Buford Pusser (Bo Svenson) was the big, brawling sheriff of McNeal County, Tennessee.
A former Marine and ex-wrestler, Buford used a four-foot club (which he called his “pacifier”) to enforce the law and was hated by the local bad guys.
His wife Pauline had been killed in an assassination attempt on Buford and he must now raise his two children, Michael (Rad Daly) and Dwana (Heather McAdam), with the help of his father Carl (Walter Barnes).
Walking Tall ran on NBC from 17 January to 6 June 1981 over 7 episodes. It was consistently beaten soundly in the ratings by ABC’s The Love Boat.
The real-life Pusser was a sheriff in McNairy County, Tennessee, who gained fame as a no-nonsense tough and rowdy lawman who didn’t hesitate to use force to arrest criminals. He really did carry a club to mete out justice to wrongdoers.
The real Pusser died in 1974 in a car crash that many believed was not accidental.
Sheriff Buford Pusser
Bo Svenson Carl Pusser
Walter Barnes Deputy Aaron Fairfax
Harold Sylvester Deputy Joan Litton
Courtney Pledger Deputy Grady Spooner
Jeff Lester Dwana Pusser
Heather McAdam Michael Pusser
Rad Daly
The real-life Pusser was a sheriff in McNairy County, Tennessee, who gained fame as a no-nonsense tough and rowdy lawman who didn’t hesitate to use force to arrest criminals. He really did carry a club to mete out justice to wrongdoers.
