7 Bonanza guest stars who became famous TV faces
Churning out over 400 episodes in 14 years, Bonanza was a television juggernaut. Episodes ran the gamut from high-stakes drama to touching family tales and comedic moments, the show wasn’t afraid to change pace. With such a wide-ranging emotional performance, the show relied on a roster of guest stars to help fill out its ranks. Unsurprisingly, many of these guest stars went on to become household names on big and small screens. For your entertainment, here are just a few of Bonanza’s guest stars who went on to be bonafide TV stars.
1. Sally Kellerman
The episode: “A Dollar’s Worth of Trouble”
Known to fans of M*A*S*H as Hot Lips Hoolihan, Sally Kellerman first made an appearance on Bonanza, where a clairvoyant predicted a beautiful woman would fall in love with Hoss. Turns out that beautiful woman was Kellerman.
2. Mike Farrell
The episode: “The Hidden Enemy”
Another M*A*S*H star to grace Bonanza with their presence, Mike Farrell even played a doctor in his episode – much like his televisual alter ego.
3. Tina Louise
The episode: “Desperate Passage”
Before she got shipwrecked as Ginger on Gilligan’s Island, Tina Louise played the only witness to an accused killer.
4. Dawn Wells
The episodes: “The Way Station” and “The Burning Sky“
Another Gilligan’s Island’s castaway showing up on Bonanza, Dawn Wells made two appearances – one pre-island (“The Way Station”), the other post (“The Burning Sky”).
5. Leonard Nimoy
The episode: “The Ape”
You can see the future Vulcan being shoved aside by a hulking man in a hallway. This man, dubbed “the Ape”, is supernaturally strong, and mentored by Hoss.
6. Adam West
The episode: “The Bride”
Before he was Batman, Adam West had a role in this early Bonanza episode that saw a woman show up, claiming to be Ben’s new wife.
7. Ron Howard
The episodes: “The Initiation”
Before becoming a household name on Happy Days, Ron Howard had a role on Bonanza, in which he played the leader of a club. Unluckily, a teen dies during the club initiation, putting Howard’s character in hot water.
Have you spotted any other of your TV favourites in guest roles on other shows?