The Deputy
 Deputy
Clay McCord (Allen Case) was ordinarily a mild-mannered
storekeeper. He had been duped into his role as a Deputy by
Marshal Simon Fry (Henry Fonda), because of Clay's ability as a
crack-shot.
Clay undertook dangerous missions each week, such as
going undercover to learn the plans of a gang of outlaws, trekking
into Apache territory on a peace mission or protecting a citizen
from a hired gunman.
He was assigned his missions by Marshal Fry, although Fonda
only featured in half-a-dozen full episodes.
The rest of the time he appeared at the beginning of the show
to send McCord on his mission and at the close to congratulate him
on a job well done.
Inspired by the 1957 movie Tin Star (starring Fonda and
Anthony Perkins), this NBC show is also notable for giving
a TV debut to a young Robert Redford.
Allen Case went on to co-star in the 1965 western series The
Legend of Jesse James as outlaw Frank James. Sadly, he died of
a heart attack at the age of 52.
TRIVIA NOTE
The Deputy was created by Norman Lear, who would go on
to develop some of the biggest TV comedy hits of the 1970s,
including All in the Family, Sanford and Son and Maude.
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