| Dan Blocker Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 4 in |
| Weight | 166 kg |
| Date of Birth | December 10, 1928 |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Date of Death | May 13, 1972 |
Dan Blocker was an American actor whose breakout role was playing the fan-favorite character of Eric ‘Hoss’ Cartwright on the successful NBC television series, Bonanza (1959-1972). Additionally, he had also starred in films like Come Blow Your Horn (1963), Lady in Cement (1968), Something for a Lonely Man (1968), The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County (1970), etc.
Born Name
Bobby Dan Davis Blocker
Nick Name
Dan
Age
He was born on December 10, 1928.
Died
Dan passed away from pulmonary embolism in Los Angeles on May 13, 1972, at the age of 43 years.
Sun Sign
Sagittarius
Born Place
De Kalb, Texas, United States
Nationality
Occupation
Actor
Family
- Father – Ora ‘Shack’ Blocker (Farmer)
- Mother – Mary Arizona (Davis) Blocker
- Siblings – He had 1 sister.
Net Worth
At the time of his death, Dan Blocker’s net worth was $5 million according to CelebrityNetWorth.com.
Build
Large
Height
6 ft 4 in or 193 cm
Weight
166 kg or 366 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Dan Blocker had dated –
- Dolphia Parker (1952-1972) – On August 25, 1952, he tied the knot with Dolphia Parker. The couple had raised 4 children together: 2 sons named David Blocker (b. 1955) and Dirk Blocker (b. July 31, 1957) and 2 identical twin daughters named Debra Lee Blocker (b. 1953) and Danna Lynn Blocker (b. 1953). Their marriage lasted for nearly 20 years until Dan’s death in 1972.
Race / Ethnicity
White
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Eye Color
Blue
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Towering height and strong built
- Genial personality
Religion
Free Methodist Christianity
Dan Blocker Facts
- He was discovered by an agent while vacationing with his family in Hollywood. The agent spotted him while he was making calls in a phone booth and dressed in Western garb replete with a cowboy hat and boots.
- Dan reportedly weighed 14 lbs at birth and, as such, had become the biggest baby to be born in Bowie County, Texas. By the time he turned 12, he already stood at 6′ tall and weighed around 200 lbs.
- His close friend, director Robert Altman had initially cast him in the role of Roger Wade in his neo-noir film, The Long Goodbye (1973). Sadly, he passed away before filming could commence and Sterling Hayden had to be cast in the role instead.
- Dan worked as a teacher at the Sonora High School in Texas for a few years in the 1950s before getting his big break in Hollywood.
- He had served in the Korean War as a first sergeant with the 45th Oklahoma Division. He was awarded a ‘Purple Heart’ for his bravery in combat.
- The legendary director Stanley Kubrick wanted Blocker to play the role of Major ‘King’ Kong in his acclaimed black comedy, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964). But, his agent rejected the script for being ‘too pinko’ and the character was eventually essayed by Slim Pickens.
- A 1-mile stretch of coastline located at 26000 Pacific Coast Highway in North Malibu, California is named the Dan Blocker Beach in his honor.
Featured Image by TV Studio / Wikimedia / Public Domain
