| Law of the Plainsman is a Western television series starring Michael Ansara that aired on the NBC television network from October 1, 1959, until May 5, 1960. The character of Native American U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart was introduced in two episodes of the popular ABC Western television series The Rifleman starring Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain. Law of the Plainsman is distinctive and unique in that it was one of the few television programs that featured a Native American as the lead character, a bold move for U.S.network television at that time. Ansara had earlier appeared in the series Broken Arrow, having portrayed the Apache chief, Cochise. Ansara, however, was not Native American but of Syrian descent. Ansara played Sam Buckhart, an Apache Indian who saved the life of a U.S. Cavalry officer after an Indian ambush. When the officer died, he left Sam money that was used for an education at private schools and Harvard University. After school, he returned to New Mexico where he became a Deputy Marshal working for Marshal Andy Morrison. He lived in a boarding house run by Martha Commager. The only other continuing character was 8-year old Tess Logan, an orphan who had been rescued by Buckhart. Robert Harland, later of Target: The Corruptors! starred in seven episodes as Deputy Billy Lordan. Wayne Rogers, who went on to star in another Four Star western, Stagecoach West, and later, M*A*S*H, also played deputy Lordan in several episodes. |
| Name | Character | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Ansara | Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart | 30 |
| Gina Gillespie | Tess Wilkins | 15 |
| Dayton Lummis | Marshal Andy Morrison | 9 |
| Nora Marlowe | Martha Commager | 7 |
| John Milford | Jason | 2 |
| Wayne Rogers | Frank Anderson | 2 |
| Wayne Rogers | Deputy Billy Lordan | 2 |
| Joseph V. Perry | Egan | 2 |
| Jess Kirkpatrick | Deputy Timmins | 2 |
| Ned Glass | Potter | 1 |
| George Keymas | Chato | 1 |
| Tiger Fafara | Roy Garnett | 1 |
| Dee Pollock | Nate | 1 |
| Gustavo Rojo | Charlie Slade | 1 |
| Stephen Talbot | Stevie Mullen | 1 |
| Robert Osterloh | Joe Baker | 1 |
| Scott Marlowe | Clancy James | 1 |
| Robert Warwick | Governor Lew Wallace | 1 |
| Eddie Quillan | Horace Arnold | 1 |
| Fred Graham | Joe Graham | 1 |
| Hope Summers | Mrs. Dodge | 1 |
| John Dehner | Walter Shannon | 1 |
| Claude Akins | Sheriff Clifford Shaw | 1 |
| Lee Van Cleef | Tracey | 1 |
| Clu Gulager | Truck Garnett | 1 |
| John Milford | Elijah Wesley | 1 |
| J. Pat O'Malley | Doc Leonard | 1 |
| J. Pat O'Malley | Jonas | 1 |
| Paul Fix | Mr. Coleman | 1 |
| Robert Vaughn | Theodore Roosevelt | 1 |
| Robert Vaughn | Ross Drake | 1 |
| Tom London | Stagecoach Driver | 1 |
| Leo Gordon | Rand | 1 |
| Pat O'Malley | Old Man | 1 |
| John Marley | Walt Timmins | 1 |
| John Anderson | Clyde Santee | 1 |
| John Anderson | Matthew Bannock | 1 |
| John Anderson | Jeb Wicken | 1 |
| Jean Allison | Rosa Costello Slade | 1 |
| Jean Allison | Helen Jakowsky | 1 |
| Dabbs Greer | Wesley | 1 |
| Paul Carr | Deputy Billy Lordan | 1 |
| John Hoyt | Col. Efram Springer | 1 |
| Jack Kruschen | Dr. Pearson | 1 |
| Bert Freed | Benson | 1 |
| Mort Mills | Zeb Derkson | 1 |
| Bill Erwin | Dr. Palmer | 1 |
| John Larch | Jasper Mullen | 1 |
| Brian G. Hutton | Johnny Q | 1 |
| Lane Bradford | Newt | 1 |
| Lane Bradford | Frank Jackson | 1 |
| Hampton Fancher | Harver | 1 |
| Peter Whitney | Knappe | 1 |
| Peter Whitney | Trigger Strelling | 1 |
| Peter Whitney | John Wesley | 1 |
| Bud Osborne | Zeb - Driver | 1 |
| Christopher Dark | Qwert Phillips | 1 |
| Patricia Huston | Greta Lane | 1 |
| Frank Puglia | Don Esteban Ramores | 1 |
| Ted de Corsia | Bert Kolb | 1 |
| Lynn Bari | Constance Valeri | 1 |
| Patricia Donahue | Edie Shaw | 1 |
| Peter Brocco | Mr. Schuyler | 1 |
| Earle Hodgins | Bartender | 1 |
| Maggie Pierce | Ellen Dawson | 1 |
| Michael Hinn | Marshall Jim Gordon | 1 |
| Michael Hinn | Hodie Carver | 1 |
| Steven Marlo | Manuel Ramores | 1 |
| Denver Pyle | Burke Carew | 1 |
| Richard Anderson | Lee Talent | 1 |
| Lawrence Dobkin | Hempner | 1 |
| Gloria Talbott | Stella Meeker | 1 |
| Don Dubbins | Mite Rankin | 1 |
| Robert J. Wilke | Amos Cameron | 1 |
| Lyle Bettger | Sheriff Max Chaffee | 1 |
| Constance Ford | Jessie Lawrence | 1 |
| William Fawcett | Sheriff Shep Collins | 1 |
| Michael Pate | 'Gentleman' Frank Deegan | 1 |
| Joseph V. Perry | Ben | 1 |
| Walter Burke | Mr. Smith | 1 |
| Tom Reese | Cal | 1 |
| Joseph Ruskin | Crow | 1 |
| Paul Langton | Sgt. Sean McGrath | 1 |
| Jacques Aubuchon | Reverend Jordan | 1 |
| Percy Helton | Del Martin | 1 |
| Tyler McVey | Marshal Penrose | 1 |
| George Mitchell | Aaron | 1 |
| Wesley Lau | Staff Meeker | 1 |
| Dorothy Adams | Mrs. Garnett | 1 |
| John Pickard | Mack | 1 |
| Garry Walberg | Mike | 1 |
| Joe De Santis | Cooper | 1 |
| Roberto Contreras | Frank Ramay | 1 |
| Roberto Contreras | Pedro | 1 |
| James Westerfield | Joshua Jones | 1 |
| Clegg Hoyt | Hungerford | 1 |
| Alex Gerry | Judge Mason | 1 |
| Olive Carey | Martha | 1 |
| Rayford Barnes | Rick Modesto | 1 |
| Arch Johnson | Cass Mabry | 1 |
| Perry Ivins | Redmond | 1 |
| Donald Buka | Roy Cameron | 1 |
| Ralph Moody | Danforth | 1 |
| Paul Sorensen | Ludwig | 1 |
| Robert F. Hoy | September Smith | 1 |
| Natalie Norwick | Clara Williams | 1 |
| Clancy Cooper | Cully | 1 |
| Biff Elliot | Mike Williams | 1 |
| Don Grady | Clint | 1 |
| William Mims | Western Express Agent | 1 |
| Ken Mayer | Wally Kolb | 1 |
| Richard Rust | Healy | 1 |
| Harry Landers | Kid Remick | 1 |
| Steve Gravers | Stan Jakowsky | 1 |
| John Clarke | Deputy Billy Lordan | 1 |
| Francis McDonald | Watkins | 1 |
| Michael T. Mikler | Link Carver | 1 |
| Charlie Briggs | Bob Erby | 1 |
| Peggy Webber | Hattie Mullen | 1 |
| Mickey Finn | Curley | 1 |
| Alan Reed Jr. | Dev Valeri | 1 |
| Jorge Treviño | Sheriff Arturo Robledo | 1 |
| Billy Booth | Quinn Wesley | 1 |
| Jim Hayward | Minister | 1 |
| Brett King | Costello | 1 |
| Charles Stevens | Escudero | 1 |
| Suzanne Lloyd | Cora | 1 |
| Suzanne Lloyd | Abigail Ellis Wicken | 1 |
| Robert F. Simon | Frank Keller | 1 |
| Gene Nelson | Hardy O'Hara | 1 |
| Michael Vandever | Tim | 1 |
| Richard Gaines | J. Roberts Pawley | 1 |
| Joan Lora | Josepha | 1 |
| Gina Gillespie | Tess | 0 |