Mark McCain
| Mark McCain | |
|---|---|
| The Rifleman character | |
Johnny Crawford as Mark McCain in a 1961 publicity shot for The Rifleman | |
| Created by | Sam Peckinpah (uncredited), Arnold Laven Arthur Gardner |
| Portrayed by | Johnny Crawford |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | ranch-hand; protege and confidant to his father |
| Family | Lucas (father); Margaret Gibbs (mother, deceased); John "Johnny" Gibbs (maternal uncle) |
| Nationality | American |
Mark McCain is a fictitious character who is the son of rancher Lucas McCain in the ABC Western television series The Rifleman, starring Chuck Connors, which ran from 1958 to 1963. Singer/actor and former Mouseketeer Johnny Crawford was cast in the role and was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1959 as Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Dramatic Series. However, Dennis Weaver, then portraying Chester Goode on CBS's Gunsmoke, won the honor.
Mark McCain was more than just a supporting player in The Rifleman, as the boy's bond with his father was a core element of the show. In many ways he was the co-lead of the series and appeared in nearly every episode and in a majority of scenes.