The Model for Apache Chief

[hedrap]

Ted Cassidy in McKenna's Gold





Not sure if this connection has been made before, but it has to be where Toth got the basis from. The same aesthetic design, same Native ethnicity, played by the biggest working actor of the time.

Anyone know the history of the Super-Diverse Friends? I'm wondering what came first, the power or the character? As in, did they decide on the Native first, and Toth thought of Cassidy in McKenna's leading to Giant Man, or did they settle on the Giant Man power first, and then Toth thought of Cassidy playing the biggest Apache ever.

I ran across this wondering if anyone had made a Cassidy statue or figure based on Lurch, Ruk, or one of his other roles.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I'd bet money you're right. I have never read much on the origins of the ethnic Super Friends, beyond them being added for, well, ethnic diversity. Funny that they possibly based a supposedly positive Native American role model on some big white dude in grease paint. But, it was the 70s, and heck, Iron Eyes Cody had us all fooled!

McKenna's Gold is the reason Julie Newmar wasn't Catwoman in Season 3 of Batman. She was off doing this, and unavailable.

Chris

[PNGwynne]

Jeez, I didn't realize he was so buff--although his bio notes his athleticism.

His costuming for Addam's Family & ST TOS was less revealing.

[TomStrong]

I showed that to my wife and she spotted his whiteness from across the room! He fooled me when I looked at this thread, then when I read he also played Lurch I flipped. The Apache Chief character really looks like this actor, has to be a source of influence for Toth.

[Figuremod73]

I think your right about that. Hes my favorite of the added characters.

[hedrap]

Cassidy pops up on the Museum every now and then because he was neck-deep in early TV genre stuff. Physically, most people know him as Lurch or Ruk in Trek, but when you see his list of voice credits...

Hanna-Barbera Space Ghost era through Ferrigno's "growl" for Incredible Hulk. For Trek, he's Balok and The Gorn's voice. On Challenge Of The Superfriends, he was Brainiac and Black Manta. It goes on and on. He's like Michael Anasara in that they had amazing presence in secondary parts and could really take over an episode. If his Balok costume was less Liberace and more primitive he would have been one of the top creatures.

PNGy - I was also stunned at how ripped he was. That wasn't a common physique back then, especially for tall people.