The Rebel (1959)
A lone Confederate veteran wanders the post-Civil War West, championing justice one frontier town at a time.
The Rebel - Series Information
- Original Title: The Rebel
- First Air Year: 1959
- Last Air Year: 1961
- Created by: Nick Adams
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Western
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (30 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 76
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: October 4, 1959 (Canada - PG)
- Networks: ABC
The Rebel - Plot
After the end of the Civil War, a former Confederate Army private roams the Wild West, and, as a rogue drifter, gets involved in helping out various settlers threatened by various bad guys. THE REBEL is a 76-episode American western television series starring Nick Adams that debuted on the ABC network from 1959 to 1961. The Rebel was one of the few Goodson-Todman Productions outside of their game show ventures. Beginning in December 2011, The Rebel reruns began to air Saturday mornings on Me-TV.
Where to Watch The Rebel
Looking for where to watch The Rebel?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
The Rebel - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Nick Adams
Main Cast
- Nick Adams
- Cosmo Sardo
- Ed Nelson
- Ed Kemmer
- Richard Bakalyan
- J. Pat O'Malley
- John Pickard
- Ben Wright
- Nick Dennis
- Ken Mayer
Writers
- Arnold Belgard
- Shimon Wincelberg
The Rebel - FAQs
Who played Johnny Yuma in The Rebel?
Nick Adams played Johnny Yuma, the brooding ex-Confederate soldier at the heart of The Rebel. Adams brought a restless intensity to the role that distinguished the show from other Westerns of its era, and his performance earned him widespread recognition during the series' original run from 1959 to 1961.
What is The Rebel TV series about?
The Rebel follows Johnny Yuma, a former Confederate Army private who wanders the post-Civil War American West as a lone drifter. Each episode finds him intervening on behalf of settlers and ordinary people threatened by outlaws and corrupt figures, guided by a personal moral code rather than any official authority.
Where can you stream The Rebel 1959 series?
The Rebel is available to stream on several platforms, including Tubi TV, Plex, and Fawesome for free with ads. Paid options include Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, and the Shout! Factory Amazon Channel. It can also be purchased via Amazon Video. Check JustWatch for current regional availability.
Did Johnny Yuma's theme song become famous?
Yes. The Rebel's theme song, "Johnny Yuma," was performed by Johnny Cash and became a notable hit in its own right. Cash's distinctive voice and the song's driving rhythm gave the series an immediately recognizable identity, and the track remains one of the most celebrated TV Western themes of the late 1950s.
How many seasons and episodes does The Rebel have?
The Rebel ran for two seasons and a total of 76 episodes. Season 1 comprised 36 episodes and Season 2 expanded to 40 episodes. The series aired on ABC from October 1959 through 1961, making it one of the more prolific single-lead Western dramas of its television generation.
When did The Rebel first air on television?
The Rebel premiered on October 4, 1959, on the ABC network. The show ran for two seasons until 1961 and later found a new audience when reruns began airing on Me-TV starting in December 2011, introducing the classic Western to younger generations of viewers.
Is The Rebel based on a true story?
The Rebel is not based on a specific true story. It is a fictional Western drama set in the post-Civil War American frontier. The character of Johnny Yuma and his episodic adventures were created for the series, though the show drew on the authentic historical backdrop of Reconstruction-era westward expansion.
What network originally broadcast The Rebel?
The Rebel originally aired on ABC (American Broadcasting Company) from 1959 to 1961. It was one of the few dramatic productions from Goodson-Todman Productions, a company far better known for its game show output. The series later found continued life in syndication and on classic television networks.
More About The Rebel
Explore further details about The Rebel on these authoritative entertainment databases.