Dan Blocker Bio, Cause of Death, Wife, Son, Net Worth, Height, Weight

Publish date: 2024-06-24

During his lifetime, Dan Blocker was known as an American television actor and Korean War veteran. As an actor, he was widely recognized for his portrayal of the character Hoss Cartwright on the NBC Western television series Aubaine, one of the longest running Western series in United States television history.

Dan Blocker delivered a brilliant portrayal of the character of Hoss Cartwright in 13 of the show’s 14 seasons and his stint on the show ended due to his tragic death in 1972. Indeed, Blocker was Godsend’s life as the show only lasted one more season after his death.

Dan Blocker’s bio

Dan Blocker was born Bobby Dan Davis Blocker on December 10, 1928 in De Kalb, Texas, United States. His family later moved to the West Texas town of O’Donnell, where he was raised. Her father was Ora “Shack” Blocker and her mother was Mary Arizona Blocker (née Davis). Together they ran a grocery store in downtown O’Donnell.

Dan Blocker studied at the Texas MilitaryInstitut. He was a talented football player. So he played college football at Hardin–Simmons University, a private Baptist university in Abilene, Texas. After a year, he joined Sul Ross State Teacher’s College in Alpine, Texas, where he continued to excel as a football star. He actually had a chance to make a career as a professional footballer, but he was more passionate about acting.

Dan Blocker graduated from college in speech and theater in 1950. He then served in the United States Army during the Korean War between December 1951 and August 1952. He received a purple heart among several other military awards.

Blocker soon returned to college in 1953 where he earned a master’s degree in dramatic arts. He stayed in Texas and later took a job as a teacher. He then moved to New Mexico, then to California, where he continued his teaching activities.

He went on to appear in a myriad of late 1950s Western drama series, including Gunsmoke, ABC Colt .45, The Restless Gun, Sheriff of Cochise, The Rifleman, Cimarron City, Zorro, Jefferson Drum, and Train Wagon 

In 1958, he starred in an episode of the detective novel series Richard Diamond, Private Investigator. He also guest-starred on the NBC adventure series The Troubleshooters (1959) as well as the ABC western series The Rebel (1959).

Dan Blocker’s acting career also came in 1959 when he portrayed Eric “Hoss” Cartwright on the NBC western series Bonanaza. Blocker embodies the character perfectly and it turned out to be the most notable role of his rather short acting career. He appeared in nearly all 14 seasons of the show which ended a few months after the actor passed away.

On the big screen, Dan Blocker starred in the comedy Come Blow Your Horn (1963) alongside Frank Sinatra. He played the lead role of John Killibrew, a blacksmith in the NBC TV movie Something for a Lonely Man (1968). He also appeared in the Western comedy Cowboys Cockeyed from Calico County (1970).

Dan Blocker’s wife

The talented actor was married to Dolphia LeeParker The duo met while they were undergrads at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. They tied the knot on August 25, 1952. They remained a married couple until May 1972, when Blocker died.

Blocker had 4 children in his lifetime. He welcomed his first children, twins Debra Lee and Danna Lynn in 1953. His first son, David Blocker, was born in 1955, followed by his second son and last child, Dennis Dirk Blocker, born in 1957.

Dan Blocker’s two sons followed similar careers to their father. His first son, David Blocker, is an Emmy Award-winning Hollywood producer with numerous films to his credit.

Son

Dan Blocker’s second son, Dirk Blocker, is a Hollywood actor. He made his acting debut as a teenager in 1974 with an episode of the 70s medical drama Marcus Welby, MD Dirk Blocker is known for his long stint as pilot Jerry Bragg on the NBC military series BAA Baa black sheep (1976-1978). He is also known for his role as Michael Hitchcock on the Fox sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–Present).

Cause of death

At 43, Dan Blocker’s life took a tragic turn. Ends May 13, 1972 in Los Angeles, California. He died of a pulmonary embolism (a postoperative blood clot in the lungs) after a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder.

Dan Blocker’s remains were interred in a family plot at Woodmen Cemetery in his hometown of De Kalb, Texas, where the remains of his parents and sister are also kept.

Net value

The celebrity’s acting career was relatively due to her untimely death at the age of 43. However, the talented actor had a large number of actors under his belt at the time of his death. He also accumulated an enviable wealth for himself. At the time of his death, Blocker would have cost $1 million, or about $25 million at today’s rate.

Height and width

Dan Blocker could indeed have been described as a Gentle Giant. He weighed 14 lbs at birth, which was the highest birth weight in Bowie County at that time. At 12, he was already 6 feet tall and weighed 200 pounds. As an adult; he weighed 145 kg or 320 lb, 193 cm (6 ft 4 in).

Despite his intimidating status, Blocker was loved by his peers due to his likeable persona. He was indeed a big man with a much bigger heart. Thanks to his Hulk-like physique, he was employed as a rodeo performer and also as a club bouncer during his undergraduate days.

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