KIN TO CARWRIGHTS IS REVEALED AS A KILLER IN FIRST "BONANZA'S" FOURTH EPISODE OF THE FOURTH SERIES
A young ranger with a fast gun and questionable past shows up on the Ponderosa and reveals he is a half-brother to Little Joe
Cartwright (Michael Landon) when "Bonanza," NBC-TV color series, opened its fourth season Sunday, Sept. 23 (9-10 p.m. EDT). This episode is titled "The First Born." Barry Coe, formerly featured in the series, "Follow the Sun," guest-stars in the title role as Clay Stafford, who hires on as a Cartwright cattleman, then shocks the Cartwrights with his revelation as the sheriff orders him to leave town for shooting a miner in self-defense. Stafford claims he was born to Little Joe's mother before she met Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene) in New Orleans. The Cartwrights accept him as one of the family, then learn he killed another man in Texas.
Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts also star In their Cartwright roles. Others in the cast are Eddy Waller as Harry, Ray Teal as Sheriff Coffee, and Don Bedoe as Stan Perkins. "The First Born" was written by Judith and George W. George and directed by Don McDougall. David Dortort produces the full-hour series, filmed at Paramount Studios, in Hollywood.
Written by TVgy1960wXc on Nov 12, 2025