Law of the Plainsman poster

Law of the Plainsman

★ 8.0 132 votes 1959–1960 1 season · 30 episodes Ended NBC
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Starring
Michael AnsaraGina GillespieDayton LummisNora MarloweRobert HarlandPeter Whitney
Starring
Michael AnsaraGina GillespieDayton LummisNora MarloweRobert HarlandPeter Whitney
Ratings per Episode
246810
Votes per Episode
08152330

Law of the Plainsman Episode Ratings Heatmap

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S17.77.88.07.37.88.07.77.67.87.38.27.37.97.57.97.77.47.48.07.97.67.87.97.67.67.97.47.77.38.16.2

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About

Law of the Plainsman is a Western television series starring Michael Ansara that aired on the NBC television network from October 1, 1959, until May 5, 1960. The character of Native American U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart was introduced in two episodes of the popular ABC Western television series The Rifleman starring Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain. Law of the Plainsman is distinctive and unique in that it was one of the few television programs that featured a Native American as the lead character, a bold move for U.S.network television at that time. Ansara had earlier appeared in the series Broken Arrow, having portrayed the Apache chief, Cochise. Ansara, however, was not Native American but of Syrian descent. Ansara played Sam Buckhart, an Apache Indian who saved the life of a U.S. Cavalry officer after an Indian ambush. When the officer died, he left Sam money that was used for an education at private schools and Harvard University. After school, he returned to New Mexico where he became a Deputy Marshal working for Marshal Andy Morrison. He lived in a boarding house run by Martha Commager. The only other continuing character was 8-year old Tess Logan, an orphan who had been rescued by Buckhart. Robert Harland, later of Target: The Corruptors! starred in seven episodes as Deputy Billy Lordan. Wayne Rogers, who went on to star in another Four Star western, Stagecoach West, and later, M*A*S*H, also played deputy Lordan in several episodes.

All Seasons

▼
Season 11959
7.76133015h
EpTitleRatingYoursVotesRuntime
▶1Prairie Incident7.8
2930 min
▶2Full Circle8.0
2730 min
▶3A Matter of Life and Death7.3
2430 min
▶4The Hostiles7.8
2530 min
▶5Passenger to Mescalero8.0
2130 min
▶6Blood Trails7.7
2030 min
▶7Desperate Decision7.6
1830 min
▶8Appointment in Santa Fe7.8
2130 min
▶9The Gibbet7.3
2330 min
▶10The Dude8.2
2730 min
▶11The Innocents7.3
2130 min
▶12Clear Title7.9
2330 min
▶13Toll Road7.5
2130 min
▶14Calculated Risk7.9
2030 min
▶15Fear7.7
2230 min
▶16Endurance7.4
1630 min
▶17The Comet7.4
1830 min
▶18The Rawhiders8.0
1930 min
▶19The Imposter7.9
1630 min
▶20Common Ground7.6
1930 min
▶21The Matriarch7.8
2130 min
▶22A Question of Courage7.9
1730 min
▶23Dangerous Barriers7.6
1630 min
▶24The Show-Off7.6
1830 min
▶25Rabbit's Fang7.9
1730 min
▶26Stella7.4
1830 min
▶27Amnesty7.7
1730 min
▶28Jeb's Daughter7.3
2130 min
▶29Cavern of the Wind8.1
1530 min
▶30Trojan Horse6.2
2330 min

Full Cast & Crew

Cast

Michael Ansara Deputy Marshal Sam Buckhart
Gina Gillespie Tess Wilkins
Dayton Lummis Marshal Andy Morrison
Nora Marlowe Martha Commager
Robert Harland Deputy Billy Lordan, Deputy Billy Forbes, Deputy Forbes
Peter Whitney John Wesley, Knappe, Trigger Strelling
John Anderson Clyde Santee, Jeb Wicken, Matthew Bannock
Wayne Rogers Deputy Billy Lordan, Frank Anderson
Wayne Tucker Bunsing, Dort, French
Chris Alcaide Charlie Wolf, Conroy, Dan

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