Dan Haggerty, who gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of the kind mountain man with a striking beard and his bear friend Ben in the NBC television series and 1974 film “The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams,” passed away on Friday in Burbank, California. His age was 73 years.
Terry Bomar, his manager and friend, stated that spinal cancer was the cause of death.
Dan Haggerty was creating a name for himself in Hollywood as an animal handler and stuntman before landing his famous part. When a producer requested him to appear in a few opening moments for a film about a woodsman and his bear, it was his big break. The plot, which is based on a novel by Charles Sellier Jr., centers on a man who flees to the woods after being wrongfully convicted of murder, becomes friends with the local wildlife, and takes in an abandoned bear.
Haggerty accepted to do the part, but he had one requirement: he had to appear in the whole film. Despite having a relatively low budget of $165,000, the film’s remake brought in close to $30 million at the box office. Because of this popularity, a television series was created, and in February 1977, Haggerty went back to playing the character of the wild and outdoorsy wilderness guardian.
The audience responded well to the show. It lukewarms the heart, as The New York Times’ John Leonard observed in his review. A large lump in the throat and a lot of communing with nature are experienced when a man and a bear hide out in a log cabin. Haggerty won a 1978 People’s Choice Award for being the most well-liked actor in a new series because of the series’ warm and sympathetic tone, which won over a lot of viewers.
The series also yielded two follow-ups: “Legend of the Wild,” which was broadcast on television in 1978 and eventually released in theaters in 1981, and “The Capture of Grizzly Adams,” a 1982 television film in which Adams ultimately exonerates himself of the false charge.
Born in Los Angeles on November 19, 1942, Daniel Francis Haggerty had a difficult upbringing. He had a turbulent childhood, breaking out of military school several times before coming home with his actor-father in Burbank when his parents divorced when he was three years old.
Haggerty was married twice in his personal life. When he was 17, he got married to Diane Rooker, but they later got divorced. In 2008, he lost his second wife, Samantha Hilton, in a horrific motorbike accident. His children, Don, Megan, Tracy, Dylan, and Cody, survive him.
In his debut motion picture, “Muscle Beach Party” (1964), Haggerty portrayed bodybuilder Biff. After that, he played supporting parts in motorcycle and wildlife movies. He was a hippie commune member in “Easy Rider.” He also played the role off-screen, living with a variety of wild creatures he had either tamed or rescued on a small ranch in Malibu Canyon.
His expertise with animals led to positions as an animal trainer and stuntman for television shows including “Daktari” and “Tarzan.” He kept taking on parts like “Where the North Wind Blows” (1974) and “The Adventures of Frontier Fremont” (1976) that highlighted his affinity for the natural world. His love of outdoor parts brought him roles evoking Grizzly Adams to movies like “Grizzly Mountain” (1997) and “Escape to Grizzly Mountain” (2000).
Haggerty had appearances in a number of horror movies later in his career, such as “Terror Night” (1987) and “Elves” (1989). He was involved in court in 1985 and was given a 90-day jail sentence for distributing cocaine to police officers who were undercover.
Tragic incidents also occurred in his life. Haggerty suffered third-degree burns to his arms when a diner carrying a burning drink unintentionally caught his renowned beard on fire in 1977 when he was dining. Despite being admitted to the hospital and supposed to stay for a month, he left after just ten days, claiming to have expertise of curing animals.
“The first couple of days I just lay in the dark room drinking water, like a wounded wolf trying to heal myself,” he said, reflecting on his injury, to People magazine.
Why Blake Lively Was Praised for Posting Bikini Photos
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have been together for over a decade and are a prime example of a strong and loving couple, who are big on humor. Even before becoming parents to their 4 children, Blake predicted that Ryan would be a great father, leader, and patriarch. Recently, the couple shared exclusive snaps from their vacation, and fans were amazed at how healthy Blake looked just weeks after giving birth. Moreover, she revealed a detail about her health, to one lucky fan.
Blake posted bikini pictures and fans praised her for not touching them up.
In a tropical setting, Blake Lively flaunted her post-baby figure in a black cut-out swimsuit, and her online community was quick to commend the natural appearance of the photos. One fan said, “Let’s take a moment to appreciate how normal these pictures look,” while another praised Blake for not promoting unhealthy or speedy weight loss methods to shed her baby weight.
By choosing to share unedited photos, Blake sends a positive message of self-love and body acceptance to her fans. She inspires them to embrace their natural beauty rather than striving for the unrealistic and often unattainable standards set by the media.
The couple had some special guests on their getaway.
During their vacation, Blake and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, were joined by their mothers, Elaine Lively and Tammy Reynolds, and they all posed for a group selfie on a sandy beach.
Ryan never misses an opportunity to pay tribute to the women in his life, adding his own hilarious twist to it. For Mother’s Day, he said, “I salute these three incredible mothers for their wisdom, strength and ability to forever appear as though they’re standing at the doorway to their own surprise birthday party.”
When celebrities share pictures online, every detail gets closely examined.
Living life in the spotlight means that every detail in your public photos is subject to scrutiny, and Blake Lively is no exception. In a mirror selfie that the actress shared, one fan spotted a tiny pill bottle on a shelf and asked in the comments, “What pills are those? Do share.”
Blake’s response of “😂 Strep throat. So fun,” came as a surprise to her followers, and one lucky fan couldn’t believe that they received a reply from “THE Blake Lively.” Another follower even humorously suggested that the fortunate follower should purchase a lottery ticket. Once again, this exchange proves that Blake is down-to-earth and has a great sense of humor, even when dealing with an annoying illness like strep throat.
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are a beloved Hollywood couple, cherished by fans for various compelling reasons. Their authenticity and down-to-earth nature shine through in their interactions, frequently bringing laughter to those who follow their journey.
Preview photo credit blakelively / Instagram
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