Bonanza's 4th brother--on the actors forming their characters

With Pernell Roberts passing, Mitch Vogel is the only living Bonanza son. (His character was adopted in the series' later years). Vogel talks about how the actors helped to mold their characters on the series. From an upcoming episode of PBS "Pioneers of Television" --focusing on TV westerns.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Pernell
• Roberts
• Mitch
• Vogel
• Bonanza
• westerns
• television
• cowboys
• Landon
• blocker

[mariacristinar]

He seems a good man but I hated Jamie.

I hated to Jamie not to Mitch Voguel, maybe in other rol, inLHOTP I love him as Johnny Johnson but as a Cartwright not !!

Little Joe was the little not Jamie !!!

Excuse me please, but I dont feel Jamie as a Cartwright.

[LkeVelvet]

@scorpio888 I always felt the same. If Pernell had stayed he would've gotten what he desired - the show morphed into exactly what he wanted. But then again, perhaps it was his leaving that allowed the other actors the room to stretch. As for Bonanza being nothing without Pernell, its longevity proves otherwise. The show did not stop until Mr Blocker passed. It was his chemistry w/ Landon that was the heart of the show (and their combined chemistry w/Green), not Pernell by any means.

[BondiBeachGirl]

@BondiBeachGirl I mean to say without Pernell, not with Pernell.

[BondiBeachGirl]

Im so tired of fans saying that Bonanza was nothing with Pernell. The show had four brilliant actors, not just one. It's alright to say your a fan of one of them but dont exclude the others. The show portrayed a family of four, not one!!! Live on ML, DB, PR and LG.

[khappell2]

@pongespob Actually, Jamie was not related to the Cartwrights. If I recall correctly, Jamie was a boy who had no parents and got in trouble regularly. It took some time but Ben finally convinced him he was loved and was able to talk him into staying at the ranch. I believe he was adopted by Ben a few episodes later. Anyone else?

[Aussie038]

Is it funny how a lot of people believe Pernell is his surname. Pernell is his first name and Roberts is his second. I guess Pernell has more gloss.

[SarasAnimals]

I find a lot of the episodes post Adam lost their spice. Some got too sickly sweet. He was like John Lennon was to the Beatles. However, the other two brothers did have amazing chemistry when they got into comedy. From what I've read about Pernell Roberts, he did act like a twit, and Dortort didn't make it any easier for him. So we are stuck with the Bonanza universe as it is, not as we would like it to be.

[pongespob]

Has anyone even heard of this actor/character from Bonanza?

[ReptilesRBest]

As I recall, Jamie was NOT the 4th brother, but a relative who came to live with the Cartwrights.

[Gnillob802]

I always thought Candy was much more of a force on the show than Jamie. Too young to remember Adam, but remember the introduction of Candy and all those shows. I also remember the introduction of Jamie and disinterest in his character and eventually the show.

[usaruss]

I remember Mitch, played the role of Jamie. I saw him on 1 or 2 other shows later, Petrocelli was 1 of them. I think he left acting eventually.

[Sugarbehr1967]

@tet43 He's still cute now!