From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Dan Blocker Born Bobby Dan Davis Blocker December 10, 1928 DeKalb, Bowie County, Texas, U.S. Died May 13, 1972 (aged 43) Occupation Actor Years active 1957–72 Bobby Dan Davis Blocker (December 10, 1928 – May 13, 1972) was an American television actor and Korean War veteran. He is best remembered for his role as Hoss Cartwright in the NBC Western television series Bonanza, cl.