the program was retitled The Men from Shiloh.
The Virginian was one of the leading "adult Westerns,"
relying on strong characterizations by both regular cast
and guest stars rather than on gimmicks. In many respects
it resembled a weekly movie feature. Many actors and
actresses appeared in regular supporting roles
for varying lengths of time.
The Virginian was based on the 1902 novel of the same name
by Owen Wister, which had been produced three times as a
motion picture (the most famous being the 1929 version
starring Gary Cooper and Walter Huston).
An interesting sidelight was that the original pilot for
this series, produced in the late 1950s, cast Drury as a
Western dandy replete with shiny hunting boots, skintight
pants, lace cuffs, and a tiny pistol. It didn't sell, and
so was remade several years later without the foppish
accoutrements--to become one of TV's biggest hits.
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By Barbara Townsend
Episode Guide
By Des Martin
James Drury The Virginian
An Official Website
The Virginian
From TV Party
The Virginian
From TV.com
These links were last tested July 2004.
Check out these classic TV Guide covers...
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