‘Bonanza’ Star Dan Blocker Hated One Thing About His Character

BONANZA, Dan Blocker, on set, (Season 1, 1959), 1959-73. — Zinn Arthur/TV Guide/Everett Collection

Dan Blocker starred in Bonanza as middle son Hoss Cartwright, who knew his way around a rifle when the moment called for it. But Blocker proved that his Wild Western character did not rub off on him in real life — off-screen, preferred to stay away from them and even once shared that he hated guns, after some wartime experiences turned him against them.

He admitted in a 1965 interview with The Times Herald, according to MeTV, “I have to carry a gun on television—but I won’t have a blasted thing to do with them in real life.”

Before he was cast as Hoss, Blocker was drafted during the Korean War and served as a tank commander in the 7th Infantry Division, eventually earning a Purple Heart after being wounded during combat.

He explained, “My hatred of guns started one night when I was sitting on a mountain in Korea. Up until then I guess I thought I was unbeatable. For 20 years or more I had figured that old Dan Blocker was made outta steel—and then I learned how helpless a man can feel when there’s someone out there with a gun who is trying to blow him to eternity.”

Everett Collection

Blocker put his feelings aside to use guns on the series and was always very careful with them, having learned valuable lessons back in the U.S. Army.

In his personal life, he never owned a gun and wouldn’t even let his sons use them or go out on hunting trips. He said, “I told them they could go out and shoot at animals as soon as we figure out how to train the animals to handle high-powered rifles with a telescopic sight on it — then maybe it could be called sport.”

Sadly, the calm-natured Blocker died far too soon at the age of 43 on May 13, 1972, of a pulmonary embolism following gallbladder surgery.