‘Sugarfoot’ Star Will Hutchins Dead at 94

Will Hutchins, the actor best known for playing the lead role in the 1950s ABC western Sugarfoot, died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 94. His death marks the passing of one of the last surviving stars from television’s golden era of Westerns.

Born in Los Angeles in 1930, Hutchins began acting in the mid-1950s. He gained widespread fame with Sugarfoot, which aired from 1957 to 1961. In the series, he portrayed Tom Brewster, a mild-mannered law student who often avoided violence but always stood up for justice. The character’s soft-spoken nature and wit set him apart from the tougher, more rugged cowboys on TV at the time.

Sugarfoot became one of ABC’s most popular westerns and helped launch Hutchins into stardom. His boyish charm, comedic timing, and easygoing screen presence made him a favorite with viewers. He continued to appear on television throughout the 1960s, including guest roles in shows like Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, and The Twilight Zone.

In addition to television, Hutchins also acted in several films. Notable credits include Claudelle Inglish, Merrill’s Marauders, and Spinout, where he starred alongside Elvis Presley. While his movie career never reached the same level of success as his television work, he remained a respected figure in the industry.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Hutchins scaled back his acting roles but stayed active in Hollywood circles. He occasionally appeared at Western fan conventions, where he signed autographs and shared stories from his career. He was known for his sense of humor, humility, and deep appreciation for his fans.

Hutchins often spoke about how grateful he was to play a character like Tom Brewster, noting that Sugarfoot gave him a platform to portray a different kind of cowboy—one who solved problems with brains and kindness instead of violence. “I liked that Tom wasn’t a gunslinger,” he once said. “He was a thinking man’s cowboy, and I think that gave him staying power.”

In his later years, Hutchins wrote essays and reflections on classic Hollywood, sharing memories of working with Warner Bros. and stories about his fellow actors. He lived quietly with his family and stayed out of the spotlight, but remained proud of his contributions to television history.

Following news of his death, fans and film historians posted tributes celebrating his life and work. Many credited Hutchins with helping to shape the tone of early television Westerns by bringing humor, heart, and a new kind of hero to the screen.

Will Hutchins is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren. The family has requested privacy but expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from fans around the world.

With his passing, Hollywood loses another important figure from a foundational era of American television. Hutchins’s legacy endures through reruns, archives, and the lasting impression of Sugarfoot, a show that redefined what it meant to be a cowboy on TV.