O'Rourke

"Mr. Cartwright, if he (Joe) gives you any more trouble just send for me."

- O'Rourke, meeting Joe's father Ben

O'Rourke was a supporting protagonist in the Bonanza episode Alias Joe Cartwright.

He was portrayed by Keenan Wynn.

Joining the United States Army as a young man, O'Rourke spent over 25 years in the army, and had reached the rank of Sargent.

Stationed near Virginia City, Nevada O'Rourke came to serve under the corrupt Captain Merced, who had been in league with the escaped Army prisoner Angus Borden.

Despite feeling duty bound to carry out Merced's orders, and not wanting to lose his Sargent's strips, O'Rourke came to believe that a captured Joe Cartwright was telling the truth, that he was not Borden and that the real Borden had stolen his identity.

O'Rourke managed to delay the firing squad long enough for Joe's father Ben to arrive with the real Borden in tow. Borden revealed Merced's crimes and how Merced had helped him escape from Fort Craig before he could be executed for killing another officer. After Merced was disarmed by Joe Cartwright, O'Rourke placed Merced under arrest for his numerous crimes.

Meeting Cartwright's father Ben, O'Rourke told Joe's father that if Joe gave him any further problems to send for him and he'd be glad to take care of him.