Chuck Connors, best known for his role as Lucas McCain in “The Rifleman,” had a stunning metamorphosis from a talented athlete to a versatile actor. Born in 1921, he shown baseball talent that caught the Brooklyn Dodgers’ notice in 1940. Despite playing Major League Baseball for a short while, Connors’ breakout performance in the 1952 film “Pat and Mike” helped him break into the acting industry in the early 1950s. His portrayal as McCain, a New Mexican rancher, in “The Rifleman” in 1958 marked the pinnacle of his career. Connors enjoyed the part on an emotional and physical level, mastering stunts and riding a horse. The popularity of the show was largely attributed to Connors’ commanding presence and genuine bond with his on-screen son, Johnny Crawford.
Despite being shown on TV as the ideal father, Connors had a complex personal life. Numerous marriages, adultery, and a large age gap in relationships contradicted his amiable on-screen persona. In addition, Connors established himself in liberal Hollywood as a well-known conservative who supported politicians like Nixon and Reagan. Following “Rifleman,” Connors took on a number of TV and film jobs in an attempt to escape McCain’s shadow. In a 1991 television movie, he returned as the iconic character in his twilight years before his battle with lung disease finally caused his death in 1992 at the age of 71.
