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The Cartwright Family
Ben Cartwright
Benjamin Cartwright
Played by Lorne Greene
The owner of the Ponderosa ranch and the father of Adam, Hoss (Eric), and Joseph (Little Joe). Later he adopts orphan Jamie Hunter as his son giving him four sons in total. He is a a good father, a good boss, and generally a good man.Tropes:
- Cool Old Guy: Ben is a man past his prime with hair already grayed out, but he remains a good shot with the revolver and is still charmingly charismatic.
- Good Parents: Ben single-handedly raised his three sons to become good and honorable men of valor by instilling into them the same principles that helped shape him into what he is.
- Non-Idle Rich: The owner of the biggest spread of the Nevada Territory. He’s engaged in physical labor on his own ranch and is very active in his community.
- Papa Wolf: Want to make Ben get real angry real fast then threaten one of his sons. He also does not appreciate any children, in general, being threatened.
- Someone to Remember Her By: In a rare male example of this trope, Ben has one son from each of his three dead wives: Adam from Elizabeth Stoddard, Hoss (Eric) from Inger Borgstrom and Little Joe from Marie De Marigny.
Adam Cartwright
Adam Eugene Cartwright
Played by Pernell Roberts
Ben's eldest son, with his first wife, Elizabeth, from Boston. Adam went to college for architecture and designed the house where the Cartwrights live. Intellectual and brooding, Adam's east coast education often puts him at odds with his less urbane brothers.Tropes:
- Big Brother Instinct: Adam does not appreciate violence or threats against Hoss or Little Joe. He also defends them (or at least tries to) from women who would take advantage of them.
- Deadpan Snarker: Quick with a sardonic quip as he is with a gun.
- The Stoic: He’s the more serious of his brothers, though he’s able to lighten up
Hoss Cartwright
Eric "Hoss" Cartwright
Played by Dan Blocker
Ben's middle son Eric, with his second wife, a Swedish pioneer named Inger. A quintessential gentle giant, Eric (better known as Hoss) is nonetheless the toughest and most dangerous Cartwright in a brawl, and a lot shrewder and more perceptive than his goofy grin and genial nature would suggest.Tropes:
- Beware the Nice Ones: Hoss is one of the friendliest guys you'll ever meet... as long as you don't try to harm any one he cares about.
- Big Eater: A Running Gag.
- Gentle Giant: Hoss is one of the biggest men in Nevada territory, He is also one of the kindest.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: No one calls him Eric. It’s lampshaded at his birth.Ben: We'll give him both names and see which one sticks.
Little Joe Cartwright
Joesph Francis "Little Joe" Cartwright
Played by Michael Landon
Dubbed by Marc Cassot (European French)
The youngest of the Cartwright boys, with Ben's final wife, a New Orleans-born French Canjun belle named Marie. A real hot-head who at times struggles with a need to prove himself as more than just the baby of the family. Throughout the series Joe grows from the tag-a-long little brother to a true leading man.
Tropes:
- The Baby of the Bunch: Before Jamie joins the group in Season 12, he is this, being only seventeen at the start of the first season.
- Pretty Boy: He is played by a young Michael Landon after all.
Hop Sing
Played by Victor Sen Yung
The Cartwrights' hired chef.Tropes:
- Supreme Chef: He is one, as everyone who stays for dinner at the Cartwrights' can attest. Hoss, in particular, is a big fan.
