The Deputy (NBC 1959-1960 TV Series)

The Deputy was a Western drama series that aired on NBC in 1959-1960.

Western drama series The Deputy was about about the exploits of a somewhat unwilling deputy Marshall, played by Allen Case, in the 1880’s.

All The Facts

The series was created by Norman Lear, who also developed All in the Family, Sanford and Son, and Maude, some of the biggest TV comedies of the 1970s.

Deputy Clay McCord (Allen Case), a typically mild-mannered storekeeper, had been tricked into taking on the role of a deputy by Marshal Simon Fry (Henry Fonda), in the turbulent 1880s Silver City, Arizona, because of Clay’s skill as a sharpshooter.

Every week, Clay undertook risky missions like going undercover to learn a gang of outlaws’ plans, traveling into Apache territory on a peace mission, or defending a civilian from a hired gunman.

Marshal Fry gave him his missions, despite the fact that Fonda only appeared in six full episodes. The rest of the time, he only made an appearance to send McCord off on his mission and to thank him for a job well done.

Clay’s sister Fran McCord (Betty Lou Keim), the US Cavalry agent Sergeant Tasker (Read Morgan), and the proprietor of the general store Herk Lamson (Wallace Ford) were all regulars.

The NBC show, which was based on the 1957 film Tin Star starring Fonda and Anthony Perkins, is also notable for giving a young Robert Redford his television debut.

Allen Case later starred as outlaw Frank James in the 1965 western television series The Legend of Jesse James.
Sadly, he passed away at the age of 52 from a heart attack.

Who Was In It

Henry Fonda (Simon Fry), Allen Case (Clay McCord), Betty Lou Keim (Fran McCord ), Read Morgan (Sergeant Tasker), Wallace Ford (Herk Lamson)

Production Details

Creator: Norman Lear

USA / NBC – Top Gun / 76×30 minute episodes / 1959-1960

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