Dale Robertson – An Iconic Actor and Devoted Husband

Dale Robertson, the legendary actor and star of the classic TV series, “Tales of Wells Fargo,” had an impressive career that spanned over four decades. He was also a man of many relationships, having been married four times throughout his life. His first marriage was to Frederica Jacqueline Wilson in 1951. This union lasted five years and produced one daughter. Following his divorce from Wilson, Robertson married Mary Murphy in 1956 but this marriage only lasted two years before ending in divorce.

In 1959 he tied the knot with Lula Mae, who became mother to two of his daughters. This marriage lasted for 18 years until their divorce in 1977. Robertson’s final marriage was to Susan Robbins Robertson in 1980 and they remained together until his death on February 27th 2013 at the age of 89. During their 33-year union, they had no children together but she helped to raise his three daughters from previous marriages as if they were her own.

Throughout his life Dale Robertson dedicated himself to making a name for himself as an actor and not only did he achieve this but he also found true love along the way with Susan Robbins Robertson who stood by him until the very end. He will be remembered as an iconic actor and a devoted husband who cherished all four of his wives and considered them all part of his loving family.

Dale Robertson’s First Wife

Dale Robertson’s first wife was Frederica Jacqueline Wilson, whom he married in 1951. They were married until 1956, when they divorced. During their marriage, they had one daughter.

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Did Dale Robertson Ride His Own Horse in Tales of Wells Fargo?

Yes, Dale Robertson rode his own horse in Tales of Wells Fargo. The horse was named “Jubilee” and it belonged to Robertson. It is worth noting that Robertson was a natural right-hander, but he taught himself to draw his gun and shoot left-handed so that his character Jim Hardie would be more distinctive.

The Cancellation of ‘Tales of Wells Fargo’

Tales of Wells Fargo was cancelled after a change in management at Universal Studios, the studio financing the series. The high production costs of the show were deemed too expensive for the studio to continue producing it, so the final episode aired on September 8, 1962.

The cost of producing a western series was quite high due to the need for large sets, horses, and props. These expenses were further increased by shooting on location and hiring larger casts for each episode. In addition, Tales of Wells Fargo was filmed in color which added to its overall production cost.

The cancellation of Tales of Wells Fargo was likely due to a combination of these high production costs and a decrease in ratings over time. Despite the cancellation, the show had been popular with viewers since it first premiered in 1957 and continued to draw an audience until its cancellation.

Is ‘The Tales of Wells Fargo’ Based on a True Story?

The Tales of Wells Fargo was loosely based on the biography of Wells Fargo detective Fred J. Dodge. The show was set in the 1870s and 1880s, when Dodge worked for the company as a special agent, and Dale Robertson starred as fictional Wells Fargo special agent Jim Hardie. While much of the show was inspired by Dodge’s life, it wasn’t a true story and some events were exaggerated or changed for dramatic effect.

Dale Robertson’s Ranch Location

Dale Robertson’s ranch, known as The Haymaker Farm, is located in Oklahoma’s Canadian River Basin. It spans 436.8 acres of rolling hills, providing a picturesque landscape for the ranch and its many activities. The ranch is situated off of State Highway 152 and County Road EW 890.

dale robertson spouse
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Dale Robertson’s Involvement in War

Yes, Dale Robertson served in World War II in both a tank crew and the combat engineers in North Africa and Europe. He was twice wounded during his service, and he began his acting career while still on active duty.

The Riding Ability of Dale Robertson

Yes, Dale Robertson was an incredibly skilled rider. By the age of 10 he was already an accomplished equestrian, and by his teenage years he was training polo ponies. His riding skills were so impressive that it allowed him to pursue a career in acting, which he did in more than 60 films and 430 television episodes. In fact, the only reason Robertson acted professionally was to save money to start his own horse farm in Oklahoma – which he eventually did.

The Name of Matt Dillon’s Horse on Gunsmoke

The name of Marshall Matt Dillon’s horse on the television show “Gunsmoke” was Faithful Old Buck. This was confirmed in an interview with actor James Arness, who portrayed the character Matt Dillon on the show. Faithful Old Buck was a loyal companion to Matt Dillon throughout the show, providing him with reliable transportation and support as he fought to keep the peace in Dodge City.

Is Dale Robertson Left-Handed?

No, Dale Robertson was not left-handed. He was a natural right-hander, but taught himself to draw his gun and shoot left-handed for his character Jim Hardie in the television series Tales of Wells Fargo. This enabled him to make the character more distinctive and memorable.

dale robertson spouse
Source: latimes.com

Conclusion

Dale Robertson was married four times throughout his life, with his longest marriage lasting for eighteen years. His first wife was Frederica Jacqueline Wilson, whom he married in 1951 and divorced five years later. His second marriage to Mary Murphy ended in divorce in 1958, and his third marriage to Lula Mae lasted until 1977. In 1980, he married Susan Robbins Robertson, with whom he remained until his death in 2013 at the age of 89. Throughout his marriages, Dale Robertson had three daughters who survive him today.

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William Armstrong

William Armstrong is a senior editor with H-O-M-E.org, where he writes on a wide variety of topics. He has also worked as a radio reporter and holds a degree from Moody College of Communication. William was born in Denton, TX and currently resides in Austin.