Actors in "Bonanza"
"Bonanza" was more than just another western in an age that had an abundance of them - it was a clever marketing idea. First aired in 1959, it was especially developed to be filmed and viewed in colour, and was supposed to make Americans buy colour televisions. It apparently worked, as the colour TV became rather popular and the series lasted for fourteen years.
Why did the show work? Aside from the colours, it was gentler and more family-oriented than most of the westerns. It contained more fist-fights than gun-fights, and centered around the Cartwrights, a loving, loyal family. It dealt with important issues like prejudice at a time when it was not common on television. And of course some handsome actors didn't hurt!
Victor Sen Yung was the fifth man on the Ponderosa - Hop sing, the cook. The character
was generally used in comic bits, often involving the small cook chasing Hoss out of his
kitchen for stealing food. There were also, however, a few episodes throughout the series
that dealt with the anti-Chinese prejudice in the West of the late 1800's.
Sen Yung had a huge number of acting credits, both before and during his years on Bonanza.
In the 1940's he was best known as Charlie Chan's Number 2 son in the Sidney Toler Charlie
Chan films. He was a regular in Father Knows Best and had roles in many TV shows and
movies. Sen Yung died in 1980, at the age of 65.
After Pernell Roberts left "Bonanza" in 1965, a new character was brought in to fill the gap.
David Canary was cast as "Candy" Canaday, the Ponderosa ranch
foreman. Candy was very close to the Cartwright clan, and became entangled
in many of their adventures.
David Canary was familiar to audiences of the time, having come from a role on "Peyton Place". Although he holds a degree in music and is an impressive singer, Canary has spent most of his career in television. Following "Bonanza" Canary moved into daytime TV, and work on soap operas. Since 1983 he has been on "All My Children", where he has won four Emmys playing the dual role of twins Adam and Stuart Chandler.
Mitch Vogel joined the show in 1970 as Jamie Hunter, an orphan taken in by the Cartwrights
and later adopted. It was hoped that Jamie would appeal to younger members of the audience,
as Michael Landon was now 34 and a bit old for Ben's fatherly advice.Mitch was 13 when he joined the cast of "Bonanza", and stayed with the show until the end. He apparently made an impression on Michael Landon, as he would go on to play on "Little House on the Prairie" after the "Bonanza" finished. Vogel left acting in his late teens.
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