From SlashFilm · Joe Roberts · · 1m 10s
The Outcasts: First Black Co-Star in 1960s Western
ABC's 1968 Western 'The Outcasts' featured Otis Young as the first Black co-star in a TV Western series, changing the genre despite short run.
In brief
ABC's 1968 Western 'The Outcasts' featured Otis Young as the first Black co-star in a TV Western series, changing the genre despite short run. ABC's 1968 Western 'The Outcasts' made Otis Young the first Black co-star in a TV Western series, influencing the genre's evolution. Originally reported by SlashFilm.
The Outcasts Debuts
ABC launched 'The Outcasts' in September 1968 as a Western series starring Don Murray and Otis Young.
First Black Co-Star
Otis Young became the first Black actor to co-star in a television Western series, appearing alongside Don Murray.
The Show's Story
The Outcasts followed two former Civil War figures as bounty hunters, foiling scams and being framed for murder.
Short Run
The series lasted only one season despite its groundbreaking casting, with no clear reason for cancellation.
Kerner Commission Impact
The Outcasts emerged after the Kerner Commission report in February 1968 urged networks to hire more Black actors.
Critical Reception
Critics called 'The Outcasts' a 'routine oatburner' but praised Otis Young for his 'strength and humor' as a bounty hunter.
The key point
ABC's 1968 Western 'The Outcasts' made Otis Young the first Black co-star in a TV Western series, influencing the genre's evolution.
