Lawman

Marshal Dan Troop

Deputy Johnny McKay

Lily Merrill

John Russell was only 37 - and looked even younger than that - when he was cast in this series. He believed that in order for a man like Dan Troop to have gained the kind of experience and maturity he possessed he would have had to have been in at least his mid-40s, so Russell had the makeup department streak gray through his hair and he lowered his voice when he spoke in order to appear several years older.

In the early 1960s when TV-western mania reached its peak, an American magazine sponsored a contest for the actors who portrayed western heroes and villains. Since the climactic moment of so many shows was the classic quick-draw shoot-out, the actors had to acquire that skill to play their scenes. The magazine held a competition among some of the stars of the shows, firing blanks, aiming not at each other but downrange, and using an electronic timer. Quite a number of cowboy stars showed up to slap leather. Peter Brown beat them all and won the title of the fastest gun in Hollywood.

In order to attract more female viewers in season two, the producers started having Peter Brown leave his shirt unbuttoned.