Before The Big Valley, Lee Majors Made His TV Debut In A Genre-Defining Western Series

Lee Majors is best known for playing Colonel Steve Austin on "The Six Million Dollar Man" between 1973 and 1978. In the 1980s, long before Ryan Gosling gave us a spectacular time at the movies with "The Fall Guy," Majors also portrayed Colt Seavers on the original TV series of the same name. But prior to either of those roles, the actor got his start playing Heath Barkley on the classic Western TV series "The Big Valley" between 1965 and 1969. At least, that's how most fans will remember it. In fact, Majors' actual small-screen debut came on what might be an even more esteemed Western series: "Gunsmoke."

After a back injury completely scuppered Majors' plans to become a professional athlete, he moved to Los Angeles and eventually found his way to acting, making his screen debut in the 1964 horror film "Strait-Jacket." Majors went uncredited for his appearance in the movie, which incidentally, featured Leif Erickson who would later become best known for appearing in David Dortort's underrated Western series "The High Chaparral." In 1964, however, both Majors and Erickson were yet to land their defining roles.

Meanwhile, "Gunsmoke" had made the transition from radio show to TV series in 1955, helped by none other than the Duke himself. John Wayne appeared ahead of the series' TV debut to introduce audiences to his pal James Arness, who for the next 20 years would play US Marshal Matt Dillon on the long-running series. During that time, Arness would share the screen with multiple big-name stars and future legends, one of which was Lee Majors.

After John Wayne contributed his brief cameo to "Gunsmoke," the show went on to welcome pretty much every up-and-coming actor of the era. From prolific character actors such as Alan Hale Jr. to future A-listers such as Jodie Foster, the CBS staple remained a reliable showcase for some of the finest talent in Hollywood. Its tenth season was no different. This was the season that "Gunsmoke" hosted a young Kurt Russell, Katharine Ross, and Rory Calhoun. It also featured an early-career Lee Majors.

His appearance in "Strait-Jacket" wasn't much of a screen debut. After all, how could a rookie performer stand out in a William Castle movie with a poster that bore the warning "'Strait-Jacket' vividly depicts Ax Murders!" Despite the fact that, at one point in the movie Majors' severed head ended up in Joan Crawford's bed, he received no credit for his contribution. Thankfully, he quickly landed an actual credited role in Season 10, Episode 21 of "Gunsmoke."

"Song for Dying" aired February 13, 1965 and featured Theodore Bikel as its main guest star. The actor had earned an Academy Award nomination for playing Sheriff Max Muller in 1958's "The Defiant Ones" prior his considerable talents to "Gunsmoke." On the show, he plays Martin Kellums, a former doctor who gave up practicing medicine to roam the frontier drinking his days away and playing folk songs. However, his life isn't entirely care-free. Will Lukens (Robert F. Simon), head of the Lukens clan, hates Kellums for failing to help his wife during childbirth, and blames him for her death. Alongside his three sons, Lukens is out for blood, and Kellums has chosen to make his stand in Dodge City.

In "Song for Dying," Lee Majors plays Dave Lukens, one of Will Lukens' three sons. Unfortunately, he doesn't last long. As with "Strait-Jacket," Majors' character is dispatched fairly quickly, felled by Marshal Matt Dillon after he fires on Martin Kellums in a Dodge City saloon. Majors doesn't stick around beyond the 10-minute mark in his "Gunsmoke" episode, but he does have a few lines and at least gets to take a shot from the great Matt Dillon. At least, that's how it looks on-screen. According to Majors himself, he never even met James Arness.

In an interview via the Unofficial Lee Majors site, the actor recalled his early roles working on "Strait-Jacket," an episode of "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," and "Gunsmoke." His characters died in every one of those projects. "I also did a 'Gunsmoke' where Jim Arness shot me, but I never saw him," Majors remembered. "He was home in Hawaii. After doing those three roles and getting killed three times, I thought, 'If I don't get a series, I'm not going to make it.'"

Of course, he did get a series, not too long after his face-off with Arness. Majors debuted as Heath Barkley on "The Big Valley" in 1965, the same year "Song for Dying" aired. It remains one of Lee Majors' best shows and arguably one of the best Western shows ever made. Unlike with his previous projects, this time Majors survived for the duration, starring in 112 episodes before the series' cancellation in 1969 — not bad for what was basically his third ever role.