Biography

George Earl Ferrante (December 11, 1942 - October 18, 2015), also known as Brand Stirling, was an American rancher and child actor. He started his acting career as a stunt rider playing Alfred "Al" McGrath in the first two seasons of the Disney serial Spin and Marty (1955 -1956). Ferrante was the only real cowboy of all the boys at the fictional Triple R Ranch. He performed stunts for other boys and helped teach the other young actors to ride, rope, and handle horses. He also played Tom Foster in the Disney film Westward Ho The Wagons. Ferrante owned and operated the Ferrante Ranch in Somis, California for over 40 years with his wife Katie and later daughters Kimmy and Josie, carrying on a family ranching tradition.