Johnny Crawford, “The Rifleman” star, is facing the most difficult challenge of his life

Johnny Crawford, who played the role of Mark McCain opposite Chuck Connors in the legendary American Western TV series “The Rifleman,” gained huge popularity from very early age. When he was just 5 years old, Johnny had his debut on stage and he even played one of the original Mouseketeers in “The Mickey Mouse Club” at the age of 9.

Everyone around him knew he would become a star as his acting talent was undeniable. It was his role in “The Rifleman,” however, what made him a teen idol young fans from all across America loved dearly. The series aired from 1958 to 1963 and was among the first ever to depict the life of a single father raising his child on his own. It offered lessons in morality and strong ethics, one of the reasons why fans loved it so much.

GoFundMe

Speaking of his role in the series, Johnny told Boomer magazine, “We loved doing it. The scripts were wonderful. As a result, even as a kid, I felt we were doing something special.” He was nominated for an Emmy Award as Best Supporting Actor at the age of 13.

Johnny was part of other movies and series in the years that followed and recorded three music albums. Many of his songs were top ten hits, including “Cindy’s Birthday” and “Rumors,” and he became a music sensation.

GoFundMe

In 2019, at the age of 73, the cowboy climbed back in the saddle for the Western movie Bill Tilghman and the Outlaws

Sadly, earlier this year, the actor and musician was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and was moved to a California based living facility in which his wife Charlotte works.

His friend and actor Paul Peterson spoke of Johnny’s health and the family’s struggles to cover the medical bills for his treatments. In hopes of helping them, he started a GoFundMe page to raise money for Johnny’s care.

Shutterstock

“Alzheimer’s is a debilitating disease … you can tell he wants to talk but the words aren’t there,” Petersen told Boomer Magazine. “But he’s always got a smile on his face.”

Fans donated over $80,000 and wrote how much their appreciated Johnny’s work over the years. One person wrote, “Always loved The Rifleman for showing that you can do the right thing and still be cool. Even though this show was before my time, once I saw my first show in the 80s as a kid I was hooked. Much love to you Johnny – you were always a class act.”

Take a look at the video below that honors Johnny’s work and asks from people to help.

Monica Pop
Monica Pop
Monica Pop is a senior writer for Bored Daddy magazine covering the latest trending and popular articles across the United States and around the world.

More from author

Related posts

Latest posts

The Case That Stirred Wakefield: Loss, Accountability, and Lessons Learned

Beneath the Quiet Streets of Wakefield: The Tragedy Behind Liam Deane’s Story In a quiet corner of Wakefield, whispers stirred—questions about Liam Deane that no...

Air Disaster Strikes as Plane with Over 240 Onboard Goes Down

Global Shock as Passenger Jet with Over 244 Aboard Crashes Under Mysterious Circumstances. The world is reeling from breaking reports of a large-scale aviation...

Greta Thunberg’s brutal response to Donald Trump amid ‘anger management issues’ comment

President Donald Trump and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg come from very different perspectives. While Greta is best known as a climate change activist, Trump...

Pick your wing to reveal who your guardian angel is

Sometimes, you may feel the presence of an invisible guide that offers protection and remind you you are not alone. That comforting presence could...

Doctor issues warning about eating too much rice

Rice is a great source of gut-friendly fiber, complex carbohydrates, and B vitamins. The fiber in brown and wild rice supports digestive health by...

A wealthy CEO in Mexico found a staff member skipping meals to breastfeed her baby — the shocking truth behind it shocked everyone

While the entire city slept, Jyoti, a thirty-four year old mother, kept working tirelessly. She spent every night mopping floors, carrying heavy buckets, and...