Our home was rocked by the 1-2 punch of news of the death of a dear friend, Don Durant, who starred in the television series Johnny Ringo. He had been battling cancer and lost during one final, quiet assault in his sleep around midnight, Tuesday March 15th 2005. He was 72.

Don was at the center of a controversy in the late 50’s. In the titular role of the rough and tumble – but fair – gunfighter-turned sheriff in Johnny Ringo, he seemed to have a rocketing career. He had a hit song on radio, and his TV show was climbing in the ratings. He had already appeared in a slew of movies. According to some, Johnny Ringo was in the top 20 when the show was mysteriously cancelled. Don told me he believed it was because his sponsor, Johnson & Johnson, was afraid there were too many Westerns on television at the time. And in those days, it was the sponsor who paid for the program and, often, its air time. When the sponsor speaks he is heard, and this one believed his products weren’t standing out enough on Johnny Ringo. They switched their support to the June Allison Show instead.

Far from a defeat, however, Don had already turned his movie dollars into California real estate in markets that, today, made him a millionaire many times over. Still, he was an upbeat and witty host to our cameras when we came to visit him for the opening of the mint playset produced by Marx and based on his show. He had paid in excess of $9000 for it on eBay in a bidding war to top all bidding wars, each new bid bringing the set to breathless new highs. We reported the story shot by shot in Playset Magazine (PM5, Sept/Oct 2002). The bidding was handled by a woman who started out as perhaps his biggest fan, and over time became a special friend to both Don and his beautiful film-star wife, Trudy.

Jackie responded to our inquiries regarding the record-breaking auction. Soon after, Don called. He had a strong, friendly Western voice and, after several talks about his career and his playset, offered to wait for our arrival to open his new playset. The day we arrived at the Durant mansion, Don was decked out in boots and white hat, ready to open his playset.