TV series
Josh Randall: Bounty Hunter
Wanted: Dead or Alive is an American Western television series starring Steve McQueen as the bounty hunter Josh Randall. It aired on CBS for three seasons from 1958–61. The black-and-white program was a spin-off of a March 1958 episode of Trackdown, a 1957–59 western series starring Robert Culp. Both series were produced by Four Star Television in association with CBS Television. The series launched McQueen into becoming the first television star to cross over into comparable status on the big screen.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Wanted: Dead or Alive is available to stream on DirecTV On Demand, Philo, STARZ, STARZ (Via Amazon Prime), STARZ (Via Hulu), Spectrum On Demand, Plex, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and Tubi in United States. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Wanted: Dead or Alive is an American Western television series starring Steve McQueen as the bounty hunter Josh Randall. It aired on CBS for three seasons from 1958–61. The black-and-white program was a spin-off of a March 1958 episode of Trackdown, a 1957–59 western series starring Robert Culp. Both series were produced by Four Star Television in association with CBS Television. The series launched McQueen into becoming the first television star to cross over into comparable status on the big screen.
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Episode 1
Daniel Trenner is wanted for court martial because of his cowardice several men is his platoon lost their lives. Josh is after Trenner for other reasons and wants to stop the trial.
Directed by Harry HarrisWritten by Ed AdamsonGuest stars John Pickard, Paul Burke, James Coburn
Episode 2
Emily Kendrick hires Josh to keep her beloved Harry from drinking himself to death, she has matrimony on her mind and with the arrival of Harry's brother for the wedding, she wants to make sure that all goes as planned.
Directed by Gene ReynoldsWritten by Ed AdamsonGuest stars Chuck Hayward, Harold J. Stone
Episode 3
Josh is delivering a female prisoner and becomes smitten with her, unknown to him is her accomplice, who is following them to break her loose.
Directed by Harry HarrisWritten by Ed AdamsonGuest stars Jason Wingreen, Lisa Gaye, Orville Sherman
Episode 4
Josh is on his way to River City to pick up three prisoners, when an unexpected tornado destroys the jail, killing the sheriff. Josh is on the hunt to recapture the escapees.
Directed by Harry HarrisGuest stars Dennis Patrick, Gloria Blondell, Tom Gilson, Dave Willock
Episode 5
Josh allows an Eastern newspaper reporter to go with him on a manhunt for a story.
Directed by Richard DonnerGuest stars Mary Tyler Moore, Jim Hayward
Episode 6
Johnny Haywood, a childhood friend of Josh's claims to be innocent of the crime he is accused of. When he escapes, Josh is ordered to bring him back - dead or alive.
Written by Ed AdamsonGuest stars Robert B. Williams, Tom Drake
Episode 7
Josh captures a notorious killer but no one wants to testify against him, until a surprise witness come forward, his mother.
Written by Ed AdamsonGuest stars Argentina Brunetti, Bill Quinn
Episode 8
Josh is hired by the men of the town to try and persuade the ladies to return to their homes after rebelling against their husbands gunplay.
Written by Ed AdamsonGuest stars Suzanne Storrs, Richard Farnsworth, Frank Albertson
Episode 9
When Josh brings in the wrong man mistakenly and after his release he finds the real criminal notifying Josh of the mans whereabouts.
Guest stars John Craven, Mark Rydell, Vaughn Taylor
Episode 10
Josh and a phony medicine man help out a man who was framed and falsely accused of the theft of a huge sum of money.
Directed by Richard DonnerGuest stars Cloris Leachman, J. Pat O'Malley, John Baer, Ted de Corsia, Ben Morris
Episode 11
Josh is hired by Beth a widow, to find her runaway son, who is currently in the care of her vindictive mother-in-law.
Directed by Harry HarrisGuest stars Betty Lou Gerson, Joyce Meadows
Episode 12
Jane Koster asks Josh's help with her husband, Frank who is also a bounty hunter. He is out looking for Stacy Lenz with a score to settle and Jane fears for his life.
Directed by Harry HarrisGuest stars Chuck Hayward, Dick Foran
Episode 13
Josh with prisoner Tom Fellows in tow, stops in the town of Center City overnight, unaware that one of Tom's cohorts is devising a plan to free him.
Guest stars Terry Becker, Harry Landers, Richard Anderson, Dee Pollock, Gloria Talbott, Kasey Rogers
Episode 14
Esperanza is not in love with the notorious Guerra and loves another but is too frightened to tell him because he kills any man who looks at her twice. Josh tries to reason with Guerra.
Directed by Harry HarrisGuest stars Victor Millan, Jeanette Nolan, Julia Montoya
Episode 15
Josh is hired to find Baa-Baa a beloved pet of Mrs. Goode's. Her husband is desperate to find Baa-Baa as he is in the dog house with her until Baa-Baa returns. Josh reluctantly goes and looks for the lost sheep admist much ridicule from other ranchers and cowboys alike.
Directed by Harry HarrisGuest stars Wally Brown, Robert Easton, Dave Willock
Episode 16
Sarah Lawton's identification led to killer Clem Robinson's conviction. Now Clem has escaped from prison, and Josh is hired for protection by Mrs. Lawton because her lawyer husband is a coward.
Directed by Richard DonnerGuest stars William Hudson, Constance Ford, Ross Elliott, Warren Oates
Episode 17
Josh is asked to meet a client at the hotel, at his arrival he is shot. Josh tries to figure out who is behind the shooting.
Directed by Richard DonnerWritten by Ed AdamsonGuest stars Rhys Williams, Jean Allison, Jay Adler
Episode 18
Josh is hired by Harry Weaver to find his twin brother Pete. Pete is using his resemblence to his brother to get away with murder.
Directed by Harry Harris
Episode 19
Josh has to find his friend a Sheriff guilty of robbing a bank for a woman. Several other bounty hunters are out looking for the sheriff as well, Josh has to get there first.
Directed by Harry HarrisGuest stars Richard Anderson, James Drake
Episode 20
Josh is hired by Frank Hagen to protect his deaf-mute daughter Carol Hagen while he's away on business. During Josh's stay at the Hagen Farm, he encounters a strange drifter and former bank robber named Harry Brice accompanied by his criminal partners.
Directed by Richard DonnerWritten by Ed AdamsonGuest stars Roy Barcroft
Episode 21
A timid photographer named Archie Warner comes west with hopes of being the first to shoot a photo of a famous Mexican bandit. Josh happens to be a friend of 'El Gato', and is hired by Archie to met him.
Written by Ed AdamsonGuest stars Noah Beery Jr., Roberto Contreras, Steven Marlo, Olan Soule
Episode 22
Martin Fairweather has two lovely daughters which are the objects of a young man's affection. Papa doesn't want to lose his best cook and best cleaner so he proceeds to chase any possible suitors away. Josh's job is to distract Papa long enough for the girls to elope!
Guest stars Howard Morris, Byron Foulger, Howard Smith, Melinda Casey
Episode 23
Overridden with guilt Charlie Glover hires Josh to help him return the money he stole from his employer. Complications arise when the head head of operations, Sam Vickers finds out.
Written by Ed AdamsonGuest stars Bill Quinn
Episode 24
Yoshika Nakamura comes west to find a man named Bill Timmons who promised to marry her when he visited Japan. Yoshika hires Josh to help her locate Timmons, and during his venture learns about Japanese culture.
Guest stars Stanley Clements, Dale Ishimoto, Lynette Bernay
Episode 25
Paul Decker is wanted for murder. His wife asks Josh to find her husband and bring him back alive before the Taggert brothers catch up with him for murdering their brother.
Written by Ed AdamsonGuest stars Jimmy Lydon, Chuck Hayward
Episode 26
Josh stops at his friend Barney's to get horses for his two prisoners, they manager to escape, leaving Josh and Barney to get them back for the reward.
Directed by Richard DonnerWritten by Ed AdamsonGuest stars Jonathan Bolt, Noah Beery Jr., Bill Quinn
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Steve McQueenJosh Randall
Frank SullyTownsman (uncredited)
James BestStoner
James BurkeSheriff Blore
Robert J. WilkeVirgil
Dabbs GreerBartender
Steve BrodieJed Miller
Gloria TalbottJody Sykes
CBSUnited States
CBSUnited States
