Rod McGaughy

Rod McGaughy is one of the unsung heroes of the television western genre. Like most cowboys in his day, McGaughy started out appearing in local rodeos around the California area and he eventually became a member of the Screen Extras Guild. McGaughy couldn't have picked a better time to come into films because a lot of the older cowboys who rode horses in the 1930s and 1940s were either retiring or getting to old to frequently appear on horseback. As former rodeo rider, McGaughy's equestrian skills were frequently utilized by having him appear in posse scenes or by having him participate in a brawl. Throughout the 1960s, McGaughy spent a lot of time appearing in various episodes of Bonanza and Gunsmoke. His stern appearance was frequently used on the Gunsmoke film sets by having him play gang members or rowdy cowhands. He became such a fixture on the Gunsmoke set that they eventually gave him a talking role as a cowhand that was annoyed with a saloon girl. It was probably in 1972 when they filmed Blazing Saddles that McGaughy had his best acting role as a cowhand who comforts a crying dancer. By the last 1980s, western shows were riding off into the sunset and Little House on the Prairie became the last hurrah for many old cowboys. McGaughy and other cowboys were frequently given more meaningful roles on Little House on the Prairie but it also came to a close. Eventually McGaughy decided to retire but not without leaving behind a reputation for taking care of himself and his coworkers when it came to any disputes with assistant directors.