David Canary Movies
Square-jawed, mellow-voiced character actor David Canary achieved his greatest prominence on television, in roles that typecast him as a "man's man" with an unmistakably tough edge but a smooth demeanor and approach. Born in Elwood, IN, Canary grew up in Ohio as the son of a JC Penney manager. He took to musical performance (as a baritone vocalist) during adolescence, then after high school attended the University of Cincinnati on a football scholarship and concurrently took classes at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, qualifying as the first person to combine studies at both institutions, graduating as a music major in voice from the university. During that period, the university theater director, Paul Rutledge, observed Canary's innate dramatic gifts and strongly encouraged the student to try out for roles in numerous productions, many of which he landed with great ease, thereby opening himself up to a talent all but unrecognized and untapped, and paving the way for a prestigious foray into acting that commenced with several years of summer stock. Canary began his professional acting career on-stage, in musicals, but he made his Broadway debut in the play Great Day in the Morning, opposite Colleen Dewhurst. His career was put on hold for a time when he was drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed at a base in Texas, but he made the most of it, entertaining the troops and winning the All Army Entertainment Contest for best popular singer. When his service time was completed, Canary returned to the theater, but it wasn't long before he moved into filmed work.As a professional actor, Canary divided his time between big- and small-screen outings, but placed his strongest emphasis on television. He is best known for two ongoing, multi-season series roles: Candy, a wanderer hired onto the Cartwright property as a ranch hand, on the immensely popular Western saga Bonanza (a part held from 1967 through 1970 and again during the final season of 1972-1973), and -- on a much different note -- long-running portrayals of twins Adam and Stuart Chandler on the ABC daytime drama All My Children. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Joe Cartwright and Candy head to Butlerville, there to help out Candy's old friend Jess Parker (Robert Pine). The town is run with an iron hand by Calvin Butler (Will Geer), who will stop at nothing to drive all "squatters" out of the territory. Having witnessed Butler's brutality first hand, Parker is prepared to testify against the despot in court-if he lives that long. Complicating matters are the fact that Butler is an old friend of Joe's father Ben, and that there is a long-standing romantic rivalry between Candy and Jess over Jess' wife Barbara. First broadcast on March 30, 1969, "The Running Man" was written by John and Ward Hawkins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1969
Self-reliant 14-year-old Coley (Kevin Burchett) inherits a valuable gold mine from his otherwise luckless father. Having spent most of his life being rejected by the adult world, Coley suddenly finds himself in the middle of a custody tug-of-war between his long-estranged mother Margaret Claybourne (Patricia Smith) and his greedy uncle Caleb Melton (Dana Elcar). The Cartwrights' efforts to help the boy choose between his mother and uncle are stymied by the fact that Coley hates both potential guardians with equal fervor. Originally telecast on April 20, 1969, "Speak No Evil" was written by B.W. Sandefur and Norman Katkov. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1969
The "Don Quixote" legend was given a 19th century western spin on Bonanza's inaugural eleventh-season entry "Another Windmill to Go." The Cartwrights are dumbstruck when they find Don Q. Hought (Laurence Naismath) rowing a wheeled boat across their grazing land. But Don Q. is not as daffy as he seems: His main purpose in life is to challenge obscure-and very silly-Federal laws. Also seen are Jill Townsend as Abbey, Bart Larue as Walters, Gregg Palmer as Benson and character comedian George Furth (who'd recently co-authored the hit Broadway musical Company) as Horace Keylot. Written by Palmer Thompson, "Another Windmill to Go" first aired on September 14, 1969, and was later selected by NBC for an "encore presentation" in the Summer of 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1969
Sheriff Austin (Pat Hingle) of Stillwater jails Candy on the basis of highly suspicious eyewitness testimony. Not only does Austin refuse to tell Candy that he's suspected of robbery and murder, but he also refuses to inform the Cartwrights of their top hand's whereabouts. Why is the Sheriff behaving in this fashion, and how long will it be before the situation devolves into tragedy? Strother Martin appears as Lonnie, while Jackie Gleason Show semi-regular Frank Marth is seen as Barnum. Written by Preston Wood, "The Silence at Stillwater" originally aired on September 28, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1969
Season 11 of Bonanza marks the temporary departure of David Canary as Candy, enigmatic ranch hand at the Ponderosa spread run by Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene); Candy would not return to the series until its 14th and final season. Highlights during Bonanza's 11th year on the air include "Another Windmill to Go," a Wild West spin on the Don Quixote legend; "A Lawman's Lot is Not a Happy One," chronicling the short and unhappy peacekeeping career of Hoss Cartwright (Dan Blocker); "Dead Wrong," one of several episodes directed by series regular Michael Landon (Joe Cartwright); "Abner Willoughby's Return," reuniting the onetime co-stars of the '60s sitcom I'm Dickens -- He's Fenster, John Astin and (Emmaline Henry); "It's a Small World," a showcase for versatile dwarf actor Michael Dunn; "Caution, Easter Bunny Crossing," the one in which Hoss lumbers around the countryside in a rabbit costume; and "A Matter of Circumstance," a tour de force for Michael Landon in which he is virtually the only character onscreen throughout the episode. Despite flagging audience interest in TV Westerns, Bonanza ended its ninth season as America's third most popular program -- while the second most favorite was another long-running sagebrusher, Gunsmoke. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, (more)
- 1969
Melissa Murphy is cast as Jenny Winters, who claims she can identify the outlaw Logan gang as the men who robbed a stagecoach and murdered the driver. Hoping to protect Jenny from the Logans, Joe Cartwright and Candy offer the girl shelter at the Ponderosa. What neither the good guys nor the bad guys know is that Jenny is a chronic liar, whose "eyewitness" yarn is a total fabrication. Others in the cast include Stefan Gierasch as Orvil Winters, Connie Hines as Hilda, Alan Baxter as Jim, and Bo Hopkins as Stretch. First shown on September 21, 1969, "The Witness" was written by Joel Murcott. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1969
On trial for the murder of John Leggett, Candy comes before "hanging judge" Butler (Chick Chandler). The only eyewitness to the murder is Jacova (John Saxon), an Indian horse thief presently on the lam from the law. As the Cartwrights scour the countryside in search of Jacova, Candy is forced to put his life in the hand of defense attorney Theodore Scott (Woodrow Parfrey), who frankly doesn't seem to give a damn whether his client hangs or not. The script, by Jack B. Sowards and Stanley Roberts, makes a passing reference to the death of Custer-which, according the established chronology of Bonanza, was still several years in the future! "My Friend, My Enemy" first aired on January 12, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1969
Mildred Natwick guest-stars as the formidable Mrs. Wharton, a snobbish Englishwoman living by her wits and will in the Wild, Wild West. When the stage on which she is travelling is held up by outlaws, the snooty Mrs. Wharton must rely upon that "uncouth creature" Candy to retrieve her valuables. Candy soon discovers that Mrs. Wharton is a lot more resourceful and self-reliant than she appears to be. Loosely based on the real-life tour of the American West by British actress Mrs. Trollope, "Mrs. Wharton and the Lesser Breeds" was written by Preston Wood, and was first shown on January 19, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Though no longer the number one program in America by the time it entered its tenth season, Bonanza still weighed in at a respectable third place, just after Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Of the major characters, Lorne Greene as Ben Cartwright, Dan Blocker as Hoss Cartwright, and Michael Landon as Joe Cartwright had weathered all ten seasons. David Canary, introduced the previous season in the role of enigmatic Ponderosa ranch hand Candy, was by now matching his co-stars in popularity, though he still did not entirely fill the boots of departed regular Pernell Roberts (who'd left the role of Adam Cartwright three seasons earlier). Candy, in fact, is center of attention in one of season ten's best episodes, "Salute to Yesterday," in which the character is uncomfortably reunited with his ex-wife Ann (Sandra Smith). Other noteworthy episodes this season include "The Real People of Muddy Creek," a hark back to such ensemble Westerns as Stagecoach and Rio Bravo; "Mark of Guilt," spotlighting longtime secondary character Hop Sing (Victor Sen Yung) in a story of honor, tradition -- and "modern" detective methods; "The Lady and the Mountain Lion," a comic episode constructed around the fact that its leading ladies (Alyce Andrece, Rhae Andrece) are identical twins; and the classic "The Wish," written and directed by series star Michael Landon, and featuring the great Ossie Davis in a story of black pride in the Old West. One of the later tenth season episodes was unwittingly prescient. "The Unwanted" features Bonnie Bedelia, who during Bonanza's final season would be cast as Joe Cartwright's ill-fated love interest, here playing a headstrong young woman who develops a fatal attraction for a young ex-convict. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, (more)
- 1968
Taking advantage of the illness of his powerful rancher father Claude Roman (Denver Pyle), mean-spirited Jermey Roman (Jeremy Slate) runs roughshod over everyone. In addition to browbeating his sister Mary (Diane Muldaur) and reneging on a legitimate business deal with the Cartwrights, Jeremy also tries to get his father declared mentally incompetent. But by episode's end, Jeremy forcibly learns that there's more to greatness than merely inheriting a great name. First telecast on October 13, 1968, "The Passing of a King" was written by B.W. Sandefur. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Unbeknownst to Hoss Cartwright, the horse he has just purchased previously belonged to a murdered millionaire. As a result, Hoss is railroaded into jail on a murder-theft charge. Threatened with lynching by a band of townsfolk eager to get their hands on the dead man's missing money, Hoss breaks out of jail with the help of black cowboy Child Barnett (Yaphet Kotto), a man who has spent virtually his entire adult life on the run. Others in the cast are John Marley as Sheriff Millet, Harry Hickox as Mayor Bingham, Henry Beckman as Charlie, Bruce Kirby as Chad, and bandleader Frank DeVol as Brother Stoner. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
The focus in this Bonanza episode of September 29, 1968 is on ranch hand Candy, played by David Canary. Candy and the Cartwrights offer their assistance to a US Army unit, presently under attack from a gang of gold bandits. Crisis mounts upon crisis when it develops that Captain Harris (Pat Conway) is married to Candy's ex-wife Ann (Sandra Smith)-and the leader of the outlaws is Candy's childhood friend Angel Montana (Carlos Rivas). "Salute to Yesterday" was written by John Hawkins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
A distant relative of Ben Cartwright, preteen tomboy Samantha Dorcas (Linda Sue Risk is delivered to the Ponderosa in the hope that Ben will be able to "tame" the troublesome girl. Meanwhile, Sam's mother Martha (Antoinette Bower) struggles desperately to escape her existence as a saloon girl. Further complications ensue when Sam's grandfather Calvin (George Mitchell) arrives on the scene. First shown on November 3, 1968, "Little Girl Lost" was written by Michael Fessier. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Mariette Hartley makes a return visit to Bonanza in the November 10, 1968 episode "The Survivors." This time, Hartley is cast as Alicia, a former captive of the Paiutes. During her captivity, Alicia had been forced to bear a son to one of the braves, and as a result is shunned by the townsfolk-and rejected by her husband Wayne Purcell (John Carter). It is up to the Cartwrights to defend Alicia in the face of raw, ugly bigotry. "The Survivors" was written by S.H. Barnett, Colin MacKenzie and John Hawkins. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
The Cartwrights and Candy find themselves stranded in the backwater town of Tinbucket. Having picked up false rumors that the Ponderosa is on its last legs, the townsfolk refuse to extend Ben Cartwright any credit. Meanwhile, a series of bizarre coincidences leads to several embarrassing arrests: Candy is accused of cheating at poker, Hoss is nabbed for public drunkenness and theft, and Joe is pinched on a pickpocketing charge. Slim Pickens and Paul Richards guest star in this episode, which was written by David Lang. "Catch as Catch Can" originally aired on October 27, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Beaudry (John Vernon), an old army buddy of Ben Cartwright, is just a man who wants to have fun. Unfortunately, his idea of fun is to steal Hoss' horse, pick fights with the townsfolk, and seriously injure Candy. But there may be even worse in store: Tired of a life as vagabond, Beaudry plans to settle permanently in Virginia City. Also in the cast are Melissa Murphy as Noreen, Rodolfo Acosta as Matar, Larry Ward as Stryker and Pepper Martin as Hawkface. Written by Milton S. Gelman, "Yonder Man" was originally telecast on December 8, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
This episode of Bonanza is a showcase for Victor Sen Yung as Hop Sing, the Cartwrights' loyal Chinese manservant. When Hop Sing's pigtail is cut off by town bully Emo Younger (Sam Greene), Joe Cartwright vows to avenge this act of public humiliation-and is subsequently arrested for murder when Younger turns up dead. Working in concert with Hoss, Hop Sing attempts to clear Joe by utilizing the ancient Chinese art of fingerprint detection. Appearing in support of the regulars are Dick Foran as Gittner, Michael Vandver as Davis, Alan Bergmann as Gort, Lou Frissell as Jackson, and Gordon Dilworth as the Judge. First shown on December 15, 1968, "Mark of Guilt" was written by Ward Hawkins and Frank Telford. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Jack Kruschen makes his third and final Bonanza appearance as Giorgio Rossi, the bombastic patriarch of an Italian wine-growing family. Having been awarded a parcel of Ponderosa land to create a vineyard, Rossi causes consternation for Ben Cartwright when he invites a group of hungry Indians to pay a visit. What Ben knows, but Giorgio doesn't, is that once they've encamped on the Rossi property, the Indians will assume they've been invited to stay on permament. Also making return visits to the series are Penny Santon and Brioni Farrell as Giorgio's wife Maria and daughter Regina. Fans will be amused by the layout of the Rossi living room, which is an exact replica of the Cartwrights' (as well it should be, inasmuch as the same set was used!) Written by William F. Leicester, "The Sound of Drums" first aired on November 17, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Joe Cartwright, Candy and Kate Kelly (Celeste Yarnell) form a partnership to establish an ore-stamping mill. Though Joe and Candy know next to nothing about running the mill, they have no trouble courting Kate, with both partners showing up at the lady's doorstep on alternate evenings. But it isn't all fun and games: The boys must also contend with rival mine owner Miles Renfro (Paul Lambert), who doesn't cotton to the competition and has the guns to back up his objections. Dabney Coleman appears in the supporting role of Ivar Peterson. Originally shown on December 1, 1968, "Queen High" was written by Michael Fessier. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Grand Jury witness Charles Ball (James Patterson) is prepared to charge seven men with fraud-not out of any sense of civic duty, but because he has been paid off by Vandeman (Mark Richman a co-conspirator of the seven defendants, and the worst of the lot. With his life in jeopardy, Ball hides out at the Ponderosa, which rests not at all well with Candy. Meanwhile, the seven accused men align themselves with Vandeman to arrange a fatal "accident" for Ball. Others in the cast include Linda March as Harriet Ball, John Milford as Rodgers, and John Archer as Ludlow. Written by Preston Wood, "A World Full of Cannibals" first aired on December 22, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Candy comes to the aid of down-and-out Laura Jean Pollard (Tisha Sterling), offering the bedraggled young woman the shelter and hospitality of the Ponderosa. Before long, however, an ex-marshal named Passmore (William Windom) has arrived on the scene to blackmail poor Laura. What is her secret-and how will it affect the Cartwright clan? Also appearing are Jean Willes as Mrs. O'Brien and Bruno Ve Sota as the Bartender. Written by Thomas Thompson, "Star Crossed" was originally telecast on March 10, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Ben Cartwright is determined to block the gubernatorial bid of John Faraday (Simon Scott), the corrupt stooge of crooked tycoon Sam Endicott (Sidney Blackmer). When Ben is shot by one of Endicott's henchmen, he decides to "play dead" until the convention, then expose both Endicott and Faraday as murderous scoundrels. But a monkey wrench is thrown into the works when an innocent man is arrested for Ben's "murder." Portions of David Rose's background music were later incorporated into the themes of the subsequent Michael Landon series Little House on the Prairie). Among the supporting players is George Gaynes, best known to latter-day viewers for his hilarious performances in the theatrical features Tootsie and Police Academy. First shown on March 3, 1968, "The Late Ben Cartwright" was written by Walter Black. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Noah Beery Jr. guest-stars as Johnny Mule, on trial for the murder of David Lowdon. Typically, Hoss Cartwright casts the vote which deadlocks the jury, convinced that there is reasonable doubt regarding Johnny's guilt. But when Johnny breaks out of jail rather than face a retrial, Hoss must come to grips with the possibility that his instincts were wrong. Also in the cast are such powerhouse performers as Coleen Gray, Lee Patterson, Jack Ging and John Archer. Originally titled "The Trial of Johnny Mule", this episode was written by Joel Murcott, and first aired on February 25, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Joe Cartwright is grief-stricken when his friend Steve Regan, leader of a miners' strike, is accidentally killed. Because the Cartwrights are major stockholders in the mining company, Joe feels partially responsible for Steve's death, and does what he can to help the man's widow Stephanie (Marj Dusay). Meanwhile, the corrupt mine officials, intending to break the back of the strike movement, hire a group of troublemakers to encourage further violence. First shown on April 7, 1968, "Commitment at Angelus" was written by Peter Germano. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
- 1968
Candy makes good his long-standing promise to quit the Ponderosa to join his longtime sweetheart Lila Holden (Elizabeth MacRae) in the town of River Bend. His dreams of starting life anew are shattered when he is arrested on a trumped-up charge and held without bail. Hoping to help Candy out, the Cartwrights enter into a dangerous confrontation with murderous, graft-grabbing Sheriff Booker (Robert Wilke and his equally disreputable deputy Horn (Steve Brodie). Written by David Lang, "Trouble Town" originally aired on March 17, 1968, then was afforded a special "encore presentation" by NBC in the Spring of 1972. At present, two differently edited syndicated versions exist of this title. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, (more)
