Dan Blocker, the actor who played Hoss Cartwright on Bonanza, had deep roots in West Texas. Born in De Kalb, Texas, Blocker grew up in the small town of O’Donnell, about 40 miles south of Lubbock.
A Familiar Stop Before Hollywood
Blocker’s family moved to O’Donnell when he was young, and his father owned a grocery store. Dan quickly became known as one of the biggest kids around, standing nearly 6-foot-4 and weighing around 300 pounds by adulthood.
After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Blocker taught school and coached football before deciding to give acting a shot. He eventually landed the role that would define his career, Eric “Hoss” Cartwright on NBC’s Bonanza.
Becoming America’s Favorite Cowboy
For 13 seasons, Hoss became one of television’s most recognizable characters, known for his kind, honest, and fiercely loyal personality. At its peak, Bonanza was one of the biggest shows in America, making Dan Blocker one of television’s biggest stars.
O’Donnell still takes great pride in its famous son, with a Dan Blocker Museum dedicated to his life and career, and a life-size statue of Hoss Cartwright welcoming visitors downtown.
Original reporting: News/Talk 790 KFYO (Lubbock) — read the source article.
