His great grandfather Michael Patrick Blocker (1829-1897) was a private soldier in Phelan's Company, Alabama Light Artillery during the War Between the States, as were two other Blocker boys. The Blocker family lived in the Tuscaloosa, AL area at the time.
3
Weighing in at 14 lbs. at birth, Dan was the largest baby ever born in Bowie County, Texas.
4
A 1960 "TV Guide" profile said that Blocker still wanted to finish his Ph.D., but in a 1965 interview with Austin, Texas talk show host Richard 'Cactus' Pryor, he said that he longer intended to complete his degree. At the time, Bonanza (1959) was coming off its first season as the #1 show in America, a title it would hold for the next two years as part of a then-unprecedented nine straight years in the Top 5. Blocker told Pryor that he worked five days a week from 7AM to 9PM. Since there were 34 episodes in the sixth season (1964-1965), there would have been little time to pursue his studies.
5
Dan Blocker Beach is a one-mile stretch of the coastline in north Malibu, California, located at 26000 Pacific Coast Highway. It is maintained by the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors.
6
Campaigned for Lyndon Johnson in the 1964 presidential campaign but later supported Eugene McCarthy, who ran against LBJ for the 1968 Democratic nomination due to McCarthy's opposition to the Vietnam War.
7
Took his family on a summer vacation by car from Sonora, TX, to Hollywood and was discovered while making phone calls in a sidewalk phone booth and dressed in western garb, wearing heeled cowboy boots with spurs, a gaudy western shirt and a big straw cowboy hat. His wife and kids were sitting in the station wagon parked at the curb when he was noticed by an agent.
8
Taught history in Sonora (TX) High School from 1953~58, appeared in a school play there where he played a bride at the altar. Sonora is located on I-10 in west Texas with a population of about 2000.
9
He was an activist liberal Democrat and a staunch opponent of the Vietnam War.
10
His weight was 14 lbs, at birth, on Monday, December 10th, 1928.
11
Father was a poor Texas farmer who lost the farm after the Depression. His father later went into the grocery business.
12
Was enrolled at the Texas Military Institute in San Antonio when he was 13 years old and weighed 200 lbs.
13
Attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene and played football. After that he entered Sul-Ross State College on a football scholarship, and was an amateur boxer. While at Sul-Ross he not only won the 1949 Best College Acting award for his portrayal of De Lawd in a production of "Green Pastures," but met his future wife, Dolphia Lee Parker, originally from Alpine, Texas.
14
Served in the Korean War, a first sergeant with the 45th Oklahoma Division.
15
Former schoolteacher.
16
Once was considered for a lead role in the movie MASH (1970).
17
Hardly the romancer, one touching and acclaimed Bonanza (1959) episode had his Hoss character fall in love with a beautiful girl, played by Inger Stevens.
18
Received his first taste of theater life at college when the drama club was performing "Arsenic and Old Lace", and needed someone to pack up the bodies from the cellar for the play's curtain call.
19
With some repertory theater experience at the time, the Korean War interrupted his fledgling career. He instead returned to teaching school after his military discharge and went to work on his Ph.D at the University of Calfornia in Los Angeles. Finances were a problem at the time and it was then that he fell back into acting and found TV work.
20
Taught high school in West Texas before becoming an actor.
21
Best remembered by the public for his role as Hoss on Bonanza (1959).
All of his children studied karate under Chuck Norris.
24
Attended and played football for Sul Ross State College, Alpine, Texas, graduating in 1950.
25
The Long Goodbye (1973) is dedicated to him. Robert Altman, who had directed many early episodes of Bonanza (1959), and had become friends with him, had originally cast him in the role of Roger Wade. However, Blocker died before filming commenced, so the role was subsequently filled by Sterling Hayden.
26
Started and owned the Bonanza steak house restaurant chain.
27
Interred at DeKalb Cemetery, DeKalb, Texas, USA.
28
Father of identical twin daughters, Danna and Debra.
O'Donnell is located in the panhandle of West Texas, about 40 miles south of Lubbock, Texas. There is a museum located in O'Donnell dedicated to Mr. Blocker.
31
Had four children: Debra Lee (b. 1953), Danna Lynn (b. 1953), David Blocker (b. 1955), and Dirk Blocker (b. 1957).
