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No one missed Dan Blocker more than his co-star Michael Landon
The brotherly love wasn't just for the cameras.
When Dan Blocker died in 1972 at age 43, it had a devastating impact on his family, friends and Bonanza co-stars. As large as he was in stature, his presence felt even bigger.
No one felt the loss more than his Bonanza co-star Michael Landon. In the Western, Dan Blocker, who played Hoss, and Michael Landon, who played Little Joe Cartwright, were on-screen brothers with a great off-screen relationship as well.
According to a 1972 interview with The Greensboro Record, it was the first day of shooting for the 14th and final season of Bonanza, and the cast and crew were understandably tense after just losing a close friend.
"Nobody said anything at first, which was a mistake," Landon said. "You could feel the uneasiness all day. Finally, at the end of the day, each of us made a speech, and we all broke down. That was good. It acted as a catharsis and allowed us to get on with our work."
According to the interview, Landon had recently finished directing a two-hour segment of Bonanza that opened Season 14. The episode was called "Forever," and it was a love story that Landon had written for Blocker.
After Blocker's death, Landon adjusted the script to fit himself as Little Joe Cartwright.
"The script is virtually the same as when I first wrote it for Dan," Landon said. "I added about three lines to mention the death of Hoss. That's all that needs to be said. It's not necessary to discuss his death; you wouldn't do that in real life. The important things remain silent."
Landon said he was still processing the death of his co-star and friend. They worked closely together for 13 years, spending long days together.
"Our relationship was very close, although we seldom saw each other off the set," Landon said. "That was only natural. When you're together so much, you run out of jokes at the end of the day."
"We ran into real trouble about the seventh year; there were no more jokes to tell," Landon continued. "Then we realized we had forgotten the ones we told each other seven years before, so we started all over again."
Blocker's presence was greatly missed by both viewers and his co-stars, and still is. He was a big man, with a big presence that made a big impact on everyone around him. Landon missed his co-star, but the show had to continue, though not without dedication to their friend.
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