What Made These ‘Bonanza’ Stars Stand Out on the Ponderosa Ranch

For three years in the 1960s, this rambunctious Western about the ranching Cartwright family of Nevada’s sprawling Ponderosa was TV’s No. 1 show. The first Western shown “in living color,” Bonanza became a hit in large part because of the charisma of widower Ben Cartwright’s (Lorne Greene) three sons, each born of a different mother.

Adam (Pernell Roberts) sought greener pastures after six seasons, but gentle giant Hoss (Dan Blocker, who died before the truncated final season) and matinee idol Little Joe (Michael Landon) stayed high in the saddle for the duration. But what really made these rugged men stand tall on the Ponderosa Ranch? Read on to find out!