Who was Grizzly Adams? I have been called that after not shaving for a few days, but who is this Adams fellow? Did he exist? Did someone just make the name up? Well here is what I found out.

Grizzly Adams is the main character from The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, a 1974 film. Produced by Sunn Classic Pictures, the movie spawned a television series of the same name in 1977. The title character was loosely based on an actual trapper, James/John Capen “Grizzly” Adams.

Grizzly Adams is a woodsman who fled into the mountains when he was wrongly accused of murder. While struggling to survive, Adams discovers an orphaned grizzly bear cub whom he takes in and calls Ben. The bear, despite his huge adult size, becomes Adams’ closest companion. Adams has an uncanny link to most of the indigenous wildlife of the region, who have no fear of him. In return, he resolves never to harm another animal whenever possible.

Dan Haggerty portrayed Grizzly Adams in the initial movie and series, as well as in the 1982 follow up.