Cooper was recognized as the fastest
draw in the Rangers. [In "Meanwhile Back at the Reservation", a group
of gunfighters is dividing up the town. One of them claims he’d like
to try Cooper. He’s warned, “Not on your best day, Charlie.” When
he insists, Charlie’s asked, “Want one of us to call his name so you can
get a better look at his back?”] In the first season, Chad sported
a cross-draw, wearing his revolver backwards on his left hip like Billy
the Kid. Peter Brown thought it would be an interesting difference
from the standard draw he used in Lawman. However, although
known as one of the best gun handlers in TV westerns, Peter never mastered
the cross draw. So we never see him draw his gun during Laredo's
first year, although he did a very fancy spin in returning it to the holster.
The second year he returned to the standard draw.
Chad was a New Orleans man with a background
that gave him some expertise in fencing, boxing, literature and fine manners.
He didn’t bother with a Southern accent in every show, usually just bringing
it out to impress the ladies. He was almost always partnered up with
Joe. Even when the three Rangers went out together, it was
was usually Chad and Joe manipulating or mocking Reese.
In the second season, Erik Hunter was added
to Company B. He gave Chad competition in every way, with women,
scheming, fast talking, manipulation, etc. Erik also gave Chad someone
he could talk to without dumbing down his vocabulary so they were occasionally
paired off on Ranger assignments.
