Chuck Connors, best known as Lucas McCain in The Rifleman, transitioned from athlete to actor after a brief baseball career.

His breakthrough came in 1952’s Pat and Mike, but he found lasting fame in 1958 with The Rifleman, where his strong presence and bond with co-star Johnny Crawford contributed to the show’s success.

Despite his wholesome on-screen image, Connors’ personal life was complex, marked by multiple marriages and political conservatism in liberal Hollywood.

After The Rifleman, he pursued diverse roles before returning as McCain in a 1991 TV film. He passed away in 1992 at 71, but his legacy endures, immortalized by his Hollywood Walk of Fame star.