1958 (Age 24)
In 1958, Dwight D. Eisenhower is President of the United States, and Richard Nixon is his Vice-President.
In January, 1958, the world's first satellite, Sputnik, which had launched in 1957, fell to earth. The United States launched its first satellite, Explorer I. In February, Bertrand Russell launches the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. In March, Elvis Presley is inducted into the army, and Nikita Kruschev becomes president of the Soviet Union (after having been First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union since 1953). In July, Alaskan statehood is signed into law. (It will go into effect on January 3, 1959.) The Iraq Revolution, with the overthrow of King Faisal, takes place. NASA is also founded in in July.
In August, the USS Nautilus becomes the first nuclear submarine to cruise under the North Pole. In November, Have Gun, Will Travel debuts on radio. In December, the John Birch Society is founded. Charles DeGaulle is elected president of France.
In 1958, at the age of 24, Steve had a small role in Dragstrip Riot, opposite his friend Gary Clarke. His character was named Dutch. The movie was written by George Hodgins, and directed by David Bradley. Steve is listed 14th in the credits at the IMDB. Other members of the cast were Fay Wray, Yvonne Fedderson and Connie Stevens. [The film was released in March, 1958, so presumably it was filmed between January and Februrary of that year.]
The plot? TV Guide says:
| "Another piece of exploitation from American International about juvenile delinquents, these are from well-to-do families and cruise around in Corvettes. Clarke, the leader of the group, gave his word to his mother, Wray, that he wouldn't fight anymore. He's already been in jail once for beating up a fellow teenager. Problems arise when a motorcycle gang begins hassling Clarke and his friends. When one of the cyclists is killed, the police nail Clarke, but everything works out in the end." |
At this point in his life, Steve is rooming with fellow Pasadena Playhouse alumnus Gary Clarke. He either knows or learns how to ride a motorcycle for his role in the film.
1959 (Age 25)
In January, Fidel Castro takes over Cuba and his regime is acknowledged by the US government. Russia launches the Luna 1 spacecraft. Alaska is admitted as the 49th state. Disney's 16th animated feature, Sleeping Beauty, is released. In February, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper are killed in a plane crash. In March, the Barbie doll makes its debut. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry opens on Broadway in New York. The Chinese take over Tibet and the Dalai Llama flees the country. In April, NASA announces its selection of 7 military pilots to become the first U.S. astronauts (the Mercury Seven). In August, Hawaii is admitted as the 50th state. Russia's Luna 2 crashlands on the moon. In October, Rod Serling's Twilight Zone makes its debut. In New York City, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) opens to the public. In November, Ben Hur starring Charlton Heston is released. On December 1, 12 countries, including the United States and the Soviet Union, sign a landmark treaty, which sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve and bans military activity on that continent (the first arms control agreement established during the Cold War).
Steve had a role in Season 4, episode 6 of Highway Patrol called "Cargo Hijack." Airdate unknown, but presumably sometime in April. He played Joe Tyler. The plot, according to the IMDB:
| "Vance and Sheila Nolan and their two accomplices use their "Import Company" warehouse as a front for merchandise stolen in a series of truck hijackings. After a driver dies from injuries sustained in one of the hijackings, the Nolans make a deal with driver Joe Tyler to "allow" them to hijack his shipment in return for a payment of $5,000. Dan Mathews and Sergeant Williams investigate the hijacking of Tyler's truck but they are obviously suspicious of his description of the suspects and the gang decides to flee the area. The two accomplices are apprehended by Officer Simpson. The Nolans return to the warehouse, but are unpleasantly surprised when Dan and Sergeant Williams trap them there. A tense armed confrontation ensues." |
Highway Patrol had made its debut in 1955, and stars Broderic Crawford and William Boyett. Steve's episode was directed by Lew Landers and written by Richard Adam. Kathleen Case and Douglas Odney also appear in the episode.
1960 (Age 26)
Steve once again had a role in a movie with his friend Gary Clarke, in Date Bait.
1962 (Age 28)
In this year, Steve played Clay Barker in "Lament for a Saturday Warrior" in the TV series Hawaiian Eye.
1963 (Age 29)
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In this year, Steve once again starred opposite his friend Gary Clarke in the movie Strike Me Deadly. He played the villain. Not only this, he also co-wrote the script. (He was credited as script writer Stefan Ihnat. As actor, he was called Steve Quinn!)
Hi friend Gary Clarke achieved a supporting role in the series The Virginian, which starred James Drury. Steve appeared in his first of several episodes, as Stub O'Dell in "The Fatal Journey". |
In addition, he guest-starred as the Pit Boss in "The Name of the Game" episode of Kraft Suspense Theatre. He also had a role in the series Temple Houston, playing Ben Wade in the episode "Seventy Times Seven".
1964 (Age 30)
In this year, Steve acted opposite Gary Clarke for the last time on the big screen, playing Dick Budman in the role Passion Street, U.S.A..
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It was also in this year that Steve achieved a starring role in the science fiction anthology series, The Outer Limits. It was a two-parter, called "The Inheritors," and he played Lieutenant Minns. It's a slow-moving journey - four men who have been shot in the head in some foreign land (we're not told if its Korea or Vietnam), begin showing the identical brainwave patterns. They each become geniuses, each in a different field of technology that together allows them to build a spaceship. Robert Duvall plays a character who'se trying to figure out what's going on, while Steve Ihnat as Minns orchestrates the whole thing. (In the photo to the left, he is crying as he takes a carload of handicapped children to the spaceship.) |
This was Steve's break-out year as a guest-star. He played Lucas in the "Christmas Day Is Breaking Wan" episode of Channing. In Dr. Kildare, he had the role of Dr. James Robinson in "The Hand That Hurts, the Hand That Heals".
In the TV series, Slattery's People, he played Senator Buckmaster in "Question: Remember the Dark Sins of Youth?" In Death Valley Days he played Rick Hubbard in the episode "The Streets of El Paso."
He played Lieutenant Malloy in the episode "Murder in the First" of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, an anthology series. He was also in this anthology series as Steve Cortel in "A Case of Armed Robbery"
And he had another role in The Virginian, as Matson in "The Hero".
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Also in this year, Steve had a cameo role as a doomed scientist in the opening teaser of the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea episode "The Price of Doom." His wife, also doomed, was played by Pat Priest who would later go on to play Marilyn in The Munsters. |
1965 (Age 31)
Steve did not have quite so many guest-roles in this year.
He played Dr. Copeland, an intern, in an uncredited role in the moive Brainstorm.
As far as the TV series were concerned, he played Charlie Parks in "The Case of the Duplicate Case" in Perry Mason, Kaster in "The Retreat" in Rawhide, and his final guest appearance on the Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre as Doyle Ralston in "Highest Fall of All."
He played Tyler in "Perilous Journey" in Daniel Boone, Garth in "A Million Bucks in Anybody's Language" inHoney West, and guest-starred in his first Bonanza episode, as Johann Brunner in "Dead and Gone."
He also made his first debut in a Gunsmoke episode, playing Ben Hooker in "The Pariah."
1966 (Age 32)
Steve had a large, but non-speaking role, as the villain Archie in the movie The Chase.
In television, he played Eddie Drake in "The Escape", an episode of The F.B.I.. He played Luke Joy in "Joy Unconfined" in an episode of The Iron Horse. He played R.G. Posey in "The Bitter, the Lonely" episode f Shane.
He played Gerhardt in "Field of Dishonor" in the series Blue Light, and Will Hanley, one of the villains in "Teacher of Outlaws, " and he appeared inGunsmoke again, as Jack in "My Father's Guitar".
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In this year he also had his first and only guest-starring role on a sit-com. He played Sergeant Ben Roberts in the "My Master, the Rainmaker" episode of I Dream of Jeannie.
(He appeared in two episodes of Here Come The Brides, which was a comedy-western series, but it was not a situation comedy.) |
1967 (Age 33)
Steve's character, Andy Warshaw, was shot down by James Garner's Wyatt Earp in the movie, Hour of the Gun. He also played the villain, General Carter, opposite James Coburn, who would become a fast friend, in In Like Flint.
His television roles were: Sheriff Wade in the "Huntdown" episode of Mannix, Zarkov in "The Fourteenth Runner" episode of Ironside, working with Raymond Burr again.
He also had a role as Ben Murcheson in "The Catch a Thief Brief" episode of a short-lived TV series starring John Mills called Dundee and the Culhane.
He appeared in The Iron Horse again, as Ray McCoy in "The Silver Bullet". He also made his guest-star debut in the short lived Cimarron Strip, which starred Stuart Whitman. He played Felix Gauge in "The Hunted". His co-star was a young David Carradine.
Cimarron Strip was a 90-minute drama (as was The Virginian, by the way), and along with Stuart Whitman co-starred Jill Townsend. Townsend remembered Ihnat vividly:
| "He was the most intense actor that I had ever met. I had never seen an actor who was more serious and so into the portrayal of his character than Steve Inhat." [7] |
Steve's first and only pilot for a TV series was Police Story, in wihch he played Captain James Paige. The show was written and produced by Gene Roddenberry, but it did not sell.
Steve had his first guest-starring role in The Fugitive in this year, playing police detective Art Meredith in "Walls of Night." He would return to The Fugitive as Officer Hasbro in "Cry Uncle." His role in Felony Squad was as Vic Durant in the episode "Target!"
In this year, he also guest-starred in his first Mission: Impossible episode, as Colonel Alex Stahl in "The Astrologer". And he returned to Gunsmoke as John Farron in "Noose of Gold".
December 13-20, 1967
Michael Landon, who starred as Little Joe on Bonanza, had started to write scripts for the show. By December 1967, he had written his second complete story entitled, "To Dream a Dream", which would go on to be filmed and star Julie Harris and Steve Ihnat [as husband and wife]. The script took six days to shoot, and was directed by veteran director William F. Claxton. They wrapped the filming of the episode a few days before Christmas arrived. It was at this time that Michael and Steve became good friends.
According to the author of the Bonanza episode guide:
| He [Steve Ihnat] was previously in [season] six's "Dead and Gone" [and would reappear again in season 12].
Steve married Playboy Playmate and actress Sally Carter (Zella Maria Grajeda) in the 60s. She was featured in the May 1962 issue Playboy. They had two children in the early 70's, [whom] they named Gabby and Stefan. [Note - actually, only Stefan was Steve's biological child. The daughter was from Zella's previous marriage. ED.]
Steve became a good friend of Michael Landon and Dan Blocker when he worked this episode in December, 196[7]. They thought highly of his acting and he was very nice to everyone on the set. In fact, Mike and Dan would invite Steve and Sally to their homes to have dinner and drinks on numerous occasions during Bonanza's later years.
Stunt Trivia: In the climax, Bill Clark doubles Hoss in a bit part, when Josh (Ihnat's character, doubled by Bob Miles), hits him hard. Dan Blocker does most of the fight himself and Bob Miles doubled Ihnat in bit parts in the fight that showcases the physical strength of Hoss and Josh.
Location Scenes Filmed at: Franklin Lake, Southern California with June 1962 stock footage of Hoss riding Chubby at Solitude Canyon and June 1961 stock footage of Hoss riding through the wooded clearing at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The inclusion of stock footage that depicts Mr. Carter's wild horses was culled from "The Pursued", shot at Anchor Ranch, Lone Pine, California in July 1966.
Filming date: December 13 to December 20, 1967. Release date, April 14, 1968. [Sadly, this episode is considered lost.]
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1968 (Age 34)
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1968 was a banner year for Steve, as far as movies were concerned. He played the psychotic Barney Benesch opposite Richard Widmark in Madigan, and got to go to Hawaii for a role opposite Richard Boone, as Kryder in Kona Coast. He also played Ross Duellan in the Robert Altman movie Countdown, opposite his co-star from "The Inheritors," Robert Duvall. |
Turning to television, he guest-starred as Frank Padgett in "Region of Peril" in The F.B.I.. He returned to Bonanza in the Michael Landon-scripted episode, "A Dream to Dream," playing Josh Carter. (This episode had completed filming in December, 1967.)
He played Jeb Collins in "The Night Riders" episode of The Outcasts, and, as Colonel Gilveney , acted opposite Ida Lupino in the It Takes a Thief episode "Turnabout".
He returned to The Virginian as Jed in the episode "Jed". In The Name of the Game, he played Ralph Hoak in "Nightmare"
1969 (Age 35)
If 1968 had been a banner year for movies, 1969 was a banner year for TV guest spots.
He had a brief cameo in the TV movie The Whole World Is Watching as police office Platt, gun-downed at the beginning of the show.
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He played Gus Keller in the episode "End Game" of Mannix. He returned to The F.B.I. as Carl S. Beaumont in "The Prey", and as Frank Dixon Welles in "The Maze". In The Bold Ones: The Lawyers he played Lieutenant William Anderson in "A Game of Chance". In Here Come the Brides (he played Sergeant Noah Todd in "The Soldier". In Then Came Bronson he played Royce MacLeod in "Two Percent of Nothing. " In Marcus Welby, M.D. he played Bob Stewart in "The Foal".
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He returned to The Name of the Game as Captain Oliver in "Chains of Command." He played Frank Reardon in the "Exodus 21:22" episode of Gunsmoke.
Steve also returned to Mission: Impossible (shown above) as Stefan Miklos in "The Mind of Stefan Miklos." Ed Asner, whom Steve perhaps first met while filming his Ironside episode, "The Fourteenth Runner" in 1967, would go on to become a good friend. The episode aired on January 12, 1969, so filming must have been completed in 1968. His final Mission: Impossible guest-role was as Major Paul Johan in "The Amnesiac", which aired on December 12, 1969.
Steve returned to The Virginian "Four-Eyes" in Last Grave at Socorro Creek ".
And finally, in Star Trek he played Garth in "Whom Gods Destroy". This episode reunited him with actress Yvonne Craig, who had had a part in In Like Flint. The two got on well together, (much better than Craig did with William Shatner), and although Craig mentions him only briefly in her autobiography, she calls Ihnat her "dear friend." |
