"The Death of Gray" is remembered as the only series appearance of Johnny Cash, already known as the singer of the show's theme, and a major hit maker on the country charts since 1955 ("I Walk the Line" came out in '56). As an actor, Cash had only two television credits before this, while his own recording of the Johnny Yuma theme wasn't released until 1961 (even Nick Adams had a go at it with his own single release in March 1960). Johnny Yuma is set upon by Cass (Steven Marlo, first of three) and Pratt (Johnny Cash), before their commanding officer reveals himself as confederate Colonel Charles Morris (Harry Townes), still fighting the war two years after its end, but now a wanted outlaw. The local townspeople don't show any interest in the trio despite their penchant for stealing food, but after kidnapping the banker's daughter (Sandra Knight, later seen in "The Actress") the stakes are raised accordingly. Sandra's career only lasted a few more years, remembered today more as Jack Nicholson's first wife, while George Eldredge, as her banker father, would also shortly retire from the screen (one previous appearance in "The Vagrants"). Johnny Cash proved to be a fine actor, thoroughly convincing as the grubby and lecherous, yet talented Pratt, often strumming a banjo but never singing.
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