Additional Coverage:
- ‘The Virginian’ Star Dies at 83 (parade.com)
Randy Boone, the singing, guitar-playing rancher from the classic NBC western series The Virginian, has passed away at the age of 83. His wife, Lana Boone, confirmed his passing on Thursday, August 28th. Further details were not immediately available.
Boone’s death leaves few surviving major cast members from The Virginian. Gary Clarke, Roberta Shore, and Don Quine are now among the last remaining stars of the long-running series. Doug McClure and James Drury, other central figures in the show, passed away in 1995 and 2020, respectively.
Boone’s path to Hollywood was anything but typical. As detailed in Paul Green’s 2006 book A History of Television’s The Virginian, 1962-1971, Boone’s mother encouraged him to pursue higher education. However, his heart wasn’t in it, and he ultimately hitchhiked to California, launching his acting career.
A North Carolina native, Boone first appeared on the 1960s NBC comedy It’s a Man’s World. Though the show lasted only a single season, Boone quickly landed his breakout role on The Virginian, appearing in 70 episodes. After his time on The Virginian, he starred alongside Stuart Whitman, Percy Herbert, and Jill Townsend in the CBS western series Cimarron Strip.
Adding a touch of authenticity to his Virginian role, Boone used his own horse, Clyde, for filming. As Boone recounted in Green’s book, Clyde, untrained for television, had a personality all his own, often moving around during scenes.
This, however, charmed viewers, who frequently wrote to Boone about the spirited horse. Boone’s musical talents also factored into his casting, and his popularity with fans led to a 1965 album featuring songs from the show performed by Boone and co-star Roberta Shore.
Despite his popularity, Boone was eventually let go from The Virginian, a decision he questioned in Green’s book. He attributed his dismissal to producer Frank Price, who reportedly considered him “window dressing.”
Boone disagreed, believing his presence was essential to the show’s appeal. At the time of his departure, Boone was already working on Cimarron Strip.
Beyond his western roles, Boone made guest appearances on a variety of popular television series, including The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Wagon Train, The Twilight Zone, The Fugitive, Bonanza, Lassie, Emergency!, Gunsmoke, Kung Fu, and Highway to Heaven. According to reports, Boone left acting in the late 1980s and pursued a career in construction before retiring.
Read More About This Story:
- ‘The Virginian’ Star Dies at 83 (parade.com)