Patricia Blair Dead: Classic TV Bombshell Remembered for ‘The Rifleman’ and ‘Daniel Boone’

Patricia Blair was best known for her memorable roles on two classic television westerns—The Rifleman and Daniel Boone.

She began her career as a teenage model, catching the eye of Hollywood scouts with her striking red hair and statuesque figure. Her early potential led to a contract with Warner Bros., launching her into acting during the golden age of television.

Blair gained widespread recognition when she was cast as Rebecca Boone, the loyal and resilient wife of frontiersman Daniel Boone, portrayed by Fess Parker. She played the role for six seasons from 1965 to 1970, becoming a familiar face in American households and a defining presence in the popular frontier drama.

Marriage

On Valentine’s Day 1965, 32-year-old Patricia Blair married 42-year-old land developer Martin S. Colbert in Los Angeles. After nearly 30 years of marriage, the couple called it quits in 1993 — just a year before Colbert’s death. The pair never had children.

How did Patricia Blair die?

The actress passed away on September 9, 2013, at her home in North Wildwood, New Jersey, at the age of 80. According to her friend and neighbor Amber Hennessey, the cause was breast cancer.