Lawmanis a popular TVWesternseries that ran on ABC from 1958 to 1962. The plot concerns Dan Troop, a police officer from Kansas who relocates to Laramie, Wyoming, and becomes the new town Marshal. To help him keep criminals at bay, Troop deputizes an orphan named Johnny McKay after his previous application for the role is denied. Meanwhile, Dan becomes close with a saloon owner named Lily Merrill, who arrives in Wyoming from Montana.
Aside from the three main characters, many of the veteran supporting players featured inLawmanwere born in the early 1900s. While most of them have since passed away, it’s worth celebrating their memorable work on theclassic Western seriesand highlighting their most recent projects.
John Russell as Dan Troop
John Russellplays Marshall Dan Troop in all 156 episodes ofLawman. Troop is a tough, gruff, by-the-book police officer who is just as good with a gun as he is with his hands. Although he was 37 years old when he was cast as Troop, Russell felt the character would have been older and added white streaks to his hair in the third episode to give him a more seasoned appearance. Unfortunately, John Russell passed away from emphysema in 1991 at the age of 70.
John Russell Was a Prolific Western Actor
After giving such a convincing performance as Marshall Troop inLawman, Russell went on to star in some of the most acclaimed movie westerns. For instance, he starred inClint Eastwood’s classic westernrevenge taleThe Outlaw Josey Walesin 1976 before starring in Clint Eastwood’sPale Riderin 1985. Later in his career, he would also play a brief role in the 1970s NBC police dramaMcCloud, appearing in the episode “The Concrete Jungle Caper.”
Peter Brown as Johnny McKay
Peter Brownportrays Deputy Johnny McKay in every episode ofLawman. McKay was orphaned as a 10-year-old when his father was murdered by raiders and his mother died in a wagon-train crash. When he arrives in Laramie, Marshall Troop is initially reluctant to deputize him based on his young age and lack of experience. Over time, McKay proves his worth and earns Troop’s trust. Although Brown was 14 years younger than his co-star Russell, he too sadly passed away in 2016. Brown passed away from Parkinson’s disease in 2016. He was 80 years old.
Brown logged an impressive 116 acting credits in his decorated career, with his two final movies released in 2005. Fittingly, both movies happened to be Westerns, includingThree Bad MenandHell to Pay. Brown would also play a key role in the 1974 blaxploitation filmFoxy Brown, which saw him starring alongside Pam Grier and Antonio Fargas.
Peggie Castle as Lily Merrill
Peggie Castleplayed the third main character onLawman, Lily Merrill, for 106 episodes. Lily arrived in Laramie after being forced out of her Montana hometown by a corrupt sheriff. She owns and operates the Birdcage Saloon in town, where good guys and bad guys often convene. Throughout the series, Merrill and Troop become incredibly close, and she often gives the two lawmen wise advice when needed. Lily Merrill was the penultimate character Peggy Castle played before passing away from cirrhosis of the liver in 1973. She was just 45 years old.
Lawman Was Peggie Castle’s Most Prominent Series
While her final role included a guest appearance inthe classic ’50s-’60s western TV show,The Virginian, Castle amassed a remarkable 61 credits between 1947 and 1966. AlthoughLawmanmarked her only continuing series, Castle was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for her outstanding career.
Dan Sheridan as Jake Summers
Dan Sheridanappears in 41 episodes ofLawman. He played a character named Jake Summers, who often worked as a bartender at the Birdcage Saloon in Laramie. Although Sheridan accrued roughly 70 movie and TV credits in his career,Lawmanrepresented his longest-lasting recurring role. His second longest included a five-episode stint in the TV western seriesThe Rebel. Sadly, Sheridan passed away from cancer at age 46 in 1963, one year after completing his arc inLawman.
Dan Sheridan Was Primarily a Television Actor
Similar to his costar Peggie Castle, Sheridan’s final acting role included a two-part guest appearance in the classic western seriesThe Virginian. While Sheridan spent most of his career on the small screen, his most acclaimed movies includeLonely Are the Brave,Home from the Hill, andDay of the Outlaw.
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Clancy Cooper as Timmo McQueen
Clancy Cooperplays the role of Timmo McQueen in 15 episodes ofLawman’s second season. McQueen is a large, hulking man who also works as a bartender in Lily’s saloon. Part of McQueen’s character traits include speaking in a thick Irish lilt, which customers often have trouble understanding. Ironically enough, Cooper is an American actor from Idaho, while Dan Sheridan, who plays Jake Summers, was born in Ireland. Alas, Cooper passed away after suffering a heart attack while driving in 1975. He was 68 years old at the time of his death.
Clancy Cooper’s Last Role was in Sanford and Son
Yet, like most of hisLawmancontemporaries, Cooper leaves a lasting legacy that includes 176 screen credits. While Cooper’s final screen appearance came during a 1972episode ofSanford and Son, it’s worth noting that he appeared in more than 100 movies between 1938 and 1962. His final movie is calledIncident in an Alley, a crime drama written byThe Twilight Zonecreator Rod Serling.
Harry Cheshire as Judge Trager
Harry Cheshirealso appears in 15 episodes ofLawman, although his episodes were stretched over all four seasons. Cheshire played a character named Judge Trager, who oversees and adjudicates the legal cases in Laramie. Trager is also a member of the town council and uses his connections to influence the town. He also becomes close to Marshall Troop and trusts the Lawman to keep Laramie safe. Cheshire has also passed away in what’s become a tragic recurring theme. Born in 1891, Cheshire died of unknown causes in 1968 at the age of 76.
Cheshire’s Second-To-Last Role
Similar to Dan Sheridan,Lawmanwas the second-to-last credit that Cheshire added to his resume before his death. His 169th and final credit includes the crime movieThe Patsy, which was released in 1964. Cheshire’s other most notable role includes playing Judge Ben Wiley inBuffalo Bill Jr., another 30-minutewestern TV series.
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Grady Sutton as Ben Toomey
Grady Suttonplays the role of Ben Toomey in 13 episodes during the third and fourth seasons ofLawman. Toomey is the desk clerk at the Hotel Laramie. Like the previous clerk, Jack, Toomey uses his position to gain sensitive information on the locals that he relays to Troop and McKay. As such, Toomey often assists with the arrests made in town. It’s sad to report that Sutton passed away of natural causes in 1995 at the age of 89.
A Career Spanning Five Decades
Over his 50-year career, Sutton appeared in more than 180 movies and several popular TV shows. Far from just being a Western movie and TV actor, Sutton’s final screen appearances included single episodes inHawaii 5-0andThe Odd Couple.However, Joe Dante movie fanswill always remember Sutton’s final role as the School Board President inRock ‘n’ Roll High School.
Emory Parnell as Hank
Emory Parnellplays a character named Hank the Bartender in 11 episodes ofLawman’sfirst two seasons. Hank served booze to the townsfolk in Laramie in a cantina called Bluebonnet Saloon, which served as the predecessor to Lily’s Birdcage Saloon. Since much of the action takes place in barrooms, playing a server in Lawman gives guest stars the best opportunity to shine onscreen. Born in 1892, Parnell accrued an unfathomable 348 acting credits in his four-decade career. Unfortunately, Parnell passed away from a heart attack in 1979 at the age of 86.
Parnell Worked With Alfred Hitchcock and Robert Wise
A classic performer from a bygone era, Parnell appeared in everything from Alfred Hitchcock’sForeign Correspondentto Robert Wise’sThe Andromeda Strain. Working well into his ’80s right up to his death, Parnell’s final two credits included a guest appearance inGunsmokeand a supporting part in the 1972 horror-comedyGirls on the Road.
Bek Nelson as Dru Lemp
Bek Nelsonplays the memorable role of Dru Lemp in nine episodes ofLawman’s first season. Lemp is the widow of David Lemp, the previous Marshall in Laramie whom Troop was hired to replace. In addition to grieving her loss, Lemp owns and operates a local café in Laramie, which is a much cleaner and more savory place to hang out than the rowdy saloons. Despite being one of the younger Lawman cast members, Nelson passed away in 2015 at the age of 87.
Famous for Her Role in Bell, Book, and Candle
In addition toLawman, Nelson is most famous for playingJames Stewart’s movie assistant TinainBell, Book and Candle. Nelson tallied 53 credits in her career, with her final screen appearance coming in a four-part guest role as a character named Phyllis Sloan inPeyton Place.
Vinton Hayworth as Oren Slauson
Vinton Hayworthdepicts Oren Slauson in 10 episodes duringLawman’s second and fourth seasons. Slauson is the feckless manager of the Laramie Bank, which is constantly robbed by bandits in town. The running gag causes much dismay for Troop and McKay, who are forced to capture the bank robbers and bring them before Judge Trager. After collecting 165 screen credits in his career, Hayworth passed away from a heart attack in 1970 at the age of 63.
Hayworth Transitioned Into Television
After appearing in roughly 80 movies to begin his career, Hayworth transitioned to television in 1946 and spent most of his time on the small screen. Although Lawman marks his second-longest TV stint, Hayworth played various roles in 20 episodes ofI Dream of Jeannie, the final TV show he participated in.
If you want to see even more classic Westerns, be sure to check out our video chronicling the best Westerns of all time below:
