“Laramie”, the popular western television series that aired from 1959 to 1963, left a lasting impact on its audience with its memorable characters and engaging storylines.
The cast of Laramie, including John Smith, Robert Fuller, Hoagy Carmichael, Robert Crawford Jr., and Dennis Holmes, brought these characters to life. But what happened to these actors after the series ended? Here’s a look at their careers post-Laramie.
John Smith (Slim Sherman)
John Smith, who portrayed Slim Sherman on “Laramie”, continued his acting career after the show ended. In 1964, Hollywood legend John Wayne cast Smith in the film “Circus World”.
Smith also made several guest appearances on TV shows such as “The Rounders”, “Hondo”, and “The Virginian”. He had roles in the police drama “Adam-12” and the medical drama “Marcus Welby, M.D.” His last TV appearances were in 1974 and 1975, with his final film role being in Walt Disney’s “Justin Morgan Had a Horse” in 1972. Smith passed away in 1995.
Robert Fuller (Jess Harper)
After “Laramie”, Robert Fuller transitioned to “Wagon Train”, where he played the character of Cooper Smith for 60 episodes. He then had smaller film roles and television appearances.
Fuller eventually joined the cast of “Emergency!”, although he wasn’t fully comfortable with the direction the show was heading. He later starred in “Jake’s Way” and had a recurring role in “Walker, Texas Ranger” alongside Chuck Norris. Fuller retired from acting in 2001. Off-screen, Fuller has been married twice and has three children.
He and his second wife, Jennifer Savidge, moved from Los Angeles to Texas in 2004, where they now raise horses on their ranch. Despite being retired, Fuller remains connected to his fans, regularly attending Western festivals.
Hoagy Carmichael (Jonesy)
After season one of the show, a faithful audience was left wondering: what happened to Jonesy on Laramie?
Unfortunately, Hoagy Carmichael’s contract was not renewed after the first season of “Laramie”, and his character was written out of the series. However, Carmichael, a noted songwriter and musician, continued to work in the entertainment industry after leaving “Laramie”. He passed away in 1981.
Robert Crawford Jr. (Andy Sherman)
After his role on “Laramie” ended in 1960, Robert Crawford Jr. appeared in about two dozen film and television productions. His television guest appearances included series like “Zorro”, “The Californians”, “The Donna Reed Show”, “National Velvet”, “Dragnet”, “Combat!”, “Mr. Novak”, “Rawhide”, “The Rifleman”, “Cheyenne”, and “Gunsmoke”. In the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, Crawford transitioned to behind-the-scenes work in the film industry, serving as a production assistant, associate producer, and producer on films such as “Slaughterhouse-Five”, “The Sting”, “Slap Shot”, “The World According to Garp”, and “The Parasite”.
Dennis Holmes (Mike Williams)
Dennis Holmes joined the cast of “Laramie” in 1961. He retired from acting in 1964, with his last credit being in the western television series “Wagon Train”. After retiring from acting, Holmes worked as a technology specialist in California.
Each actor from “Laramie” embarked on different paths after the series ended. Whether they continued in the entertainment industry, pursued new careers, or retired, each has left a lasting mark on the world of television. Their performances on “Laramie” continue to be cherished by fans around the world.
Btw: Did you know that Laramie also had a sizeable array of guest stars?
