
Dan Haggerty, who gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of the kind mountain man with a striking beard and his bear friend Ben in the NBC television series and 1974 film “The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams,” passed away on Friday in Burbank, California. His age was 73 years.

Terry Bomar, his manager and friend, stated that spinal cancer was the cause of death.
Dan Haggerty was creating a name for himself in Hollywood as an animal handler and stuntman before landing his famous part. When a producer requested him to appear in a few opening moments for a film about a woodsman and his bear, it was his big break. The plot, which is based on a novel by Charles Sellier Jr., centers on a man who flees to the woods after being wrongfully convicted of murder, becomes friends with the local wildlife, and takes in an abandoned bear.
Haggerty accepted to do the part, but he had one requirement: he had to appear in the whole film. Despite having a relatively low budget of $165,000, the film’s remake brought in close to $30 million at the box office. Because of this popularity, a television series was created, and in February 1977, Haggerty went back to playing the character of the wild and outdoorsy wilderness guardian.
The audience responded well to the show. It lukewarms the heart, as The New York Times’ John Leonard observed in his review. A large lump in the throat and a lot of communing with nature are experienced when a man and a bear hide out in a log cabin. Haggerty won a 1978 People’s Choice Award for being the most well-liked actor in a new series because of the series’ warm and sympathetic tone, which won over a lot of viewers.
The series also yielded two follow-ups: “Legend of the Wild,” which was broadcast on television in 1978 and eventually released in theaters in 1981, and “The Capture of Grizzly Adams,” a 1982 television film in which Adams ultimately exonerates himself of the false charge.
Born in Los Angeles on November 19, 1942, Daniel Francis Haggerty had a difficult upbringing. He had a turbulent childhood, breaking out of military school several times before coming home with his actor-father in Burbank when his parents divorced when he was three years old.
Haggerty was married twice in his personal life. When he was 17, he got married to Diane Rooker, but they later got divorced. In 2008, he lost his second wife, Samantha Hilton, in a horrific motorbike accident. His children, Don, Megan, Tracy, Dylan, and Cody, survive him.

In his debut motion picture, “Muscle Beach Party” (1964), Haggerty portrayed bodybuilder Biff. After that, he played supporting parts in motorcycle and wildlife movies. He was a hippie commune member in “Easy Rider.” He also played the role off-screen, living with a variety of wild creatures he had either tamed or rescued on a small ranch in Malibu Canyon.
His expertise with animals led to positions as an animal trainer and stuntman for television shows including “Daktari” and “Tarzan.” He kept taking on parts like “Where the North Wind Blows” (1974) and “The Adventures of Frontier Fremont” (1976) that highlighted his affinity for the natural world. His love of outdoor parts brought him roles evoking Grizzly Adams to movies like “Grizzly Mountain” (1997) and “Escape to Grizzly Mountain” (2000).
Haggerty had appearances in a number of horror movies later in his career, such as “Terror Night” (1987) and “Elves” (1989). He was involved in court in 1985 and was given a 90-day jail sentence for distributing cocaine to police officers who were undercover.
Tragic incidents also occurred in his life. Haggerty suffered third-degree burns to his arms when a diner carrying a burning drink unintentionally caught his renowned beard on fire in 1977 when he was dining. Despite being admitted to the hospital and supposed to stay for a month, he left after just ten days, claiming to have expertise of curing animals.
“The first couple of days I just lay in the dark room drinking water, like a wounded wolf trying to heal myself,” he said, reflecting on his injury, to People magazine.
Miley Cyrus Causes a Stir by “Leaving Nothing to the Imagination” as She Wears an Extremely Revealing Dress
During the 2024 Grammys, Miley Cyrus rocked a bold and daring look with confidence, showing off her body. Some people loved it for being unique, but others thought it was too revealing. Her hairstyle also received a lot of attention, both positive and negative.

The 31-year-old singer showcased her bold fashion sense, wearing a stunning gold gown that accentuated her figure. Her hairstyle was quite unique too, with a lot of volume.
Her outfit seemed to take inspiration from Madonna’s iconic cone bra, featuring a custom naked ensemble by Maison Margiela made out of gold safety pins. The mesh gown was covering only her breasts and forming a metallic panty around her waist.

It seems like Cyrus took some cues from another famous icon for her hairstyle, as she sported a sky-high hairdo reminiscent of her godmother, Dolly Parton. Sticking to the golden theme, she completed her look with gold Tabi heels, keeping her outfit sleek and minimalist by skipping any additional accessories.

While numerous admirers commended her overall look, describing her as “pretty” and expressing enthusiasm to see her donning this style again, some people immediately voiced their disapproval. One commenter remarked, ’’She’s leaving nothing to the imagination and that hairstyle is way too elegant for safety pins.’’

Miley’s hairstyle sparked conversation online, with some likening it to Kurt Russell’s look from the 80s. One commenter even joked, ’’Kurt definitely wore it better.’’ Some also drew comparisons to the iconic Jane Fonda. It’s quite uncommon to spot such a hairstyle on the red carpet in 2024, given that current hair trends lean towards simplicity.

We admire Miley Cyrus’s glowing appearance and wish her all the best in her professional and personal endeavors. Since 2021, Miley has been open about her relationship with drummer Maxx Morando. Let’s dive into the intriguing story of how this couple first crossed paths.
Preview photo credit Jordan Strauss / Invision / AP / East News, UPI / Alamy Stock Photo
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