The Tragic Story of Dan Haggerty, TV’s Grizzly Adams

Dan Haggerty and his rugged beard became pop culture icons in the 1970s, when the actor and animal trainer gained fame for playing James “Grizzly” Adams on film and TV. On screen, he was the kind-hearted mountain man who befriended wild animals and taught audiences about living simply in nature. But while his TV persona seemed wholesome, Haggerty’s real life was anything but. During his seven decades, he faced multiple tragedies, was part of a company that got caught up in a fraud scandal, and even got busted for selling cocaine to an undercover police officer.