Dan Blocker was an actor best known for his role as, “Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright” on the western television series, “Bonanza”. Dan Davis Blocker was born on December 10, 1928 in De Kalb, Texas to Ora Shack and Mary Davis Blocker. At birth, Blocker weighed in at fourteen pounds. By the time 1946 came around, he weighed 300 pounds and was 6’3″. Blocker attended Texas Military Institute and later transferred to Sul Ross State Teacher’s College where he played football. Blocker has worked as a bouncer and radio performer.
He fought in the Korean War and after he returned, Blocker married a fellow student from Sul Ross State Teacher’s College by the name of Dolphia Lee Parker on August 25, 1952. The marriage would endure until his death in 1972. The union produced twin daughters, Debra Lee and Danna Lynn along with two sons, David and Dirk. After the marriage the young couple moved out west to Los Angeles, California where Blocker got a job as a high school teacher. In 1957, Blocker made his television debut in the western series, “Cheyenne”. More television episodes followed in 1957 such as “Telephone Time”, “Sheriff of Cochise” , “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon”, “Tales of Wells Fargo” and “Colt .45.
That same year, Blocker appeared in an uncredited role in the western film, “Black Patch” with George Montgomery. He also starred in a film-noir with Anne Bancroft entitled, “The Girl in Black Stockings. More television work ensued such as, “Sugarfoot”, “Have Gun – Will Travel”, “Playhouse 90”, “Gunsmoke”, “Zorro”, “Maverick and “The Restless Gun”. In 1959, Blocker won the role of “Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright” on NBC’s one hour western television series entitled “Bonanza”. The show also starred Lorne Green, Michael Landon and Pernell Roberts. The series centered around the Cartwright family and their adventures with a father and his three sons, each by a different wife. The family lived on a large ranch called, “The Ponderosa” and Blocker played the middle son.
“Bonanza” was nominated for one Golden Globe and twelve Emmys with three wins. In 1970, the series won a Bronze Wrangler at the Western Heritage Awards. “Bonanza” lasted until 1973. Blocker stayed with the show until his death. While on “Bonanza” he appeared in the films, “Lady in Cement” with Frank Sinatra and Raquel Welch as well as the western comedy, “Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County” with Jack Elam and Mickey Rooney. In 1972, Blocker went into the hospital for gall bladder surgery. On May 13th of that year, Blocker passed away from a blood clot in his lung. He was only 43 years old. Blocker is currently buried at Woodmen Cemetery in De Kalb, Texas.
