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‘Bonanza’ Star Dan Blocker Leased a Home in Switzerland, Sent His Kids to School There

Actor Dan Blocker was a native Texan and a star of “Bonanza.”

The series was one of the most beloved American television shows of its time and it remains popular to this day. However, when it came to the education of his children, the actor decided to look beyond the borders of the United States.

In doing so, he once said, he was giving his children a chance for a cultural experience they could not have had in their home country.

Blocker talked about this, and much more, during a 1971 interview with Bobbie Wygant. Sadly, the actor would pass away the following year on May 13, 1972. He was only 43 years old at the time of his death.

It was Wygant who brought up the topic of Europe during the interview.

“One of the things I know about you Dan, and it’s new to you since we last talked, and that is that you have now a home in Switzerland,” Wygant said.

Blocker then shared a few details about the time he spent in that European country and where he lived.

“Well, we leased a house there for two years so the kids could go to school there without having to board,” the “Bonanza” star clarified. “We didn’t want them to … They didn’t want to board and we didn’t want them to.”

The actor then went on to say that he felt it was important for his children to study, and live, abroad. By doing so, they would be able to experience what it is like to live in another culture.

“We wanted them to have that experience, that cultural experience,” he said. “The only way we could do that, without sending them over there in a boarding school, was to lease a house, which we did.”

You can watch Bobbie Wygant interview Dan Blocker about “Bonanza” and more below. The actor’s comments about the education of his children begin around the two-minute mark of the video.

‘Bonanza’ Dan Blocker Star Earned Master’s Degree, Planned to Pursue Doctorate Before Acting Career Took Off

Education must have been important to “Bonanza” star Dan Blocker. In addition to leasing a home in Switzerland so his children could go to school there, the actor also invested in his own education.

Blocker earned his bachelor’s degree from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Interestingly, he went to the school to play football. However, while there he fell in love with acting and eventually quit the sport.

After completing his undergraduate degree at the school, Blocker served in the United States Army during the Korean War. After his service ended, he earned his master’s degree. Blocker would later move to California with the intention of getting a doctorate. However, as fate would have it, “Bonanza” came calling and he focused on acting until his death.