Actor, Singer, Radio Personality. He is most remembered for his role as 'Ben Cartwright' on the 1960s television western series "Bonanza," and as 'Commander Adama' in the 1970s television science fiction series "Battlestar Galactica." Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, he began his career while attending Canada's Queen's University, and after his graduation, started work in radio broadcasting. His deep, calm, reassuringly strong voice got him started in his film career as the voice of the narrator in several war films, including "Wings of Youth" (1940), "Front of Steel" (1940), and "War Clouds in the Pacific" (1941). During World War II, he made a number of films for the Canadian public, about the actions of the Canadian military during that war, and narrating several numerous other war films. Leaving Canada in the early 1950s for Hollywood, California, he quickly became a familiar actor in television, radio, and films. In the mid 1960s, his song, "Ringo" in which he speaks, not sings, the words, hit the top of the Billboard & Canadian pop singles charts. After playing the voice of 'Big Brother' in the CBS Production of "Nineteen Eighty Four," he was offered the role of 'Ben Cartwright' in the television series, "Bonanza", a role that would make him a star. "Bonanza" ran from 1959 to 1973, one of the longest series in television. From 1963 to 1972, he co-hosted the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with Betty White on NBC-TV. He also had another television series hit in "Battlestar Galactica" which ran from 1978 to 1980. His last role was as General Sam Houston, in the television movie "Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory" (1987). He had accepted the role of 'Ben Cartwright' in a television movie reprise of "Bonanza" but died before it could be filmed. Father-in-law of filmmaker Sam Raimi.

Actor, Singer, Radio Personality. He is most remembered for his role as 'Ben Cartwright' on the 1960s television western series "Bonanza," and as 'Commander Adama' in the 1970s television science fiction series "Battlestar Galactica." Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, he began his career while attending Canada's Queen's University, and after his graduation, started work in radio broadcasting. His deep, calm, reassuringly strong voice got him started in his film career as the voice of the narrator in several war films, including "Wings of Youth" (1940), "Front of Steel" (1940), and "War Clouds in the Pacific" (1941). During World War II, he made a number of films for the Canadian public, about the actions of the Canadian military during that war, and narrating several numerous other war films. Leaving Canada in the early 1950s for Hollywood, California, he quickly became a familiar actor in television, radio, and films. In the mid 1960s, his song, "Ringo" in which he speaks, not sings, the words, hit the top of the Billboard & Canadian pop singles charts. After playing the voice of 'Big Brother' in the CBS Production of "Nineteen Eighty Four," he was offered the role of 'Ben Cartwright' in the television series, "Bonanza", a role that would make him a star. "Bonanza" ran from 1959 to 1973, one of the longest series in television. From 1963 to 1972, he co-hosted the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with Betty White on NBC-TV. He also had another television series hit in "Battlestar Galactica" which ran from 1978 to 1980. His last role was as General Sam Houston, in the television movie "Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory" (1987). He had accepted the role of 'Ben Cartwright' in a television movie reprise of "Bonanza" but died before it could be filmed. Father-in-law of filmmaker Sam Raimi.

Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson