In 2017 Crawford told Cowboys & Indians Magazine that Connors “treated me like an adult when we were working. He made it much easier than it might have been. He was a lot of fun.” When it ended, however, not only was Crawford a big star as an actor, he was also a chart-topping singer.

Even during his busy days as an actor, Crawford set his sights on the music industry. In 1961 he signed a contract with popular label, Del-Fi Records. In between acting, he recorded dozens of pop songs. Eight of his songs would chart the Billboard Hot 100, most notably “Cindy’s Birthday” and “Rumors,” per Eric Records. It was the same label responsible for creating Ritchie Valens. But it was Crawford who would score the most hit singles for the label.

When “The Rifleman” ended, Crawford continued to act in other series and films. At the end of the ’60s, he joined and served in the Army. Once he was discharged, he returned to acting full time and took on small roles throughout the years. He also continued his music career, leading the Johnny Crawford Dance Orchestra in the 1990s, says The Hollywood Reporter. He retired in 2019, the year he announced that he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Samco, his high school sweetheart whom he married in 1995, and his brother.