Oh, the crush I had on Will in the Land of the Lost. There was an episode where he and his sister, Holly, were swimming. Did I love that episode! Handsome, with luxurious 1970s hair, Wesley Eure was adorable. I’m sure he was the primary reason I watched that Saturday morning camp program, and certainly not because of great acting, fine writing, or stellar special effects. Green screens and toys made up most of the Land of the Lost world.
To be fair, there was adventure, and even spirituality. More than once, a quick reference to Christian tradition was made, and a civilization in the storyline had a god that lived in a pit. Sacrifices were often made to the god, but the Marshall family escaped its wrath a couple of times. There were life lessons (usually for the kids) such as the importance of teamwork, kindness, caring about others, and giving people (or beings) a warm welcome. Today, the show could be called Land of Lost Values.
Wesley Eure, born August 17, 1951, is an American actor, singer, author, producer, and director. He gained widespread recognition for his role as Michael Horton on the soap opera Days of Our Lives (1974-1981) and for me, as Will Marshall in the television series Land of the Lost (1974-1976). Eure also co-created the popular children’s educational show Dragon Tales. Eure’s career also includes hosting the game show Finders Keepers, directing plays, and publishing several books.
In the 1970s, Eure had a romantic relationship with actor Richard Chamberlain, which lasted for about a year. During that era, it was common for gay actors to keep their relationships private due to industry pressures. Eure has spoken candidly about the challenges of being a closeted actor at the time and the fear of being outed by tabloids. Their relationship ended before Chamberlain met his long-term partner, Martin Rabbett. There were lots of handsome men on television, but why did Eure stick out for me? Because I knew there was something about him that was like me. I clocked him at 8 years old. Gaydar was activated early for me, showing that LGBTQ+ are gifted with their special, queer lives, and we are blessed with the tools we need to thrive if only we are allowed to do so.
