Dan Haggerty
Encyclopedia
Dan Haggerty is an American actor, best known for the title role in The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams.
Born Gene Jajonski, Haggerty grew up in a family that owned and operated a small wild animal attraction. There he helped raise wild animals, including a black bear that performed tricks. After high school, he moved to southern California to pursue acting. Early on, he was cast in small roles as a bodybuilder in both Muscle Beach Party
and Girl Happy
starring Elvis Presley
. His ease with animals brought him work as an animal trainer and handler in films produced by Walt Disney Studios
. Haggerty also worked as a stuntman
on the television series Tarzan, and as set builder on various other projects.
Haggerty appeared briefly in David Carradine
's film, Americana and provided a fighting dog for the production. In the film, he not only played the role of the dog's trainer but also assisted in set design and the restoration of a broken down carousel, which figured prominently in the film. He assisted in building the motorcycle
s featured in the film Easy Rider
, and had a bit part
as a "hippie
" in that film, as well as stunt work and supporting roles in numerous low-budget biker films of the era. The role that brought him fame was of the outdoorsman Grizzly Adams in the independent film
The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams. The picture was a surprise hit and spun off into a popular TV series. He also starred in the 1989 film "Spirit of the Eagle".
His fame was fleeting, however, as a well-publicized drug arrest (supposedly for selling drugs to obtain money to treat his wife's cancer) and motorcycle crash slowed his acting career. During the late 1980s, Haggerty often appeared in direct-to-video
productions, and by the early 1990s he had devoted most of his energies to the Studio City restaurant "Haggerty's Bistro" and marketing his own barbecue sauce
.
Haggerty continued to work as both an actor and infomercial
spokesman. One of his endorsements was for a fraudulent piece of medical equipment, the PAP-IMI. He had only been hired as a spokesperson and was found not to be part of the fraud itself.
Haggerty was the lead role in the movies - Repo Jake (1990), Elves
(1990), Grizzly Mountain (1995), and Escape to Grizzly Mountain (2000). He was also featured as a character in Al Franken
's novel, Why Not Me?.
Haggerty's wife of over 20 years, Samantha Haggerty, died after a motorcycle accident on August 10, 2008.
Born Gene Jajonski, Haggerty grew up in a family that owned and operated a small wild animal attraction. There he helped raise wild animals, including a black bear that performed tricks. After high school, he moved to southern California to pursue acting. Early on, he was cast in small roles as a bodybuilder in both Muscle Beach Party
Muscle Beach Party
Muscle Beach Party is the second of seven beach party films produced by American International Pictures. It was made in 1964 and was directed by William Asher, who also directed four other films in this series...
and Girl Happy
Girl Happy
Girl Happy is a 1965 American musical romantic comedy in the beach party film and spring break style, starring Elvis Presley.This was the last mega-successful Elvis Presley film at the box office, finishing at #25 on the Variety year-end top-grossing films of 1965 chart and making $3 million,...
starring Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. His ease with animals brought him work as an animal trainer and handler in films produced by Walt Disney Studios
Walt Disney Studios
The name Walt Disney Studios may refer to:* The Walt Disney Company, especially its Studio Entertainment unit, which includes Disney's motion picture studios, music labels, theatrical production company, and distribution companies...
. Haggerty also worked as a stuntman
Stunt double
A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television , and for other sophisticated stunts...
on the television series Tarzan, and as set builder on various other projects.
Haggerty appeared briefly in David Carradine
David Carradine
David Carradine was an American actor and martial artist, best known for his role as a warrior monk, Kwai Chang Caine, in the 1970s television series, Kung Fu, which later had a 1990s sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues...
's film, Americana and provided a fighting dog for the production. In the film, he not only played the role of the dog's trainer but also assisted in set design and the restoration of a broken down carousel, which figured prominently in the film. He assisted in building the motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s featured in the film Easy Rider
Easy Rider
Easy Rider is a 1969 American road movie written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern, produced by Fonda and directed by Hopper. It tells the story of two bikers who travel through the American Southwest and South with the aim of achieving freedom...
, and had a bit part
Bit part
A bit part is a supporting acting role with at least one line of dialogue . In British television, bit parts are referred to as under sixes...
as a "hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
" in that film, as well as stunt work and supporting roles in numerous low-budget biker films of the era. The role that brought him fame was of the outdoorsman Grizzly Adams in the independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams. The picture was a surprise hit and spun off into a popular TV series. He also starred in the 1989 film "Spirit of the Eagle".
His fame was fleeting, however, as a well-publicized drug arrest (supposedly for selling drugs to obtain money to treat his wife's cancer) and motorcycle crash slowed his acting career. During the late 1980s, Haggerty often appeared in direct-to-video
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
productions, and by the early 1990s he had devoted most of his energies to the Studio City restaurant "Haggerty's Bistro" and marketing his own barbecue sauce
Barbecue sauce
Barbecue sauce is a flavoring sauce or condiment ranging from watery to very thick consistency. As the name implies, it was created as an accompaniment to barbecued foods. While it can be applied to any food, it usually tops meat after cooking or during barbecuing, grilling, or baking...
.
Haggerty continued to work as both an actor and infomercial
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
spokesman. One of his endorsements was for a fraudulent piece of medical equipment, the PAP-IMI. He had only been hired as a spokesperson and was found not to be part of the fraud itself.
Haggerty was the lead role in the movies - Repo Jake (1990), Elves
Elves (film)
Elves is a 1989 American horror film directed by Jeffrey Mandel and starring Dan Haggerty, Deanna Lund and Ken Carpenter. -Plot:When teenager Kirsten accidentally cuts her hand during an "Anti-Christmas" pagan ritual with her friends Brooke and Amy in the woods, her spilled blood awakens an...
(1990), Grizzly Mountain (1995), and Escape to Grizzly Mountain (2000). He was also featured as a character in Al Franken
Al Franken
Alan Stuart "Al" Franken is the junior United States Senator from Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which affiliates with the national Democratic Party....
's novel, Why Not Me?.
Haggerty's wife of over 20 years, Samantha Haggerty, died after a motorcycle accident on August 10, 2008.