Grizzly Adams Star Dan Haggerty Dies at 73: A Gentle Giant of the Screen and Wilderness
Dan Haggerty, best known for his iconic portrayal of the gentle mountain man Grizzly Adams, passed away Friday in Burbank, California. Haggerty’s legacy lives on through his beloved role in The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, a 1974 film that later evolved into a popular NBC television series of the same name.
Long before he wore a coonskin cap or shared the screen with a bear named Ben, Mr. Haggerty worked in Hollywood as a stuntman and animal handler. His rugged demeanor and deep understanding of animals made him a natural fit for the film industry’s growing interest in wilderness tales. It was during one of these gigs that a producer approached him to help reshoot opening scenes for a movie about a woodsman and his bond with a bear. Haggerty agreed—but only if he could take on the lead role himself.
The film told the touching story of a man from California who was wrongfully convicted of murder. Rather than face punishment for a crime he didn’t commit, the character fled to the mountains, where he found peace among nature and developed a deep bond with an orphaned grizzly bear. The narrative, adapted from the novel by Charles Sellier Jr., resonated deeply with audiences.
Produced on a modest budget of just $165,000, the film became an unexpected hit, grossing nearly $30 million at the box office. Its success led NBC to adapt it into a television series, which premiered in 1977 with Haggerty reprising his role. As Grizzly Adams, he became a symbol of kindness, solitude, and harmony with the natural world—qualities that resonated in an increasingly industrialized America.
In a review of the first episode, The New York Times critic John Leonard wrote that the show “lukewarms the heart,” praising its gentle pace and wholesome tone. Viewers were charmed by the rustic log cabin in the woods, the endless parade of wild animals—raccoons, hawks, badgers, deer, and cougars—and the bond between man and bear. Supporting characters like Mad Jack, the eccentric trader played by Denver Pyle, and Nakoma, a wise Native American portrayed by Don Shanks, added depth and authenticity to the frontier narrative.
Haggerty’s portrayal of Adams earned him widespread affection, culminating in a People’s Choice Award in 1978 for Most Popular Actor in a New Series. The show became a touchstone of family-friendly television, evoking a sense of nostalgia and connection to simpler, quieter times.
The story didn’t end with the series. Two follow-ups—Legend of the Wild (aired in 1978 and released in theaters in 1981) and The Capture of Grizzly Adams (1982)—extended the saga. In the latter, Grizzly Adams is captured by bounty hunters and brought back to face the law, only to finally clear his name.
Dan Haggerty’s portrayal of Grizzly Adams wasn’t just a role—it was a calling. He embodied a character who lived gently, loved animals, and found redemption in the heart of the wilderness. His legacy endures in every viewer who dreamed of leaving behind the noise of the world to find peace in the trees, and in every child who imagined befriending a bear.