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Lorne Greene was ''a father figure'' to Michael Landon and Dan Blocker
Lorne Greene didn't just play Ben Cartwright. He lived up to him.
Through 14 seasons of Bonanza, only two members of the principal cast stayed in the saddle from start to finish.
Lorne Greene remained as Ben Cartwright from beginning to end, with Michael Landon by his side as Little Joe. Dan Blocker's Hoss left one year early, while Pernell Roberts departed after six seasons.
Greene's presence loomed large over the entire series, and his portrayal seemingly changed who he was. He was the forthright center of the Bonanza universe, and Greene commanded attention with his larger-than-life posture and dignified approach.
The longer Greene played Ben Cartwright, the more the character seemed to become part of the man himself.
In a 1965 interview with the Modesto Bee, series creator David Dortort shed light on the ways the series shaped the actor.
"It's positively amazing to see how Lorne Greene has become Ben Cartwright in the past six years," Dortort said. "For example, he and Dan Blocker and Landon used to fool around on the set... Now, both Blocker and Landon, when they have problems, approach Greene and talk to him as if he were really their father."
"Greene's become a father figure to the cast," Dortort continued. "He's become a man whose opinion is worth listening to, a sage. It's difficult for any of us to determine where Lorne Greene ends and Ben Cartwright begins."
Dortort goes on to explain that, while this isn't exactly rare in Hollywood, where actors and characters often blend, Greene's warmth made him a very special example.
"After a while, we all become a part of what we play," Dortort said. "The characteristics become integrated into our own personalities. Five days a week for six years Lorne Greene has been playing nothing but Ben Cartwright, and on Saturdays and Sundays he's been playing Ben Cartwright at state fairs and various rodeos."
"I never knew Lorne before Bonanza, and generally I don't traffic with actors, but Greene and I have become warm, personal friends, and I can tell you he's a fine, level-headed, substantial human being," Dortort continued. "I'm glad I picked him for the Ben Cartwright role."
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