One of my favorite supporting actors in films and television was Royal Dano. In the 1950s and '60s, it was hard to find a show or movie without him. He had to be one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood through those years.

I remember him well starring on Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock's show, Wagon Train and Have Gun, Will Travel. But I remember him best with his performances on The Rifleman. Dano was a great actor in every sense of the word. He could do just about any part. He could be a lawman, outlaw, businessman, president or simply, a hobo. He could be happy, sad or crazy. I loved him in his role in House II: The Second Story as the old cowboy.

There were many supporting actors in the film industry in those decades. But Royal Dano stood above them all. He never had a shortage of work. I still enjoy his appearances on the old TV shows that are re-run today. Talk to anyone who knew him personally and they always said that Dano was a nice guy off camera and was fun to be with. He was just down to earth and did not think of himself as any different than anyone else. As far as I could find out, he never had a problem with anyone that he worked with. And he worked with many of the top name actors and actresses in the business.