The Cartwright Curse: Why No Woman Could Survive Loving a ‘Bonanza’ Man
According to Bonanza, the Ponderosa Ranch was as close to heaven as mortal man could get on Earth. The sprawling 600,000-acre stretch of land came complete with picturesque mountain views, crystal-clear lakes, and lush forests — and all under the watchful eye of three of the biggest horse-riding heartthrobs Virginia City had ever produced. Well, four, if you include their father.
The three strapping Cartwright sons included Adam (Pernell Roberts), the eldest and most educated and serious of the bunch; Eric, also known as Hoss (Dan Blocker), the gentle giant; and Joseph Frances, aka Little Joe (Michael Landon), the sometimes impulsive, always adventurous heartthrob. They were led by their father, Ben (Lorne Greene), a strong and moral figure who guided his sons and helped them make the right decisions regarding their lives and their treasured land.
At the time, the Ponderosa Ranch seemed a haven for single ladies on the hunt for emotionally available menfolk in desperate need of a woman’s touch. However, there always seemed to be something a little off when it came to these cowpokes. The minute a woman got too close emotionally — or the romance got a bit too heated — she usually met a tragic fate. They would either die, disappear, or suffer some calamity that pulled them away from the Ponderosa. Permanently.
Known as “The Cartwright Curse” (or “The Bonanza Syndrome”), the running gag was that the men of the Ponderosa couldn’t keep a woman alive longer than the lifespan of a mayfly. The fact that a female guest star couldn’t seem to exist after a single episode became a trope unto itself. It helped shape the template for the tragic hero that other shows would later embrace: rugged men married to their work, whose brush with love only ended in heartbreak. This added to both their brooding backstory and their stoic charm. Just ask Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), a man who fell in love across the galaxy, only to lose it again and again. Or Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) from the original Hawaii Five-O. Or Jim Rockford (James Garner) or David Banner (Bill Bixby). Heroes who saved the day, but rarely get to keep love in their lives.
Below are a few examples of women who attempted to find happiness with a Cartwright man, but succumbed to the Cartwright Curse:
Elizabeth Stoddard Cartwright (Geraldine Brooks)
Episode: “Elizabeth, My Love” (Season 2 Episode 33)
Loved By: Ben
What Happened to Her: She was the first to experience the curse. Ben’s first wife and the mother of Adam. Elizabeth died from complications during childbirth shortly after Adam was born.
Inger Borgstrom Cartwright (Inga Swenson)
Episode: “Inger, My Love” (Season 3 Episode 29)
Loved By: Ben
What Happened to Her: She was the second known victim of the curse. Ben’s second wife, Hoss’s mother, and Adam’s stepmother. Native Americans attacked the couple as they attempted to head west, and she was shot by an arrow when Hoss was just a few weeks old.
Marie Cartwright (Felicia Farr)
Episode: “Marie, My Love” (Season 4 Episode 20)
Loved By: Ben
What Happened to Her: Ben’s third and final wife was the mother of Little Joe and the only one to actually live at the Ponderosa. Marie died in a horse-riding accident after falling off her steed.
Emily Pennington (Inger Stevens)
Episode: “The Newcomers” (Season 1 Episode 3)
Loved By: Hoss
What Happened to Her: Emily got engaged to Hoss despite a terminal illness, causing her to perish before they could get married.
Julia Bulette (Jane Greer)
Episode: “The Julia Bulette Story” (Season 1 Episode 6)
Loved By: Little Joe
What Happened to Her: The older French lover of Little Joe was stabbed during a robbery. Based on a legendary madam who lived in Virginia City and was murdered by a drifter.
View this post on Instagram
Amy Bishop (Adrienne Hayes)
Episode: “The Truckee Strip” (Season 1 Episode 11)
Loved By: Little Joe
What Happened to Her: Amy was stabbed in the chest by a pitchfork when an angry suitor attempted to kill Little Joe.
Sue Ellen Terry (Fay Spain)
Episode: “The Sisters” (Season 1 Episode 14)
Loved By: Adam
What Happened to Her: A sweet young saloon girl who was shot by a man named Jesse (Buddy Ebsen), who was jealous of Adam and obsessed with Sue Ellen.
Ruth Halversen (Anna‑Lisa)
Episode: “The Savage” (Season 2, Episode 12)
Loved By: Adam
What Happened to Her: Ruth was a Caucasian woman raised by Native Americans who saved Adam’s life. He fell for her, but by the end of the episode, the Shoshoni reclaimed her in exchange for sparing Adam. It’s assumed she returned to live with the tribe, making her one of the rare women to survive loving a Cartwright.
Laura White (Brooke Hayward)
Episode: “The Storm” (Season 3 Episode 19)
Loved By: Little Joe
What Happened to Her: The daughter of old sea Captain Matthew, she died from an ongoing terminal illness before she and Joe could get married.
Laura Dayton (Kathie Browne)
Episode: “The Cheating Game” (Season 5 Episode 19)
Loved By: Ben
What Happened to Her: One of the lucky ones, Laura ran off with cousin Will Cartwright (Guy Williams), never to be seen again.
Hallie Shannon (Joan Freeman)
Episode: “The Trap” (Season 6 Episode 26)
Loved By: Little Joe, but it was mostly friendly. All the love was on her side.
What Happened to Her: Hallie had always loved Little Joe, but the feeling was mutual. After he accidentally killed her husband, she hoped they could be together, but her husband’s vengeful brother had other plans. When Hallie’s body was found at the bottom of Paiute Falls, Joe was arrested, and foul play was suspected.
Alice Harper (Bonnie Bedelia)
Episode: “Forever” (Season 14 Episode 1)
Loved By: Little Joe
What Happened to Her: The only woman to get to the altar with a Cartwright son. After she married Little Joe, Alice was beaten to death by a ranch hand over her brother’s gambling debt.