John Dehner : I've seen alot of his tv work on dvd over the past few years.

I've seen alot of his tv work on dvd over the past few years.

I had only seen John Dehner's "Twilight Zone" episodes before I subscribed to Netflix a few years back. I've been renting alot of dvd sets of old television shows over the last three years, and I've noticed that John Dehner keeps popping up in guest starring roles on more than half of the old shows I watch. I've seen him in The Wild Wild West, The Rockford Files, Rawhide, Ironside, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, The Big Valley, Mission: Impossible, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Land of the Giants, The Rifleman, and Have Gun, Will Travel.

I can't believe how prolific this guy was. Were there any character actors back then (1950-1970s) who guest starred on episodic television shows more often than Dehner? I think actors like Alfred Ryder and Nehemiah Persoff might come close to matching Dehner's television credits.

My favorite Dehner performances so far:

The Wild Wild West - "The Night of the Steel Assassin" - Dehner's really creepy as Colonel "Iron Man" Torres.

The Big Valley - "The Invaders" - "Daddy" Cade
Ironside - "Sergeant Mike" - The Colonel
The Rockford Files - "There's One in Every Port" - Judge Lyman

Re: I've seen alot of his tv work on dvd over the past few years.

The episodes you mentioned are outstanding. Have you seen "Ash", a season 8 "Gunsmoke" episode? John Dehner absolutely breaks your heart in that one.

Just caught him in season 2 of "Perry Mason" as a military prosecutor in "The Case of the Sardonic Sergeant". It makes me happy to see him.





"I'm almost resigned to living on what I earn."

Re: I've seen alot of his tv work on dvd over the past few years.

I'm sorry about the lateness of this reply. I haven't visited this board in a while.


The episodes you mentioned are outstanding. Have you seen "Ash", a season 8 "Gunsmoke" episode? John Dehner absolutely breaks your heart in that one.


I've only watched the early seasons of Gunsmoke that have been released on dvd in the last few years. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll get to see any Gunsmoke episodes from season 8 until 2011 at the earliest, at the rate Paramount is releasing the half-season Gunsmoke dvd sets. I'm looking forward to watching "Ash," but it's going to be a long while before the Gunsmoke Season 8 dvd sets materialize. Paramount is taking its good old-fashioned time releasing these skimpy half-season dvd sets.

Fans of the prolific John Dehner will get to see more of his tv work later this year. There are three John Dehner tv guest shots coming up on dvd sets scheduled for release in December - Dehner has guest starring roles in Mannix Season 2, Rawhide Season 3, and Gunsmoke Season 3.

I recently saw another good Dehner performance in "The Nero Rankin Story," a second season Untouchables episode from the most recent Untouchables dvd release. Dehner excels at the snake-in-the-grass slime bag roles.

Re: I've seen alot of his tv work on dvd over the past few years.

I have Ash if your interested. Would be happy to forward you copy. In the interest in JD you should hear his many many episodes on the Radio. RHMAKOTO
His voice always stands out in the Radio westerns and Detective/Drama Shows.

Good news!

The episode Ash is available on the 50th Anniversary Collection DVD. Well worth having.





"Fortunately, I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency."

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