Dan Haggerty, the bearded, big-hearted actor who won over America as the mountain man with a pet bear, has died in Burbank, California. He was best known for his role in The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, the 1974 film that led to the hit NBC TV series of the same name.
Before his breakout role, Haggerty worked behind the scenes in Hollywood, doing stunts and training animals for film. His big break came when a producer asked him to help reshoot scenes for a modestly budgeted film about a man living in the wilderness with a bear. Haggerty agreed—but only if he could play the lead.
That gamble paid off.
The film, made for just $165,000, became a surprise box office success, raking in nearly $30 million. The story follows a man wrongly accused of a crime who retreats into the mountains and forms a powerful bond with nature—including a young grizzly bear named Ben. Based on a novel by Charles Sellier Jr., the film resonated with audiences thanks to its themes of redemption, friendship, and the healing power of the wild.
The movie’s success led to the launch of the Grizzly Adams TV series in 1977, with Haggerty returning as the gentle frontiersman living in harmony with animals and the great outdoors. The show quickly found a loyal fanbase. Memorable characters like Mad Jack, the eccentric mountain man played by Denver Pyle, and Nakoma, Adams’s wise Native American friend played by Don Shanks, added warmth and depth to the series.
But nature was the true co-star. Each episode featured scenes filled with wildlife—raccoons, owls, deer, rabbits, hawks, and cougars—creating a calm, heartwarming atmosphere. As New York Times critic John Leonard put it, the show “lukewarms the heart.”
In 1978, Haggerty won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Program, cementing his status as a beloved figure in American pop culture. The show’s wholesome charm and message of peace with nature left a lasting mark.
The Grizzly Adams story didn’t end with the series. Two follow-up movies—Legend of the Wild (released in theaters in 1981) and The Capture of Grizzly Adams (1982)—offered fans closure. In the final film, Adams is finally cleared of the crime he never committed.
Dan Haggerty will be remembered not just for the character he played, but for the kindness and quiet strength he brought to the role. Through Grizzly Adams, he reminded us that even in the most rugged places, friendship and healing can be found—often in the most unexpected ways.
