 Around the same time, Drury landed the top-billed leading role of the ranch foreman on "The Virginian", a lavish series that ran for nine seasons until 1971.Drury was put under a 7-year contract with Universal in 1962 and was the front runner for the role, but he still had to audition three separate times and was required to lose 30 pounds in 30 days in order to secure the part.Drury reported that he had based his performance of The Virginian on character elements of his maternal grandfather, with whom had had spent much of his childhood.