Chuck Connors, 71, Was `The Rifleman'

HOLLYWOOD - Chuck Connors, the professional baseball player who became an actor best known for his title role in the television series "The Rifleman," died yesterday. He was 71.

The lanky actor died of lung cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he had spent the last week.

Mr. Connors became well-known in the Western series, which ran from 1958 to 1963. He starred as Lucas McCain, a New Mexico homesteader bringing up a son by himself.

Mr. Connors also starred in the Western series "Branded" which was telecast from 1965 to 1966.

Born Kevin Joseph Connors on April 10, 1921, in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mr. Connors was educated at Seton Hall College.

He began his career as a professional basketball player and switched to baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs in the majors, and the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League.

In Hollywood, he picked up occasional roles in films, and he formally changed careers in 1953, after his success in "Pat and Mike" in which he appeared with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in 1952.

He went on to make the films "Target Zero" in 1954, "Hold Back the Night" in 1956 and "The Big Country" in 1958.

His films in the 1960s included the title role of "Geronimo" in 1962, "Flipper" and "Move Over, Darling" in 1963, "Synanon" in 1965, and "Ride Beyond Vengeance" in 1966.

Mr. Connors preferred Western and action films, but often mixed those with satirical comedy, such as "Support Your Local Gunfighter" in 1971 and "Airplane 2: The Sequel" in 1982.

He also appeared in well-received mini-series, including Alex Haley's "Roots" in 1977 and 1978. He was nominated for an Emmy for his role as the lustful slave owner Tom Moore.