Don has made over seventy credited movie and
television appearances. He has performed with John Wayne, Robert Mitchum,
Anthony Quinn, Dean Martin, Tom Selleck, James Arness and even Elvis. His
first role was as an extra in 1948 in the western Massacre River. This was
followed by two more westerns – Davy Crockett, Indian Scout and
Fort Apache with John Wayne. Don later appeared in three more John Wayne
movies.
In 1959 Don won the leading role of U.S. Deputy Marshal Will Foreman
in the NBC series, Outlaws. Starring with Don was Barton MacLane and
Jock Gaynor. The second season of Outlaws found Will Foreman as a
full-fledged Marshal. New characters were played by Bruce Yarnell, Slim
Pickens and Judy Lewis.
Don kept busy appearing on all the other western TV shows, such as
Bonanza, Gunsmoke, WagonTrain, Branded, Death Valley Days. In
1968 he was cast as the foreman of the ranch The HighChaparral
in David Dortort's latest western series of the same name. Working alongside
a extremely talented and experienced cast, Don's portrayal of Sam Butler was
fundamental to the success of the highly acclaimed show, which ran until
1971.
But he wasn't yet done with the old west. Even his commercials took
advantage of his cowboy persona, when he became an 80's icon as The Gum
Fighter for Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum. More movies and TV kept him busy. Then
he went further back in time when he was called on play the recurring role
of William Tompkins in The Young Riders (1989-1992).
Don continued to guest star on TV in and out of the west in Little House in
the Prairie, two made-for-TV Gunsmoke movies, a made-for-TV
Bonanza movie, Banaceck, The Waltons, Highway to Heaven
and such big-screen movies as Tombstone.
He is currently working on a western radio drama series titled West of
the Story and is sidekick to Fred Imus on Sirius Radio's weekly show,
Fred's Trailer Park Bash. He recently completed work on the movie
Jake's Corner.
