Facts About the TV Show, "Wanted Dead or Alive"

Forget Dog, when it comes to bounty hunters, I'll take Josh Randall.

Steve McQueenPhoto byCreative Commons: twm1340

Before Steve McQueen became a mega movie star, he played Josh Randall on the TV series, Wanted Dead or Alive. His charisma was evident even back then. Josh Randall was a principled bounty hunter, which many people considered an oxymoron.

The show combined good writing with McQueen’s star power and some excellent guest stars. I still watch the show occasionally as I’m channel surfing. So, here are some things you might not have known about Wanted Dead or Alive.

1: Steve McQueen allegedly crashed a car to get out of “Wanted Dead or Alive” and star in “The Magnificent Seven.”

The crash resulted in a shutdown of the production of Wanted Dead or Alive and McQueen used the time to star in the movie. Of course, that was/would have been a risky plot. Nobody wanted McQueen dead.

2: Josh Randall’s “Mare’s Leg” wasn’t a feasible weapon.

It was a cut-down Winchester Model 1892. The show’s setting was pre-1892. At least they didn’t give him a phaser.

3: McQueen was thrilled when the show was canceled. He reportedly did a jig upon getting the news the show was canceled.

Apparently, the jig wasn’t that impressive as McQueen has never appeared in a dance movie or musical.

4: McQueen got some help with the art of the quick draw from Sammy Davis Jr.

Sammy was known for his proficiency in that type of work. Sammy could do it all, singing, dancing, acting, gun slinging.

5: “Wanted” was a spinoff of “Trackdown.”

Trackdown was a western starring Robert Culp as a Texas Ranger. This was before Culp teamed with Bill Cosby in “I Spy.” If we had known the what we know now, Culp might have been tracking down Bill Cosby.

6: Before starring in Wanted”, McQueen didn’t know how to ride a horse.

According to point one, safe driving wasn’t a strong suit either.

7: Bad guys weren’t the only ones Josh Randall was tough on.

McQueen was considered, at least by some, hard to work with. He fired three stunt men on the first day of production, including the great Richard Farnsworth.

8: The bad guys weren’t as tough for Josh Randall as the Nelsons were.

When the show was transferred from Saturday night to Wednesday night to go up against “Ozzie and Harriett,” the ratings crashed. Ozzie and Harriett raised teenagers, Randall’s Mare’s Leg didn’t scare them.

9: Initially, McQueen wasn’t crazy about the idea of starring in a western. However, after finding out his character wouldn’t be the traditional western hero, he warmed to the idea.

The fact that he couldn’t ride a horse and needed help from Sammy Davis Jr. to learn how to quick draw might also have been factors.

10: Ringo gave Josh Randall a lot of trouble.

Not Johnny Ringo, Ringo the horse. Ringo was the horse McQueen/Randall rode for most of the series. Within a five-week period, Ringo threw McQueen six times and bit him another three times. Maybe that’s why McQueen was so happy when the series wrapped up.