Paradise/Guns of Paradise

1 9 8 8 – 1 9 9 0 (USA)
56 x 60 minute episodes

In 1890 in the town of Paradise, professional gunfighter Ethan Allen Cord (Lee Horsley) has to take custody of the four children of his dying sister (Kathryn Leigh Scott).

He is subsequently forced to make a career change as he adopts the four kids: 13-year-old Claire (Jenny Beck), 11-year-old Joseph (Matthew Newmark), and youngsters Ben (Brian Lando) and George (Michael Patrick Carter).

He rents a farm from prickly banker Amelia Lawson (Sigrid Thornton) and seeks to hang up his gun belt, but the bad guys have other ideas. He is also often called upon by residents to defend them from lawlessness.

Guns Of Paradise – called simply Paradise for its first two seasons – was co-created by Dallas and Knots Landing creator David Jacobs and enjoyed critical acclaim and a fiercely loyal audience at a time when primetime Westerns were a rarity.

The series made headlines with stunt casting of Western legends like Hugh O’Brien and Gene Barry as Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, recreating their 1950s roles.

Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford also guest-starred, playing father and son again thirty years after The Rifleman.

Ethan Allen Cord
Lee Horsley
Claire Carroll
Jenny Beck
Joseph Carroll
Matthew Newmark
Ben Carroll
Brian Lando
George Carroll
Michael Patrick Carter
Amelia Lawson
Sigrid Thornton
John Taylor
Dehl Berti
Charlie
James Crittenden
Scotty McBride
Mack Dryden
Tiny
John Bloom
Axelrod
Michael Ensign
Carl
Will Hunt
Dakota
John Terlesky
Wade
Randy Crowder
Mr Lee
Benjamin Lum
Mr Dodd
F. William Parker