As we reflect on the cast of “Bonanza,” it is poignant to note that all the main actors have since passed away, each leaving behind a unique legacy. Lorne Greene, who portrayed Ben Cartwright, was born on February 12, 1915, in Ottawa, Canada. He was 44 when he took on the iconic role and continued to act in various films and television shows until his death from pneumonia in 1987 at the age of 72.