Dan Blocker
Biography
Dan Blocker was an American television actor who rose to fame as Hoss Cartwright in the NBC Western series Bonanza. Born in De Kalb, Texas, he taught English and drama before moving to Los Angeles. His early screen roles were mainly in Westerns, including Gunsmoke, Cheyenne, The Rifleman, and Cimarron City, where he had a recurring part as Tiny Budinger. In 1959 he began playing the gentle-natured Hoss on Bonanza, remaining in the role for more than 400 episodes until his death in 1972. He appeared in the Frank Sinatra comedy Come Blow Your Horn (1963) and later in the Tony Rome sequel Lady in Cement (1968), playing a menacing tough guy. Stanley Kubrick considered him for Dr. Strangelove, but the role went to Slim Pickens after Blocker's agent rejected the script. Director Robert Altman later cast him in The Long Goodbye, though Blocker died before filming began.
43years old at death
- Born Bowie County
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
- Also credited as Bobby Dan Davis Blocker
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 11 years1957 to 1968
Every film, newest first
- 1968Lady in CementIMDb rating 5.8
- 1963Come Blow Your HornIMDb rating 6.0
- 1957The Girl in Black StockingsIMDb rating 5.6
Genres
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First role
In 1957, Blocker played the Goon in the Three Stooges short Outer Space Jitters, and he was billed as "Don Blocker".
Behind the camera
Blocker started a chain of Bonanza Steakhouse restaurants in 1963, gaining partial ownership in exchange for appearing as Hoss in commercials and at franchise openings.
A change of course
Before acting, Blocker taught high school English and drama in Sonora, Texas, from 1953 to 1954, and later taught sixth grade and coached at Eddy Elementary School in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Dan Blocker movies on Netflix
Worked with
Dan Blocker shares two films with Frank Sinatra, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Frank Sinatra's page
Dean Martin's page
Anne Bancroft's page
Lee J. Cobb's page
Stuart Whitman's page
Richard Conte's page
All films by Gordon Douglas
Howard W. KochDirector, 1 film, 1957
All films by Howard W. Koch
All films by Bud Yorkin
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.