‘Grizzly Adams’ Star Dan Haggerty Dead at 74

Actor Dan Haggerty, who fans remember as Grizzly Adams in 1974 theatrical “The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams” and the 1977-78 NBC family drama of the same name, died early Friday morning from cancer. He was 74.

Born Gene Jajonski on November 19, 1941 in Pound, Wisconsin, Haggerty got his start in show business with small parts in Elvis Presley movie “Girl Happy” in 1965 and biker drama “Easy Rider” in 1969. After “Grizzly Adams,” Haggerty traveled the guest star route in TV shows like “CHiPS,” “Charlie’s Angels” and “The Love Boat.” But his career stalled in 1985 after being busted for selling cocaine to undercover cops, and tragedy struck in 2008 when his wife Samantha was killed in a motorcycle accident.

Haggerty is survived by his children Megan, Dylan, Cody, Tracey and Don.