Born in Brooklyn: ‘The Rifleman’ star Chuck Connors
Iconic Western Actor Was Born and Raised in Bay Ridge
Many people may be surprised to learn that actor Chuck Connors, best known as the star of the hit TV series “The Rifleman,” grew up in Bay Ridge. The show, which ran from 1958 to 1963, still lives on in reruns decades after its finale. Connors played the iconic role of sharpshooter Lucas McCain, the widowed Civil War veteran who moves to the fictitious town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory to raise his young son Mark, played by actor Johnny Crawford.
The show allowed Connors to demonstrate his rapid-fire skills with a Winchester rifle. Although Connors appeared in a number of TV series and movies during the 50s, including a major role in the 1958 Disney classic “Old Yeller,” it was “The Rifleman” that ultimately brought him fame and recognition.
He was born Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors on April 10, 1921, in Bay Ridge, and his entire youth was spent in the borough. His parents had emigrated from Newfoundland, and they struggled to make ends meet in Bay Ridge. They lived in three different houses in the neighborhood.