TV Sidekick Of `Virginian’ Dies Of Cancer

Doug McClure, the affable, good-looking sidekick Trampas who rode the Western television range with “The Virginian” in the 1960s, is dead at 59.

McClure, who last appeared in the 1994 feature film “Maverick,” died Sunday night at his Los Angeles home after a battle with lung cancer.

After a few feature films, including “The Enemy Below,” “Gidget” and “The Unforgiven,” he began a string of television series.

In 1962, he joined “The Virginian.” The series was highly praised by critics.

In later years he appeared in the 1988 television comedy series “Out of This World” and the 1991 Kenny Rogers miniseries “The Gambler Returns.”