“Ben Cartwright was patterned after my father, who never saw 'Bonanza.' In that sense, my father will live for a long time.”

Canadian actor, singer, and radio personality

Lorne Greene was a Canadian actor, singer, and radio personality. He is best known for playing Ben Cartwright on the Western series Bonanza and Commander Adama in Battlestar Galactica and Galactica 1980. He also appeared in films including Peyton Place and Earthquake, and in television miniseries such as The Moneychangers and Roots. Beyond acting, he recorded country music in the 1960s and had a number one pop hit in the United States and Canada in 1964 with "Ringo". He later worked on the nature documentary series Lorne Greene's New Wilderness and did many television commercials.