Law of the Plainsman
A Native American deputy marshal upholds the law in the Old West.
Law of the Plainsman is a Western television series that aired on NBC from October 1, 1959, until September 22, 1960. It starred Michael Ansara as Sam Buckhart, a Native American Deputy U.S. Marshal, a character first introduced in two episodes of The Rifleman. The series was notable for featuring a Native American lead character, a rare choice for American network television at the time.
Quick Facts
- Runtime
- 25 minutes
- Starring
- Michael Ansara
- Gina Gillespie
- Robert Harland
- Dayton Lummis
- Nora Marlowe
- Country
- United States
- Network
- NBC
- First aired
- 1 October 1959
- Last aired
- 22 September 1960
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 30
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- Michael Ansara was not Native American but of Syrian descent.
- Ansara had earlier portrayed the Apache chief Cochise in the series Broken Arrow.
- For syndicated reruns, the show was grouped with three other short-lived Western series under the umbrella title The Westerners, with new introductions and wrap-ups by Keenan Wynn.
Plot
Sam Buckhart, an Apache, once saved a U.S. Cavalry officer from an Indian ambush. After the officer died, his inheritance paid for Buckhart’s education at private schools and Harvard. Returning to New Mexico, Buckhart became a Deputy U.S. Marshal under Marshal Andy Morrison. He boarded at Martha Commager’s house. Other regulars included eight-year-old Tess Logan, an orphan Buckhart had rescued, and fellow Deputy Billy Lordan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in Law of the Plainsman?
Law of the Plainsman stars Michael Ansara, Gina Gillespie, Robert Harland, Dayton Lummis and Nora Marlowe.
How many episodes of Law of the Plainsman are there?
Law of the Plainsman has 30 episodes across 1 season.
More in Television Series by Four Star Television
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced