Dan Blocker was an American actor who has continued to be remembered for his career. Born on December 10, 1928, the Korean War Veteran and American television actor came into the limelight for various acting roles.
The former actor was born in De Kalb, Texas. The actor was so dedicated to his education that he enrolled in a San Antonio School in 1940. He later proceeded to Hardin-Simmons University and Sul Ross State University, where he majored in speech and drama.
Dan Blocker played football at college and he was a star. He did two years of military service and earned a master’s in dramatic arts. So, what was Blocker’s net worth by the time of his death in 1972?
Dan Blocker’s Net Worth
Dan Blocker’s net worth was $5 million by the time of his death in 1972. Compared to the current value of the dollar, that is like $25 million. Dan came into the limelight because of acting roles. It is through acting and other careers that he was able to accumulate such a high net worth.
Dan became famous after his role in the NBC television series, Bonanza, where he had the role of Eric Hoss Cartwright. He also had other roles in Cimarron City, Wagon Train, Have Gun-Will Travel, and many others. Dan also had roles in films which contributed positively to his net worth.
Service in Military
During the Korean War, Blocker was drafted into the United States Army. He trained at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and went on to serve as an infantry sergeant in F Company from December 1951 to August 1952. For the wound he sustained in combat, he received a Purple Heart.
Acting Career
Before Blocker began acting, he had done other things like being an educator. He taught English and drama in Sonora, Texas for a year, a later coached and taught sixth grade at Eddy Elementary School in New Mexico.
After the teaching roles, Blocker relocated to Los Angeles. Soon, he began landing acting roles in films. Among the first films he featured in include The Girl in Black Stockings, Black Patch, and Gunsight Ridge.
Blocker’s biggest and most notable role came in 1959 after he was featured as Eric Hoss, Cartwright on the NBC television series, Bonanza. Blocker was a regular actor in the series and he appeared in 415 episodes of 431 episodes before he died in 1973.
While he had a main role in Bonanza, he continued acting in other films, enabling him to accumulate a good net worth for himself.
Apart from successful acting, Blocker launched and had partial ownership of Bonanza Steakhouse restaurant. The first location was opened in Westport, Connecticut in 1963 but it was later sold to brothers Sam and Charles Wyly.
Personal Life and Death
Blocker married his partner Dolphia Parker in 1952. The two met when they were attending Sul Ross State University. The couple welcomed four children including twin daughters and sons Dirk and David. Blocker’s sons are successful actors and producers in Hollywood.
The legendary actor died in May 1972 from a pulmonary embolism. Bonanza was still running and it acknowledged the actor’s death on air.
