Posts from jessie in thread „Rawhide (1959-1966)“

Just also wanted to add that they have Clint Eastwoods picture pretty central on the DVD series covers... i guess he is alive, he has the big name etc.. he draws the people that are too young to remember Eric, and how he was pivotal in carrying that series, and after he left at the end of series 7, series 8 with Rowdy as ramrod only lasted half the season beofre it was pulled, once Eric left that was it, the audience had already seen so many of their favourites get pushed, but the Boss gone... no way...................... it just was not going to fly.
No Boss..no takers.....

Eric also did 2 episodes of Bonanza, 1 of them in 2 parts and aired the day it was announced he had drowned, it starred Dina Merril and was called " The persued" it's on utube the other episode was a single airing close to the other one.
Also i think i may have the date of Eric s death wrong, have to double check, but i think it was 28 Sept not the 30..

The 30 September marked the accidental death of Eric Fleming, who played trail boss in Rawhide, with Rowdy ( Eastwood) as ramrod.

Poor Eric was drowned aged 42, 42 years ago, only a few years after leaving Rawhide whilst filming in South America when a canoe overturned.

There were 2 in the canoe, Eric was a very experienced swimmer and diver but the current dragged him down the Heluaga River, whereas the other man was able to swim to safety.

Eric's body was found 3 days later, and his fiancee was at t he river that day he drowned, they were to be married 2 days later, this was the final shoot i think, and they were then retiring to Hawiia where he had brought a farm.

RIP Eric.