Set in the Kansas towns of Ellsworth, Dodge City and finally Tombstone, Arizona, Hugh O'Brian starred as US Marshal Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) who maintained law and order with the help of two extra long .45 caliber Buntline Special pistols.

Wyatt began his career as a lawmen when his friend Marshal Whitney of Ellsworth, Kansas was murdered. Wyatt was offered his job and he quickly avenged the death. Journalist Ned Buntline presented Wyatt with his now famous set of pistols.

Before taking a job a law enforcement officer, Wyatt rode shotgun for Wells Fargo. While he was on the job, none of their shipments were lost or stolen.

Other folks to interact with Wyatt Earp included:

Ellsworth:

• Lloyd Corrigan as Ned Buntline
• Douglas Fowley as Doc Fabrique
• Mason Allan Dinehart III as Bat Masterson, a gambler
• Gloria Talbott as Abbie Crandall.
• Don Haggerty as Marsh Murdock.

Dodge City:

• Mason Allan Dinehart III as Bat Masterson, a deputy.
• Brad Johnson as Ed Masterson, Bat's brother and a deputy.
• William Tannen as Deputy Hal Norton.
• Douglas Fowley as Doc Holliday.
• Carol Stone as Kate Holliday, Doc's wife.
• Lloyd Corrigan as Ned Buntline.
• Morgan Woodward as Shotgun Gibbs, a frontiersman.
• Selmer Jackson as Mayor Hoover.
• Paul Brinegar as Jim "Dog" Kelly, who ran for Mayor and  replaced Mayor Hoover.
• Rodd Redwing as Mr. Brother, Wyatt's Indian friend, who was murdered by four Dry Gulcher gunmen.
• Rico Alaniz as Mr. Cousin, Wyatt's Indian friend and associate of Mr. Brother.
• Margaret Hayes as Dora Hand (killed by a stray bullet on the eve of her marriage to Jim Kelley).
• Denver Pyle as Ben Thompson, Wyatt's friend (to hide from two marriage-minded women Doc Holliday arranged a funeral for Ben).
• Tom London as Nate Strathearn, Wyatt's cousin who gets murdered.
• Douglas Fowley as Doc Fabrique (visits Dodge at Wyatt's request).

Tombstone:

• Randy Stuart as Nellie Cashman, the operator of the Birdcage  saloon and Wyatt's love interest.
• Damian O'Flynn as Doc Goodfellow.
• Stacy Harris as Mayor Clum.
• James Seay as Judge Spicer
• Lloyd Corrigan as Ned Buntline.
• Douglas Fowley as Doc Holliday (played temporarily by Myron Healey).
• Morgan Woodward as Shotgun Gibbs, Earp's Deputy.
• John Anderson as Virgil Earp, Wyatt's Brother.
• Dick London as Morgan Earp, Wyatt's Brother.

The bad guys on the show included:

• Denver Pyle as Ben Thompson, troublemaker outlaw.
• Hal Baylor as Bill Thompson, troublemaker outlaw.
• John Craven as Harry Dolan, an ex member of the Jesse James gang (turned respectable Wichita citizen).
• Walter Maslow as Blackie Sanders, a sadistic gunman/robber.
• Alan Baxter as Ben Roberts, bank robber and member of the Birch Gang.
• George Keymas as Jacob Birch, gang leader.
• Gregg Barton as Dutch Henry, head of the Dutch Henry gang.
• John Cason as Mike Roarke, Rudabaugh-Roarke gang leader.
• Lash La Rue/Steve Brodie as Johnny Behan, Tombstone's corrupt sheriff in cahoots with Old Man Clanton
• Trevor Bardette as Old man Clanton, the local crime boss and leader of the "Ten Percent Gang."  Steve Darrell played Old Man Clanton on episode "Arizona Comes to Dodge" (05/26/1959). Old Man Clanton was killed by Mexican bandits on episode "Requiem for Old Man Clanton" (05/30/1961).
• Carol Thurston as Emma Clanton.
• Steve Rowland as Phin Clanton.
• Ralph Reed as Billy Clanton.
• John Milford/Rayford Barnes as Ike Clanton.
• Gregg Palmer as Tom McLowery who ran with the Clanton's.
• George Wallace as Frank McLowery who ran with the Clanton's.
• William Phipps as Curley Bill Brocius, a bloodthirsty gunslinger who ran with the Clanton Gang.
• Britt Lomond/Peter Thompson/Norman Alden as Johnny Ringo, an alcoholic psychopathic killer who ran with the Clanton gang.

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Listen to Theme Song

Theme Song Lyrics
(Music by Harry Warren
lyrics by Harold Adamson
performed by The Ken Darby Singers & Johnny Western)

Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp,
Brave courageous and bold.
Long live his fame and long life his glory
and long may his story be told.

Well he cleaned up the country
The old wild west country
He made law and order prevail.
And none can deny it
The legend of Wyatt
Forever will live on the trail.

Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp,
Brave courageous and bold.
Long live his fame and long life his glory
and long may his story be told.

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Memorabilia

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TRIVIA NOTE: The series ended with a five-part story that chronicled the historical gunfight at O.K. Corral where Wyatt, his brothers Morgan and Virgil and Doc Holiday finally broke the Clinton gang's hold on the territory.

Hugh O'Brian reprised his role on western series Guns of Paradise (1990), alongside Gene Barry as Bat Masterson, on the TV movie The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991) also with Gene Barry as Bat Masterson. and  in a two-hour TV movie, Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone (July 2, 1994) that intermingled footage from the old series with new filmed segments. 

Hugh O'Brien is the founder of HOBY (Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation) that serves as an outreach to motivate and empower individuals to make a positive difference.

Obituaries: Douglas Fowley: 05/21/1998; Sam Flint: 10/17/1980; William Tannen: 12/02/1976; Damian O'Flynn: 08/08/1982; Don Haggerty: 08/19/1988;

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External Links

• The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (IMDb)

 

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