Lorne Greene (1915–1987) Lorne Greene, born Lyon Himan Green in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, was a Canadian actor, singer, and radio personality best known as the patriarch Ben Cartwright on TV’s Bonanza (1959–1973). After studying chemical engineering, he pursued acting and radio, becoming CBC’s top newsreader during WWII with his deep, authoritative “Voice of Doom” style. Moving to the U.S. in the 1950s, he acted in films (The Silver Chalice, Peyton Place) and TV before Bonanza made him a household name as the wise Nevada rancher. The western ran 14 seasons, one of TV’s longest. Greene recorded novelty/country songs, scoring a 1964 spoken-word hit “Ringo” (No. 1 Hot 100), a Western tale that sold millions. Later roles included Battlestar Galactica (1978–1979) as Commander Adama and Code Red. A versatile entertainer, he hosted specials and narrated documentaries. Married twice (last to Nancy DeWitt Greene), he had three children. Greene died September 11, 1987, at age 72 in Santa Monica, California, from complications of pneumonia following ulcer surgery. Inducted into halls like Canada’s Walk of Fame, his warm baritone and paternal image made him an enduring symbol of classic TV westerns and crossover music success