The Rifleman’s wife, Margaret Gibbs McCain, died before the events of the show. She passed away from an illness, leaving Lucas McCain a widower with their son, Mark McCain.
In the TV series “The Rifleman,” which aired from 1958 to 1963, the backstory of the main character Lucas McCain, played by Chuck Connors, includes the death of his wife. Margaret Gibbs McCain, Lucas’s wife, is not a character in the show, as she had already died of smallpox before the start of the series. This tragic event is a defining moment for Lucas, shaping his character as a single father raising their son, Mark McCain, in the New Mexico Territory of the 1880s.
Throughout the series, Lucas is portrayed as a caring and responsible father, often imparting moral lessons and wisdom to his son. The absence of Mark’s mother is occasionally referenced, highlighting the strong bond between father and son as they navigate life in the fictional town of North Fork. The show focuses on Lucas’s prowess with a modified Winchester rifle and his efforts to uphold justice, all while maintaining his role as a loving parent. The death of his wife is a poignant part of his backstory, contributing to the depth of his character and the themes of family and resilience in the face of hardship that are central to the series.