William F. Claxton

An American director, William F. Claxton was best known for his work on the television series "Bonanza" and "Little House on the Prairie." Claxton started out in show business as a film editor during the 1940s, and transitioned into directing by the late '40s. After helming a number of films in the adventure/Western vein, including "Fangs of the Wild" and "The Quiet Gun," Claxton began directing episodes of TV shows such as "Yancy Derringer," "Perry Mason," and "The Twilight Zone." From the early '60s to the early '70s, Claxton directed more than 50 episodes of the popular Western show "Bonanza," and, beginning in '74, he helmed more than 65 episodes of the beloved period drama series "Little House on the Prairie." During the '80s, he also directed episodes of "Father Murphy," starring "Little House" alum Merlin Olsen, as well as the popular drama "Fame." Claxton died in '96, but not before revisiting "Bonanza," directing the TV movie "Bonanza: The Next Generation" in '88.