Replaced the lead actors in two highly-successful western TV series after they passed away during production. He replaced
Ward Bond as the wagon master on
Wagon Train (1957) after Bond's death in 1960, and remained with the series until it ended in 1965. In 1968, he replaced
Charles Bickford as the owner of the Shiloh Ranch on
The Virginian (1962) after Bickford's death in 1967, and remained with the series until 1970.