Mitch Vogel spills the beans on joining beloved television series ‘Bonanza’

Lorne Greene and Mitch Vogel emblazon their characterizations of Ben “Pa” Cartwright and Jamie Cartwright, respectively, circa June 1970. The autographed inscription reads, “To Eva, Thanks for writing! Love & Life, Best Always, Mitch Vogel ‘Jamie.’” Image courtesy of Eva Foran Mayer / Bonanza Boomers

Former teen cowboy Mitch Vogel may not be a household name, yet his exemplary work during the final three seasons of Bonanza, by far the most popular television series of the 1960s and an unheralded impetus for NBC Universal’s domineering corporate conglomeration, earns deserved mention in a brief interview unveiled today. The red-headed actor clarifies how he joined the Bonanza cast as orphaned rainmaker Jamie Hunter and ultimately became the adopted son of Ponderosa patriarch Ben Cartwright.

Introduced in United Artists’ top-grossing film of 1968, the family comedy Yours, Mine and Ours, Vogel quickly garnered the attention of Steve McQueen. The King of Cool confounded critics and fans alike by tackling The Reivers, William Faulkner’s lighthearted depiction of early 20th century Mississippi. Vogel nabbed the pivotal role of Winton Flyer auto adventurer Lucius Priest.

“I actually did a guest star part on Bonanza when I was 12 years old — two seasons before I officially joined the cast,” confirms Vogel. “The episode was called ‘The Real People of Muddy Creek’ [broadcast on October 6, 1968, during season 10].

“I was a young, working child actor who had only appeared onscreen up to that point in Yours, Mine and Ours [Vogel was Tommy, one of Lucille Ball’s eight…