Brinegar died 30 years after the last season. He had suffered from a chronic lung disease known as emphysema.

Born on December 19, 1917, in Tucumcari, New Mexico, Paul Alden Brinegar had a prosperous career in television and motion pictures.

The veteran actor already showed an interest in acting when he was in high school. Paul later learned drama, literature, and art at the Pasadena Junior College. He subsequently kick-started a 48-year acting career.

His career, centered around western movies and television shows, and became the delight of fans.

Having appeared in 226 episodes of “Rawhide,” he made guest star appearances in over 200 times for T.V. series, movies, music videos, and commercials.

He also featured in 51 episodes of the T.V. series “Lancer,” and several episodes in “Matt Houston” and “Wyatt Earp.” He became notable after his feature on “Wyatt Earp.”

Brinegar lived a private life with his wife Shirley Talbott and their sons, Paul III and Mark.

Brinegar became well-known for portraying a grizzled sidekick, often playing characters much older than his actual age. Despite being under 50 in real life, he convincingly took on the role of a 65-year-old man alongside the main protagonist.

At the age of 32, Brinegar noticed his hair beginning to turn grey and the onset of baldness, along with emerging facial wrinkles. These characteristics, which might have seemed like drawbacks, turned out to be assets that significantly boosted his on-screen career.

Earlier in his life, Brinegar explored various career paths before fully committing to acting. During World War II, he served as a chief radioman in the U.S. Navy. After the war, he took up radio repair as a part-time job while pursuing acting roles in his spare time.

Brinegar’s break came when he teamed up with producer Charles Marquin Warren for the western movie “Cattle Empire.” Impressed by Brinegar’s talent, Warren, who also produced the television series “Rawhide,” believed Brinegar would be perfect for the role of the camp cook in the series.

Brinegar’s later years were as busy as his beginnings. He received the Golden Boot Award at a ceremony in Beverly Hills, recognizing his contributions to promoting Westerns on television and in movies.

He lived a private life with his wife, Shirley Talbott, and their sons, Paul III and Mark. Brinegar was an honorary sheriff and fire chief of Granada Hills.

In 1994, a year before his passing, he appeared in the movie “Maverick,” starring Mel Gibson and James Garner, alongside many other Western character actors.

Following his death, his family requested that any memorial contributions be sent to the Motion Picture and Television Fund in Woodland Hills. Brinegar passed away at the age of 77.