Lorne Greene
Sadly, Lorne Greene passed away on September 11, 1987. Plans to appear in a new TV film "Bonanza The Next Generation" were put on hold when Lorne began to deteriorate. While hospitalized for surgery of a perforated ulcer he developed pneumonia and never recovered. "He was Ben Cartwright to the end," commented a mournful Michael Landon (Little Joe), "I took his hand in mine and held it. He looked at me and slowly started to arm wrestle like we used to. The he broke into a smile and nodded. And everything was ok. I think he wanted me to know everything was ok."