Anyone who has ever watched the old television show, The Rifleman, knows why Johnny Crawford is listed here today. Chuck Connors may have been the star, but this talented actor was the heart of the program. And like so many other gifted child actors, he vanished from the lime light after the series ended.
He started as one of the original Mouseketeers in 1955, but was cut by Walt Disney after the first season. This firing was probably the best thing that ever happened to his career, for instead of being type cast as a Disney player, Johnny Crawford ended up guest starring in a slew of television programs that ranged from The Loretta Young Show to the Lux Video Theatre and the Lone Ranger to Make Room For Daddy, just to name a few.
And while The Rifleman remains his most seen work, he managed to continue to act long after that series ended, with some nice performances in The Restless Ones, The Naked Ape and many television shows too numerous to mention.
Unless you happen to catch an old rerun of The Rifleman, or happen to hear one of his hit songs that he made as a teen idol in the early 1960's, Johnny Crawford has joined the Hollywood obscure, making him my pick of the day for Not Very Famous...but should be.
He started as one of the original Mouseketeers in 1955, but was cut by Walt Disney after the first season. This firing was probably the best thing that ever happened to his career, for instead of being type cast as a Disney player, Johnny Crawford ended up guest starring in a slew of television programs that ranged from The Loretta Young Show to the Lux Video Theatre and the Lone Ranger to Make Room For Daddy, just to name a few.
And while The Rifleman remains his most seen work, he managed to continue to act long after that series ended, with some nice performances in The Restless Ones, The Naked Ape and many television shows too numerous to mention.
Unless you happen to catch an old rerun of The Rifleman, or happen to hear one of his hit songs that he made as a teen idol in the early 1960's, Johnny Crawford has joined the Hollywood obscure, making him my pick of the day for Not Very Famous...but should be.
ADDENDUM
Johnny Crawford passed away on April 29, 2021, at the age of 75. However, The Rifleman is still around for everyone to either discover or revisit. His work on that show is impressive. Thank you Mr. Crawford. Your fans will never forget, and neither will new generations that will inevitably stumble upon your work.
