By Jane Nambi

Dale Robertson has died at the age of 89.

Robertson’s death was announced by his niece, Nancy Robertson who said her uncle died at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, Calif., following a brief illness.

Dale Robertson, an Oklahoma native who became a star of television and movie Westerns during the genre’s heyday, died Tuesday. He was 89.
She said he would want to be remembered as a father, a grandfather and an Oklahoman. “He came back a lot when he was in Hollywood, and he came back (to Oklahoma) after retiring,” she said. “I remember him as a larger-than-life fellow. When he was in town it was always very exciting. It always meant something magical was going to happen,” she added.

Robertson appeared in several movies including “The Boy with the Green Hair” and the Joan Crawford vehicle “Flamingo Road” before landing more high-profile roles such as Jesse James in “Fighting Man of the Plains.”

In the 1950s, he moved into television, starring in series such as “Tales of Wells Fargo” (1957-62), “Iron Horse” (1966) and “Death Valley Days” (1968-70). He retired in 1993 after appearing in ‘Harts of the West’ as Zeke.

Born Dayle Lymoine Robertson to Melvin and Vervel Robertson in Harrah, on July 14, 1923. Robertson received the Golden Boot Award in 1985, and was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers and the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.

He was married several times, most recently in 1980 to Susan Robbins, who survives him along with two children.

Nancy Robertson said her uncle will be cremated and that a memorial service will be held in a few weeks.