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Mouseketeer and 'The Rifleman' actor Johnny Crawford dies at 75
Elise Brisco, USA TODAY  4 hrs ago


Actor Johnny Crawford, known for his role as Mark McCain as a child actor on "The Rifleman," has died. He was 75.



According to the actor's website, he died Thursday with his wife by his side after battling Alzheimer's disease and contracting COVID-19.

"It is with great sadness that we share the news of Johnny Crawford’s passing," the website posted. "We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends and fans around the world."



Crawford rose to stardom after being cast in the ABC series "The Rifleman" which ran for five seasons. Crawford played the son of a western rancher Lucas McCain (Chuck Connors) who was also a union Civil War veteran. His role in "The Rifleman" led him to be Emmy-nominated for best supporting actor in a dramatic series.

Johnny Crawford wearing a suit and tie: Johnny Crawford attends the Museum of Television and Radio Cocktail Party on September 9, 2004 at The Museum of Television and Radio, in Beverly Hills, California.© Stephen Shugerman, Getty Images Johnny Crawford attends the Museum of Television and Radio Cocktail Party on September 9, 2004 at The Museum of Television and Radio, in Beverly Hills, California.
Before playing young McCain, Crawford was one of the first Mouseketeers on the Mickey Mouse Club. He also made appearances in many TV series aired in the 1950s including "The Lone Ranger," "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "The Loretta Young Show."




The actor also worked in music. In 1962, Crawford's song "Cindy's Birthday" peaked on the Billboard charts at No. 8. He is also credited with performing the song "Easy Come Easy Go" featured on 2004 film "Hellboy."

Friends in entertainment remembered Crawford on Twitter as an "inspiration" and a "dear friend."

"My dear friend #JohnnyCrawford just passed away. I pray for his wife Charlotte as she was by his side. Johnny was a real cowboy and will be greatly missed," wrote "Happy Days" actor Scott Baio.

"How the West Was Won" actor Bruce Boxleitner wrote: "@johnnycrawford was one of the kindest guys I ever met. I never heard a cross word pass his lips. An inspiration to me as a boy and a friend of mine since the 80s."


This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mouseketeer and 'The Rifleman' actor Johnny Crawford dies at 75

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It's so hard to think of the son of the "rifleman" dying at 75. That show was a big part of my childhood. I loved the main character played by Chuck Connors.
It was already on reruns when I was a kid but I would watch that show whenever it was on. I thought it was so cool that Chuck Connors had played in the Major Leagues for a couple of seasons.

Gunsmoke and Bonanza! The best. I got to stay up late on Sunday night to see Bonanza as a young boy, what a treat, I was so sad when it went off the air.

All GREAT Tv shows indeed...

I liked the GunSmoke that "Chester" was in...

The Rebel, Paladin, Big Valley, Guns of Will Sonnet, Cheyanne,
Daniel Boone ... And of coarse... "F" Troop


Ice

Chuck Connors played in the Major Leagues for a while.

we had a channel three in NY area. METV. it plays nonstop the rifleman, andy of mayberry show, all the classics. I reckon i am an old fashioned kinda girl.

Don't remember how it came about, but Chuck Connors was Christian. And so was his sister. She had a summer home in a town in NJ that hosts Christian festivals. She told us at Church that if we go to her home and paint it and clean it up, we can stay two weeks for free. OOH. tricky.

The bedrooms had a hole in the floor where a bathroom would be. Yeah, i was a hippy. I could handle that. But we had to evacuate due to gas leaks. the beach which cost five dollars a person was contaminated. I stayed alone with the kids whilst my sister worked and then came back. We had floods. No idea i could pull my car onto the sidewalk. So it was totalled by the rain.

She was so fussy about the work and cleaning and painting we did. May she rest in peace.

Glorious shows with good values in them. Chuck Connor played a fantastic father. I would have loved to have learned to shoot as he did.

I miss them all. METV. anyone know of it? It was channel three in NY a couple yrs back.

My beloved BIL, also with parkinsons, *one of mine* still watches only those shows nowadays.

The good ole days. That these younger generations will never know.

wow. u can find anything Mr. Ice Wizard. awesome.