Dan Haggerty, who gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of the kind mountain man with a striking beard and his bear friend Ben in the NBC television series and 1974 film “The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams,” passed away on Friday in Burbank, California. His age was 73 years.
Terry Bomar, his manager and friend, stated that spinal cancer was the cause of death.
Dan Haggerty was creating a name for himself in Hollywood as an animal handler and stuntman before landing his famous part. When a producer requested him to appear in a few opening moments for a film about a woodsman and his bear, it was his big break. The plot, which is based on a novel by Charles Sellier Jr., centers on a man who flees to the woods after being wrongfully convicted of murder, becomes friends with the local wildlife, and takes in an abandoned bear.
Haggerty accepted to do the part, but he had one requirement: he had to appear in the whole film. Despite having a relatively low budget of $165,000, the film’s remake brought in close to $30 million at the box office. Because of this popularity, a television series was created, and in February 1977, Haggerty went back to playing the character of the wild and outdoorsy wilderness guardian.
The audience responded well to the show. It lukewarms the heart, as The New York Times’ John Leonard observed in his review. A large lump in the throat and a lot of communing with nature are experienced when a man and a bear hide out in a log cabin. Haggerty won a 1978 People’s Choice Award for being the most well-liked actor in a new series because of the series’ warm and sympathetic tone, which won over a lot of viewers.
The series also yielded two follow-ups: “Legend of the Wild,” which was broadcast on television in 1978 and eventually released in theaters in 1981, and “The Capture of Grizzly Adams,” a 1982 television film in which Adams ultimately exonerates himself of the false charge.
Born in Los Angeles on November 19, 1942, Daniel Francis Haggerty had a difficult upbringing. He had a turbulent childhood, breaking out of military school several times before coming home with his actor-father in Burbank when his parents divorced when he was three years old.
Haggerty was married twice in his personal life. When he was 17, he got married to Diane Rooker, but they later got divorced. In 2008, he lost his second wife, Samantha Hilton, in a horrific motorbike accident. His children, Don, Megan, Tracy, Dylan, and Cody, survive him.
In his debut motion picture, “Muscle Beach Party” (1964), Haggerty portrayed bodybuilder Biff. After that, he played supporting parts in motorcycle and wildlife movies. He was a hippie commune member in “Easy Rider.” He also played the role off-screen, living with a variety of wild creatures he had either tamed or rescued on a small ranch in Malibu Canyon.
His expertise with animals led to positions as an animal trainer and stuntman for television shows including “Daktari” and “Tarzan.” He kept taking on parts like “Where the North Wind Blows” (1974) and “The Adventures of Frontier Fremont” (1976) that highlighted his affinity for the natural world. His love of outdoor parts brought him roles evoking Grizzly Adams to movies like “Grizzly Mountain” (1997) and “Escape to Grizzly Mountain” (2000).
Haggerty had appearances in a number of horror movies later in his career, such as “Terror Night” (1987) and “Elves” (1989). He was involved in court in 1985 and was given a 90-day jail sentence for distributing cocaine to police officers who were undercover.
Tragic incidents also occurred in his life. Haggerty suffered third-degree burns to his arms when a diner carrying a burning drink unintentionally caught his renowned beard on fire in 1977 when he was dining. Despite being admitted to the hospital and supposed to stay for a month, he left after just ten days, claiming to have expertise of curing animals.
“The first couple of days I just lay in the dark room drinking water, like a wounded wolf trying to heal myself,” he said, reflecting on his injury, to People magazine.
Recent research has shown that kids need their grandparents more than we realize – Here is why
Recent research has shown that grandparents can have a profound impact on their grandchiIdren’s lives. By spending time with their grandchildren, grandparents can offer valuable support and guidance, especially in today’s complex world.
Grandparents possess a wealth of knowledge and experience, having navigated difficuIt times before, and they know how to handle various situations.
Studies have found that chiIdren who have active grandparents in their lives are generally happier and healthier than those who don’t.
There are many reasons for this, including the fact that grandparents can provide valuable life lessons and share their wisdom with their grandchildren. Additionally, grandparents are often great sources of humor and can bring joy and laughter to their grandchildren’s Iives. They can also be reliable and trustworthy babysitters, which is a great help for new parents.
Studies show kids need their grandparents more than we realize
1. Grandparents foster happiness.
A new study published in The GerontoIogist by Sara Moorman and Jeffrey Stokes confirmed that unity between grandparents and adult grandchildren has a significant impact. Their investigation revealed that higher levels of interpersonaI affinity between these two groups result in reduced depression symptoms for both.
2. Older relatives may provide a sympathetic ear to children.
Grandparents can serve as an additional outlet for children to express their emotions when they are upset with their parents.
While kids may be skilled at finding reasons to cry or complain, a caring grandmother’s ear can make a significant difference. Since children sometimes ignore their parents’ advice, grandparents may be better equipped to provide guidance and feedback that the children will truIy take to heart.
3. They serve as a reminder of our family heritage.
Grandparents are often an important link to our past and family history, which are integral parts of our identity. Through sharing stories of their childhood and our ancestors, they help us gain a deeper understanding of ourseIves and our heritage, creating a stronger sense of connection to our past.
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