Godspeed Don Collier

Don Collier, who starred on the TV Westerns as Outlaws, The High Chaparral, and The Young Riders, and appeared in the John Wayne movies El Dorado (1966), The War Wagon (1967), and The Undefeated (1969), died today, September 13 2021, at the age of 92. The cause was lung cancer.

Don Collier was born on October 17 1928 in Santa Monica, California. He served in both the United States Navy and the Merchant Marine. Following his service he worked on a cattle ranch in San Fernando Valley owned by actor Francis Lederer. Mr. Lederer asked Don Collier to to join the drama classes that he conducted there. He attended Hardin-Simmons University on a football scholarship, but dropped out after his freshman year. He worked odd jobs for four years before returning to acting, studying acting under Estelle Harman.

Don Collier made his film debut in a bit part in Twelve Hours to Kill in 1960. That same year he appeared in the movie Seven Ways from Sundown (1960) with Audie Murphy. He made his television debut in the second episode of Bonanza, "The Mission. That same season he was one of the leads in the Western Outlaws in 1960. On the show Mr. Collier played Deputy Marshal Will Foreman. In the second season Will Foreman was promoted to United States Marshall and he was the show's primary lead.

In the Sixties Don Collier played Sam Butler, the foreman of the title ranch on the TV series The High Chaparral. He guest starred on the shows Bonanza, Wide County, Temple Houston, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, The Virginian, Profiles in Courage, Wagon Train, Kraft Suspense Theatre, Peyton Place, Branded, The Wackiest Ship in the Army, Death Valley Days, Hondo, and Land of the Giants. He appeared in the movies Safe at Home! (1962), Moment to Moment (1966), Incident at Phantom Hill (1966), Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966), El Dorado (1966), The War Wagon (1967), 5 Card Stud (1968), The Undefeated (1969), and Flap (1970).

p>In the early Seventies Mr. Collier continued to appear on The High Chaparral. He guest starred on The Man and the City, Bonanza, The Waltons, Banacek, Gunsmoke, Chase, Little House on the Prairie, Sara, and How the West Was Won. He appeared in the mini-series Aspen and The Sacketts. For eight years in the Seventies, Don Collier appeared as the Gum Fighter in commercial for Hubba Bubba bubble gum.

In the Eighties Don Collier played storekeeper William Tompkins on The Young Riders. He guest starred on Little House on the Prairie and Highway to Heaven. He appeared in the mini-series The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. He appeared in the movie The Cellar (1988) and Kid (1990).

In the Nineties Don Collier continued to appear on The Young Riders. He guest starred on the TV shows Renegade and Legend. He appeared in the reunion movie Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice and the reboot movie Bonanza: Under Attack. He appeared in the movies Benefit of the Doubt (1993) and Tombstone (1993). From the Naughts onward he appeared in the movies Jake's Corner (2008), Bill Tilghman and the Outlaws (2019), and Legend (2020).

Don Collier was a remarkable actor. While he will likely always be remembered as Sam from The High Chaparral, he played a wide variety of roles in his career. He appeared on Bonanza no less than five times, playing a different character each time. In the episode "The Good Samaritan" he played Wade Tyree, a friend of Hoss who has just been freshly jilted by his sweetheart. In "Credit for a Kill" he played a sheriff about as far removed as Wade Tyree as one could get. And while Don Collier is generally known for playing good guys, he did play villains on occasion. In The War Wagon he played one of the villain's henchmen. Throughout his career he played a variety of roles, from a physician on The Waltons to Admiral Russ Carton in War and Remembrance.