When Bonanza first galloped onto television screens in 1959, it became an instant hit. Viewers were drawn to the Cartwright family and their adventures on the Ponderosa, and Pernell Roberts, who played eldest son Adam, quickly became a fan favorite. But behind-the-scenes drama led the Cartwright family to break apart long before the hit show came to a conclusion.

Roberts came from the world of theater, and he took acting seriously. Before Bonanza, he had already won acclaim for his performance in Macbeth and had ambitions that stretched far beyond TV westerns.