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
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Season 11959
7.65933015h
Ep
Title
Rating
Votes
Runtime
▶
1
Prairie Incident
7.8
26
30 min
▶
2
Full Circle
8.0
26
30 min
▶
3
A Matter of Life and Death
7.2
23
30 min
▶
4
The Hostiles
7.7
24
30 min
▶
5
Passenger to Mescalero
8.0
21
30 min
▶
6
Blood Trails
7.7
20
30 min
▶
7
Desperate Decision
7.6
18
30 min
▶
8
Appointment in Santa Fe
7.7
20
30 min
▶
9
The Gibbet
7.4
21
30 min
▶
10
The Dude
8.2
26
30 min
▶
11
The Innocents
7.4
20
30 min
▶
12
Clear Title
7.8
22
30 min
▶
13
Toll Road
7.5
21
30 min
▶
14
Calculated Risk
7.8
19
30 min
▶
15
Fear
7.7
22
30 min
▶
16
Endurance
7.4
16
30 min
▶
17
The Comet
7.4
18
30 min
▶
18
The Rawhiders
7.8
18
30 min
▶
19
The Imposter
7.9
16
30 min
▶
20
Common Ground
7.6
19
30 min
▶
21
The Matriarch
7.8
21
30 min
▶
22
A Question of Courage
7.9
17
30 min
▶
23
Dangerous Barriers
7.6
16
30 min
▶
24
The Show-Off
7.6
18
30 min
▶
25
Rabbit's Fang
7.8
16
30 min
▶
26
Stella
7.4
18
30 min
▶
27
Amnesty
7.6
16
30 min
▶
28
Jeb's Daughter
7.6
19
30 min
▶
29
Cavern of the Wind
8.2
14
30 min
▶
30
Trojan Horse
6.4
22
30 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
