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The Texan Facts and Trivia

The Texan is a Western television series starring popular B movie star Rory Calhoun (1922-1999). It aired on the CBS television network from 1958-1960.


70 episodes of The Texan on 10 DVD discs

Production notes

In The Texan, Calhoun played Bill Longley, an American Civil War veteran from Texas who roams the American West to help people in need. Often the plot would center around Longley helping an old friend or a relative of an old friend. He was known by reputation as a fearsome gunfighter, which saved him time and caused him trouble.

Calhoun co-produced The Texan in partnership with Desilu Productions, the production company founded by Lucille Ball and her first husband, Desi Arnaz, Sr.

The Texan ran for only two seasons. After the 79-episode run, Calhoun returned to starring and co-starring in "B" Westerns, and making occasional television appearances.

The Texan was released on DVD (70 of its original 78 episodes), on November 18, 2008.

Guest stars

* Chris Alcaide appeared four times, including his last role as Deputy Luke Smith in "Presentation Gun" (1960).
* Pat Conway appeared as Mike Kaler in the episode "The Troubled Town". Conway also portrayed Sheriff Clay Hollister on the ABC and later syndicated western, Tombstone Territory.
* Dennis Cross guest starred in the 1958 episode "Law of the Gun".
* Ron Hagerthy as Neil Pierce in the 1958 episode "The First Notch" and in title role of "Johnny Tuvo" in 1960
* Ron Hayes appeared twice on the series in the episodes "The Ringer" and "Showdown".
* Gregg Palmer appeared in the 1958 episode "The Troubled Town". *Russ Conway portrayed Bob Jason in the 1960 episode "Borrowed Time".
* James Philbrook appeared as Yancey Lewis in the episode "Return to Friendly" (1959).
* Gilman Rankin, also of Tombstone Territory, appeared on The Texan.
* Robert F. Simon appeared as Will Crandall in the episode "Reunion" and as Vance in another segment "The Guilty and the Innocent".
* Barbara Stuart appeared as Poker Alice in three 1960 episodes, "The Taming of Rio Nada", "Sixgun Street", and "The Terrified Town".
* Beverly Washburn appeared as Henrietta Tovers in "No Tears for the Dead" (1958) and as Greta Banden in "Badman" (1960).

Also Alan Hale Jr., James Coburn, Denver Pyle, Mike Connors, and Harry Dean Stanton