In 1968, television was getting weird. Irwin Allen, the "Master of Disaster," had already conquered the depths of the ocean and the vacuum of space, but then he decided to shrink a bunch of people and throw them into a world of oversized props. Land of the Giants was ridiculously expensive—roughly $250,000 per episode, which was astronomical for the time. People tuned in for the special effects, sure, but they stayed for the chemistry of the crew.
The show followed the passengers and crew of the sub-orbital flight Spindrift. On their way to London, they hit a space warp and crash-landed on a planet where everything was twelve times the size of Earth. It sounds like a simple premise. Honestly, it was. But the actors had to do a lot of heavy lifting (sometimes literally, with giant oversized phones and safety pins) to make that premise feel like more than just a gimmick.
The Captain at the Helm: Gary Conway as Steve Burton
Gary Conway wasn't just a face; he was the glue. As Captain Steve Burton, he had to play the straight man in a world that was constantly trying to eat him or step on him. Conway already had a following from Burke's Law, but this was different. He was the quintessential 60s leading man—strong jaw, authoritative voice, and a relentless need to keep his passengers alive.
He didn't just act; he wrote scripts too. That’s something most people don't realize about Conway. He was deeply invested in the creative process. After the show ended, he didn't just fade away into the Hollywood sunset. He became a successful artist and a winemaker. His estate, Carmody McKnight, is actually quite famous in the Central Coast of California. He’s a guy who moved from the "Land of the Giants" to the land of viticulture, proving there was a lot more depth to him than just dodging giant cats.
Don Marshall: Breaking Barriers as Dan Erickson
Don Marshall played Dan Erickson, the co-pilot. This was a bigger deal than people give it credit for today. In the late 60s, seeing a Black man in a position of authority and technical expertise—not as a "sidekick" but as a professional—was vital. Marshall brought a quiet, focused intensity to the role. He wasn't there for comic relief. He was there to fly the ship and solve problems.
Marshall often spoke about how Irwin Allen treated the cast. It was a physical show. They were constantly harnessed up, swinging from giant ropes, or running through oversized grass that was actually shredded plastic or tall weeds. It was grueling. Marshall stayed active in the fan community for decades until he passed away in 2016. He always seemed to appreciate that Dan Erickson was a character defined by his competence, not his race.
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The Antagonist Within: Kurt Kasznar as Alexander Fitzhugh
Every great show needs a wild card. Kurt Kasznar was that card. Playing Commander Alexander Fitzhugh, he was the guy you loved to hate but also kind of felt sorry for. He was a thief, a coward, and a self-serving opportunist who happened to be stuck with a group of heroes. Kasznar was a seasoned Broadway actor, and it showed. He chewed the scenery—sometimes quite literally when they were hiding in giant food containers.
Kasznar’s Fitzhugh provided the friction. Without him, the crew would have been too perfect. He was the one who would jeopardize a mission for a bag of "giant" gold coins. His chemistry with the younger cast members, particularly Stefan Arngrim, gave the show its heart. Sadly, Kasznar passed away in 1979, but his performance remains the most nuanced of the series. He made cowardice look like an art form.
The Rest of the Spindrift Survivors
You had a diverse mix of personalities on that ship.
- Heather Young (Betty Hamilton): She was the flight attendant who often had to play the damsel, but she had moments of genuine grit. Young had a great singing voice, which the show occasionally exploited. She eventually stepped away from acting to focus on her family, which is a common theme with this cast.
- Stefan Arngrim (Barry Lockridge): The kid. Usually, "the kid" on a sci-fi show is annoying. Think Wesley Crusher but 20 years earlier. But Barry was different. He had a bond with Fitzhugh that was genuinely sweet. Arngrim is still very much involved in the industry today, often appearing at conventions and talking about the surreal experience of growing up on a set where the grass was taller than him.
- Deanna Lund (Valerie Scott): The socialite. Her character started out a bit spoiled, but the "giant" world forced her to toughen up. Lund was a firecracker. Off-screen, she was briefly engaged to her co-star Don Matheson.
- Don Matheson (Mark Wilson): The hot-headed tycoon. Matheson’s character often clashed with Captain Burton. He represented the "arrogance of man" that sci-fi loves to deconstruct. Matheson and Deanna Lund actually did get married in real life after the show, though they later divorced. They remained close friends until his death in 2014.
Why the Land of the Giants Cast Faced Such a Struggle
Working on this show was a nightmare of logistics. Imagine spending 12 hours a day on a set where everything is designed to make you look small. It messes with your perspective. The actors weren't just reciting lines; they were performing stunts that would require a team of doubles today. They were frequently covered in dirt, soaked in water, or dangling from wires.
The budget was so high that the pressure to perform was intense. Irwin Allen was a taskmaster. He wanted spectacle. If that meant the actors had to spend all day inside a giant trash can, so be it. This shared "trauma" of difficult filming conditions created a bond between the land of the giants cast that lasted for fifty years. You don't see that with many modern shows. They were a family because they had to be.
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The Legacy of the Oversized World
So, why do we still care?
It's not just nostalgia. The show tapped into a primal fear—being small in a world that doesn't notice you. The cast sold that fear. When they looked up in "terror" at a common house cat, you believed them because their performances weren't wink-and-nod. They played it straight.
The show was canceled after two seasons, mostly because the production costs were simply unsustainable. It wasn't because of the ratings; people were watching. It was just too expensive to keep building giant scissors and oversized telephone cords. But in those 51 episodes, the cast created a definitive piece of 1960s kitsch that actually has some pretty solid acting if you look past the bright jumpsuits.
What You Should Do If You're a Fan Today
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of the Spindrift crew, there are a few things you should actually do rather than just scrolling through IMDb.
First, check out the interviews on the DVD box sets. Unlike many older shows where the actors felt "above" the material, the Giants cast genuinely loved their fans. Their commentaries are full of stories about the physical hazards of the set and the pranks they played on each other to stay sane.
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Second, look for Stefan Arngrim’s social media presence and convention appearances. He is a wealth of knowledge regarding the technical side of how they filmed those "giant" sequences before CGI existed. He often shares behind-the-scenes photos that haven't been widely circulated.
Third, if you're into film history, research Irwin Allen's production notes. Understanding how he managed the cast while juggling the massive technical requirements of the show gives you a lot of respect for what Gary Conway and the others were actually dealing with on a daily basis.
Finally, keep an eye on the autograph circuit. While many of the original cast members have passed away, the survivors and the estates often participate in events that celebrate the show’s legacy. It’s a small, tight-knit community, much like the crew of the Spindrift themselves.
The land of the giants cast wasn't just a group of actors in a weird sci-fi show; they were pioneers of a specific kind of physical, effects-driven television that paved the way for the blockbusters we see today. They made the impossible look dangerous, and they did it all while wearing velour. That’s worth remembering.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
- Locate the 50th Anniversary Soundtrack: The music by John Williams (yes, that John Williams) is a masterpiece of TV scoring. It’s worth a listen to hear how he created tension for the "little people."
- Visit the Museum of Television: Many of the original props, including the oversized hand and the Spindrift model, occasionally go on tour or appear in specialized exhibits.
- Track Down the Comic Books: Gold Key Comics produced a series during the show's run. They offer some "lost episodes" that the cast never got to film, providing a glimpse into where the show might have gone in a third season.