''Lancer'' is an American Western series that aired Tuesdays at 7:30 pm (EST) on CBS from September 24, 1968, to June 23, 1970.McNeil, Alex (1996). ''Total Television''. Penguin Books USA, Inc. . Pp. 461-462. The series stars Andrew Duggan as a father with two half-brother sons, played by

James Stacy Maurice William Elias (December 23, 1936September 9, 2016), known professionally as James Stacy, was an American film and television actor. He is perhaps best known for starring in the late 1960s TV western ''Lancer''. In 1973, Stacy was hit by ...

and

Wayne Maunder Wayne Ernest Maunder (December 19, 1937 – November 11, 2018) was a Canadian-born American actor who starred in three American television series between 1967 and 1974. Three television series From September 6 to December 27, 1967, Maunder star ...

Synopsis

Duggan starred as Murdoch Lancer, the patriarch of the Lancer family. Maunder played Scott Lancer, the educated older son and a veteran of the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

. Stacy played gunslinger Johnny Madrid Lancer. Paul Brinegar appeared as Jelly Hoskins and Elizabeth Baur played Murdoch Lancer's ward Teresa O'Brien. ''Lancer'' lasted for 51 hour-long episodes and was shot in color. It was rerun on CBS during the summer of 1971.Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1979). ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows: 1946-Present''. Ballantine Books. . P. 335.

Cast

as Johnny Madrid Lancer * Andrew Duggan as Murdoch Lancer *

as Scott Lancer * Paul Brinegar as Jelly Hoskins * Elizabeth Baur as Teresa O'Brien Guest stars included Joe Don Baker,

Noah Beery, Jr. Noah Lindsey Beery (August 10, 1913 – November 1, 1994) was an American actor often specializing in warm, friendly character roles similar to many portrayed by his Oscar-winning uncle, Wallace Beery. Unlike his more famous uncle, however, ...

, Scott Brady,

Ellen Corby Ellen Hansen Corby (June 3, 1911 – April 14, 1999) was an American actress and screenwriter. She played the role of Esther "Grandma" Walton on the CBS television series '' The Waltons'', for which she won three Emmy Awards. She was also ...

Bruce Dern Bruce MacLeish Dern (born June 4, 1936) is an American actor. He has often played supporting villainous characters of unstable natures. He has received several accolades, including the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor and the Silver ...

Jack Elam William Scott "Jack" Elam (November 13, 1920 – October 20, 2003) was an American film and television actor best known for his numerous roles as villains in Western films and, later in his career, comedies (sometimes spoofing his villaino ...

, Sam Elliott, Beverly Garland, Kevin Hagen,

Ron Howard Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of '' The Twilight Zone''. ...

Wright King Wright Thornburgh King (January 11, 1923 – November 25, 2018) was an American stage, film and television actor whose career lasted for over forty years.1930 US Federal Census for Wright T. King, retrieved froAncestry.com/ref>1940 US Federal Cen ...

Cloris Leachman Cloris Leachman (April 30, 1926 – January 27, 2021) was an American actress and comedian whose career spanned nearly eight decades. She won many accolades, including eight Primetime Emmy Awards from 22 nominations, making her the most nomina ...

, Barbara Luna,

George Macready George Peabody Macready Jr. (August 29, 1899 – July 2, 1973) was an American stage, film, and television actor often cast in roles as polished villains. Early life Macready was born in Providence, Rhode Island on August 29, 1899. He graduate ...

, Warren Oates,

Stefanie Powers Stefanie Powers (born November 2, 1942) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Jennifer Hart on the mystery television series '' Hart to Hart'' (1979–1984), for which she received nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards a ...

Tom Selleck Thomas William Selleck (; born January 29, 1945) is an American actor. His breakout role was playing private investigator Thomas Magnum in the television series ''Magnum, P.I.'' (1980–1988), for which he received five Emmy Award nominations ...

, and William Tannen.

Episodes

Season 1 (1968–69)

Season 2 (1969–70)

Production

The pilot episode "The High Riders" was mostly filmed on-location in and around the

hacienda An ''hacienda'' ( or ; or ) is an estate (or '' finca''), similar to a Roman '' latifundium'', in Spain and the former Spanish Empire. With origins in Andalusia, ''haciendas'' were variously plantations (perhaps including animals or orchard ...

now located within The Santa Lucia Preserve. All interior shots of the Hacienda in subsequent episodes were filmed on a sound stage in Hollywood, recreated from photographs of the original.

Awards

The episode titled "Zee" with Stefanie Powers earned scriptwriter Andy Lewis the

Western Writers of America Western Writers of America (WWA), founded 1953, promotes literature, both fictional and nonfictional, pertaining to the American West. Although its founders wrote traditional Western fiction, the more than 600 current members also include historian ...

Spur Award Spur Awards are literary prizes awarded annually by the Western Writers of America (WWA). The purpose of the Spur Awards is to honor writers for distinguished writing about the American West. The Spur awards began in 1953, the same year the WWA wa ...

, the first designated for a television script.

In popular culture

The 2019 movie ''

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ''Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'' is a 2019 comedy-drama film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Produced by Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group, Heyday Films, and Visiona Romantica and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is ...

'' incorporates a fictionalized account of the filming of ''Lancer's''

pilot episode A television pilot (also known as a pilot or a pilot episode and sometimes marketed as a tele-movie), in television in the United States, United States television, is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell a show to a te ...

, depicting fictional actor Rick Dalton ( Leonardo DiCaprio) appearing as a villain in the episode. Director

Sam Wanamaker Samuel Wanamaker, (born Wattenmacker; June 14, 1919 – December 18, 1993) was an American actor and director who moved to the United Kingdom after becoming fearful of being blacklisted in Hollywood due to his communist views. He is credited a ...

and series stars

and

are depicted. Additional scenes are featured in the novelization of ''Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'' as well depicting other actors including Andrew Duggan.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0062577, Lancer 1968 American television series debuts 1970 American television series endings CBS original programming English-language television shows 1970s Western (genre) television series Television series by 20th Century Fox Television 1960s Western (genre) television series