In the 1974 film “The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams” and the NBC television series of the same name, Dan Haggerty portrayed a kind mountain man with a lush beard and a bear named Ben. Haggerty passed away on Friday in Burbank, California.
He was seventy-three.
According to his buddy and manager Terry Bomar, the cause was spine cancer.
Mr. Haggerty was employed in Hollywood as an animal trainer and stuntman when a producer asked him to reprise portions of the film’s opening sequences, which were about a woodsman and his bear.
Based on Charles Sellier Jr.’s novel “The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams,” it narrated the tale of a man from California who runs away from the woods after being wrongfully convicted of murder. There, he befriends the local wildlife and tames an abandoned bear.
Mr. Haggerty consented, provided that he may do the full film. After being remade for $165,000, the movie finally brought in close to $30 million from ticket sales. After that, it was made into a television series, and in February 1977, Mr. Haggerty returned to his environmentally conscious duty as the forest’s defender and animal buddy.
John Leonard described the first episode in The New York Times as “lukewarm to the heart.” Mad Jack (Denver Pyle) and the honorable red man Makuma (Don Shanks) bring bread and advise to the man and bear who have taken up residence in a log cabin. Bear washes his fur while the man traps his as they depart the cabin. There’s also a lot of connecting with nature, raccoons, owls, deer, bunnies, hawks, badgers, cougars, and a lump in the throat.
Warm and nostalgic, the show won over fans to Mr. Haggerty, who went on to win the 1978 People’s Choice Award for best new series actor. “Grizzly Adams” gave rise to two sequels: “Legend of the Wild,” which aired in 1978 and was eventually released in theaters in 1981; and “The Capture of Grizzly Adams,” which aired as a TV movie in 1982 and saw Adams being brought back to his hometown by bounty hunters in order to clear his record.
On November 19, 1942, Daniel Francis Haggerty was born in Los Angeles. After his parents divorced when he was three years old, he had a difficult upbringing and repeatedly escaped from military school. Eventually, he moved in with his actor father in Burbank, California.
He wed Diane Rooker at the age of 17. The union broke down in divorce. In 2008, he lost his second wife, Samantha Hilton, in a motorbike accident. His children, Don, Megan, Tracy, Dylan, and Cody, survive him.
In his debut movie, “Muscle Beach Party” (1964), he starred with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello as physique builder Biff. Then came came cameos in nature and motorcycle movies, such as “Biker With Bandana” and “Bearded Biker.” In “Easy Rider,” he made a fleeting appearance as a visitor to the hippie commune visited by Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda.
In reality, Mr. Haggerty kept a variety of wild animals that he had either tamed from birth or rescued from harm on his tiny ranch in Malibu Canyon. His abilities brought him work as a stuntman and animal trainer on the television shows “Daktari” and “Tarzan,” in addition to sporadic roles in movies. “People magazine didn’t like actors jumping on them,” he said in 1978.
He acted as a Siberian tiger trapper in “Where the North Wind Blows” (1974), one of his outdoor-themed flicks, and in “The Adventures of Frontier Fremont” (1976). In the David Carradine movie “Americana,” he had an appearance as a dog trainer (1983). He portrayed a figure who was strikingly similar to Grizzly Adams in the movies “Grizzly Mountain” (1997) and “Escape to Grizzly Mountain” (2000).
As his career faded, Mr. Haggerty starred in horror movies such as “Axe Giant: The Wrath of Paul Bunyan” (2013), “Terror Night” (1987), and “Elves” (1989), in which he played an inebriated mall Santa. He was given a 90-day jail sentence in 1985 for supplying cocaine to two police agents who were undercover.
A negligent diner carrying a flaming cocktail ignited Mr. Haggerty’s well-known beard in 1977. He attempted to put out the fire, but instead burned his arms in the third degree. He was sent to a hospital where he would have therapy that would likely take a month.
“For the first few days, I was like a wounded wolf trying to heal myself—I just laid in the dark room drinking water,” he said to People. “Nurses urged me to open the curtains and attempted to give me morphine.” But occasionally, animals have better medical knowledge than humans. After ten days, he left the hospital on foot.
My Husband Caught Me in Bed with Another Man but I Didn’t Cheat On Him — Discovering Who the Man Was Floored Me
When Eloise stumbles upon her husband Ben’s twin brother in their bed, the startling discovery sets off a chain of events that unveils hidden family ties and unspoken bonds. As she navigates this newfound reality, will it strengthen her relationships or lead to unforeseen complications?
I’m Eloise, and I work in the hospital as a nurse. My schedule includes night and day shifts, which can be exhausting, but I love my job.
A nurse in a hospital | Source: Midjourney
My husband, Ben, and I have been married for two years now. We met in college during a volunteer program at a community health fair. He was kind and had this infectious energy that drew me in. We hit it off instantly and have been inseparable ever since.
Ben works as an EMT, so he understands the demands of my job better than anyone. We’ve always supported each other through the odd hours and the long nights. He’s my rock, and I couldn’t imagine my life without him.
An EMT | Source: Midjourney
We share a small apartment close to the city, and even though our schedules are hectic, we make it work. Our life together is filled with love, laughter, and the occasional date night whenever we can squeeze it in.
Last night, I came home around 11 p.m. after a grueling shift. I was exhausted and just wanted to crawl into bed. As I opened the bedroom door and switched on the light, I saw Ben sleeping there.
A tired nurse comes home late at night | Source: Midjourney
I was surprised because he was supposed to be on a night shift. Not wanting to wake him, I quickly turned the light off.
“Ben?” I whispered, but he didn’t stir. “I guess your shift got canceled,” I murmured to myself, feeling a bit relieved to see him home.
I took a shower to wash off the day, made myself a sandwich since I was starving, and then watched some YouTube videos to unwind. Finally, feeling the weight of the day catching up with me, I headed to bed.
A closeup shot of a woman making a sandwich in the kitchen | Source: Pexels
I kissed Ben gently on the cheek, whispered a soft “goodnight,” and fell asleep almost immediately.
At around 5 a.m., I was jolted awake by someone yelling, “What the HELL is going on?”
Groggy and disoriented, I struggled to open my eyes. Standing at the bedroom door was Ben, looking furious.
“WHY ARE YOU YELLING?” I managed to ask, my voice thick with sleep.
“You dare to ask me?! What is he doing here?” Ben shouted, pointing behind me.
A man sees something shocking while standing next to a half-open bedroom door | Source: Midjourney
Confused, I turned my head and felt a chill run through me. Lying next to me, also wide awake now, was…Ben? No, it couldn’t be. My mind raced, trying to make sense of how Ben could be both in the bed and at the door.
The man in the bed stirred and opened his eyes, mirroring my confusion. It was like seeing double. Panic gripped my heart as the reality of the situation sank in. This wasn’t Ben. This was someone who looked exactly like him.
A man looks confused while lying in the bed at night | Source: Midjourney
“Who are you?” I demanded, my voice quivering with fear and confusion.
The man sat up, rubbing his eyes. “I’m Tom,” he said slowly, clearly just as bewildered as I was. “Ben’s brother.”
My jaw dropped. Ben had a twin brother? He had never mentioned this before. Memories flooded back — Ben had said something about his brother visiting, but I had been so caught up with work that it completely slipped my mind.
A shocked woman covering her mouth with her hand | Source: Pexels
“I left you a message about Tom coming,” Ben said, his anger giving way to exasperation. “But I guess your phone’s battery died, and you never got it.”
I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, my hands shaking as I turned it on. The battery icon blinked red. Sure enough, there were several missed messages from Ben explaining the situation.
A surprised woman checking messages on her phone | Source: Pexels
The shock slowly began to wear off as I processed what had happened. Tom, Ben’s twin brother who lived in Australia, had come to visit. I had never met him in person before, and in my exhausted state, I had mistaken him for Ben.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, feeling a mixture of relief and embarrassment. “I had no idea.”
Tom looked just as apologetic. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. I was just so tired after my flight that I went straight to bed.”
A tired man sleeping in bed | Source: Midjourney
Ben sighed, rubbing his temples. “Well, this is certainly a way to start the day. But now that we know what’s going on, let’s just forget about it and go back to sleep.”
Tom nodded in agreement, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little at the absurdity of the situation. We all needed some rest, and tomorrow, we’d have a lot to talk about.
A woman laughing while sitting in her bed | Source: Midjourney
As I lay back down, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. This was a misunderstanding, not the end of my marriage. And as crazy as it was, it made me appreciate my family even more.
The next morning, I woke up to the smell of coffee brewing and the sound of voices in the kitchen. Stretching and yawning, I made my way downstairs to find Ben and Tom deep in conversation.
“Morning,” I said, sliding into a seat at the table.
“Morning, Eloise,” Tom replied with a warm smile. “Sorry again for the confusion last night.”
Breakfast served on a table at home | Source: Pexels
“No, really, it’s fine,” I said, waving it off. “I just feel silly for not recognizing you weren’t Ben.”
Ben chuckled. “I guess I can’t blame you. We are identical after all.”
Tom grinned. “Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve been mistaken for you, though.”
“So, Tom,” I started, pouring myself a cup of coffee, “what brings you here from Australia? I thought you were swamped with work.”
Tom’s expression turned serious. “Actually, that’s part of the reason I’m here. I needed a break. Things have been… tough lately.”
Ben leaned forward, concern etched on his face. “Tough how?”
A sad man | Source: Midjourney
Tom sighed. “Work has been really stressful, and… well, I broke up with my girlfriend a few months ago. I just needed to get away, clear my head.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said softly. “Breakups are never easy.”
Tom nodded. “Yeah, it’s been rough. But being here, seeing you two, it helps. Reminds me what’s important.”
Ben reached over and gave his brother a reassuring pat on the back. “You’re always welcome here, Tom. Stay as long as you need.”
Twin brothers talking and having a good time at the breakfast table | Source: Midjourney
The rest of the day passed in a blur of catching up and sharing stories. Tom and Ben were inseparable, reminiscing about their childhood and filling me in on all the twin antics they used to get up to.
It was heartwarming to see them together, and I felt a deep sense of family bonding.
Twin brothers bonding | Source: Midjourney
As the days went by, Tom settled into our routine. He helped around the house, joined us for meals, and even came along on a few of our date nights, turning them into fun family outings. One evening, after a particularly enjoyable dinner at our favorite restaurant, we decided to take a walk along the river.
“This place is beautiful,” Tom said, taking in the view. “I can see why you guys love it here.”
“Yeah, it’s our little escape,” Ben replied, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
A back-view of a man looking at a river and admiring the view | Source: Midjourney
We walked in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds being the gentle lapping of the water and the distant hum of city life. Finally, Tom spoke up again.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said, stopping to look at us. “Maybe it’s time for a change. Maybe I should move back here, be closer to family.”
Ben’s eyes lit up. “Really? That would be amazing!”
I smiled. “We’d love to have you here, Tom. Family is everything.”
A man beaming with joy | Source: Midjourney
Tom nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Yeah, it is. And after everything that’s happened, I realize how much I need you guys.”
As we continued our walk, I felt a deep sense of contentment. The misunderstanding that had started with confusion and fear had brought us closer together. Family, in all its forms, was what mattered most.
When we got back home, we sat around the living room, talking late into the night. The bond between us had grown stronger, and I knew that no matter what challenges came our way, we would face them together.
Family members talking in the living room | Source: Midjourney
Ben squeezed my hand, and I looked at him, my heart full. “I love you,” he said softly.
“I love you too,” I replied, knowing that our love, our family, would always find a way to overcome any obstacle.
Tom smiled at us, a look of peace on his face. “Here’s to new beginnings,” he said, raising his glass.
A closeup of a romantic couple cuddling in bed | Source: Pexels
“To new beginnings,” we echoed, clinking our glasses together. And as we sat there, surrounded by love and laughter, I knew that this was just the start of a new chapter, one filled with hope, joy, and the unbreakable bonds of family.
Sometimes, life surprises us in ways we never thought possible. Don’t you agree?
A closeup of three people raising their glasses of drink in a toast | Source: Unsplash
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