The Deputy (1959)
A classic NBC western starring Henry Fonda as a frontier marshal who deputizes a gun-shy storekeeper to uphold justice in the Arizona Territory.
The Deputy - Series Information
- Original Title: The Deputy
- First Air Year: 1959
- Last Air Year: 1961
- Created by: Norman Lear, Roland Kibbee
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Western
- Content Rating (US): TV-PG
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 28 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 76
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: September 12, 1959 (United States - TV-PG), September 12, 1959 (Canada - PG), September 12, 1959 (United Kingdom - PG), September 12, 1959 (Germany - 12), September 12, 1959 (France - 12), September 12, 1959 (Australia - PG), September 12, 1959 (Mexico - B)
- Networks: NBC
- Production Companies: Top Gun Productions
The Deputy - Plot
The Deputy is an American western series that aired on NBC from September 1959, to July 1961. The series stars Henry Fonda as Chief Marshal Simon Fry of the Arizona Territory and Allen Case as Deputy Clay McCord, a storekeeper who tried to avoid using a gun.
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The Deputy - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Norman Lear
- Roland Kibbee
Main Cast
- Wallace Ford
- Henry Fonda
- Allen Case
- Betty Lou Keim
- Read Morgan
- Herbert Lytton
- Charles Seel
- Frank Hagney
- Francis McDonald
- Fred Beir
Writers
- Roland Kibbee
- Richard N. Morgan
- Dale Eunson
- Norman Lear
- Finlay McDermid
Executive Producers
- Henry Fonda
The Deputy - FAQs
Where can you stream The Deputy?
The Deputy is available to stream for free with ads on Tubi TV. It is one of the few classic 1959 NBC westerns accessible through a major free streaming platform, making it easy to revisit this vintage Henry Fonda series without a subscription.
Why did Henry Fonda rarely appear in every episode?
Henry Fonda appeared in only about a third of The Deputy's episodes due to his busy film career and stage commitments. Allen Case carried the majority of episodes as Clay McCord, the reluctant storekeeper-turned-deputy, while Fonda's Marshal Simon Fry served as the show's anchor and moral authority.
Who are the main actors in The Deputy?
The Deputy stars Henry Fonda as Chief Marshal Simon Fry and Allen Case as Clay McCord, a storekeeper reluctant to use a gun. The supporting cast includes Wallace Ford, Betty Lou Keim, Read Morgan, Herbert Lytton, Charles Seel, Frank Hagney, Francis McDonald, and Fred Beir.
What is The Deputy about?
The Deputy follows Chief Marshal Simon Fry of the Arizona Territory, who relies on Clay McCord — a peaceful storekeeper with exceptional gun skills — to help maintain law and order. The series explores themes of duty, reluctant heroism, and frontier justice in the 19th-century American West.
When did The Deputy first air on NBC?
The Deputy premiered on NBC on September 12, 1959, and ran until July 1961. The series spanned two seasons and 76 episodes, making it one of the more prolific westerns of its era during the golden age of television westerns.
How many seasons and episodes does The Deputy have?
The Deputy ran for two seasons on NBC, comprising 76 episodes in total. Season 1 contained 39 episodes and Season 2 contained 37 episodes. The series concluded in July 1961 after nearly two full years on the air.
Who created The Deputy television series?
The Deputy was created by Norman Lear and Roland Kibbee. Norman Lear would later become one of television's most influential producers, known for groundbreaking sitcoms. Roland Kibbee was a prolific writer and producer who also contributed scripts to the series alongside a team of writers.
What are similar shows to The Deputy?
Fans of The Deputy may enjoy other classic and modern westerns such as Bonanza (1959), Trackdown (1957), Temple Houston (1963), Deadwood (2004), and Hell on Wheels (2011). For a lighter western tone, F Troop (1965) and Gun Shy (1983) offer entertaining alternatives from the same genre.
More About The Deputy
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