Update How Did Adam Leave Bonanza?

You’re right to be curious about Adam Cartwright’s exit from Bonanza. It’s a bit of a mystery!

Pernell Roberts, the actor who played Adam, had a six-year contract, and when it was up, he decided to move on to other projects. To write him out of the show, the writers gave Adam a simple explanation: he moved away.

Now, this “moving away” was a bit vague, which is probably why it’s stuck in our minds. Some episodes hinted that Adam was at sea, while others suggested he’d gone to Europe or even moved to the East Coast to handle family business. It seems like they tried to keep it open-ended, so viewers could imagine where Adam went.

We can’t help but wonder what Adam got up to! Was he a sea captain, a European adventurer, or a businessman in the big city? Maybe he just wanted a change of pace. Whatever his reason, it’s clear that Adam’s departure left a mark on Bonanza. He was a beloved character, and his absence was felt throughout the show’s later seasons.

It’s interesting to note that Pernell Roberts didn’t want to be typecast as Adam, and he felt the character was becoming too similar to his father in the show, Ben Cartwright. He wanted to try different roles, which is totally understandable! That’s why he chose not to renew his contract. So, although we might not have gotten a definitive answer about Adam’s whereabouts, it’s good to remember that Pernell Roberts had his own aspirations beyond Bonanza.