- Don Porter
-
Don Porter 
as Russell Lawrence in the 1965 television series GidgetBorn September 24, 1912
Miami, Oklahoma, U.S.Died February 11, 1997 (aged 84)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.Other names Donald Porter Occupation Actor Years active 1939 – 1988 Spouse Peggy Converse (m. 1944–1997) Donald Porter (September 24, 1912 – February 11, 1997) was an American actor who appeared in a number of films in the 1940s, including Top Sergeant and Eagle Squadron, but is perhaps best known for his role as Russell Lawrence, the widowed father of 15-year old Frances "Gidget" Lawrence (Sally Field) in the 1965 ABC television series Gidget.
Contents
Career
Born in Miami, Oklahoma,[1] Porter began his acting career in the late 1930s. He appeared in various film in the 1940s before landing the role of Peter Sands, the boss of Susan Camille MacNamara (Ann Sothern) on the 1950s situation comedy Private Secretary. A retooled version of the series appeared later, titled The Ann Sothern Show. It featured many of the same actors, including Porter, in the venue of a fashionable New York City hotel. He later guest starred on episodes of Green Acres, Love, American Style, The Mod Squad, Barnaby Jones, The Six Million Dollar Man, Hawaii Five-O, Three's Company, on which he played John Ritter's uncle, and Switch. Porter also had roles in the television film The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975).
Porter also appeared in numerous films including The Turning Point (1952), Our Miss Brooks (1956), Gidget Goes to Rome (playing Russell Lawrence two years prior to repeating the role in the series), and the 1974 film adaptation of Mame with Lucille Ball and Bea Arthur. Porter made his last onscreen appearance in a 1988 episode of CBS Summer Playhouse.
Personal life and death
Porter was married to actress Peggy Converse with whom he had two children. He died at the age of eighty-four at his home in Beverly Hills, California on February 11, 1997.[2]
Selected filmography
Film Year Film Role Notes 1939 Mystery of the White Room Dr. Donald Fox 1941 Sing for Your Supper Tim Uncredited 1942 Who Done It? Art Fraser 1943 Keep 'Em Slugging Jerry 1944 Resisting Enemy Interrogation Lieutenant Frank L. Williams, Jr. Uncredited 1946 She-Wolf of London Barry Lanfield Alternative title: The Curse of the Allenbys Cuban Pete Roberts Alternative title: Down Cuba Way 1947 Buck Privates Come Home Capt. Christie Alternative title: Rookies Come Home 1950 My Friend Irma Goes West Mr. Brent 1951 The Racket R.G. Connolly 1952 Because You're Mine Captain Burton Nordell Loring The Savage Running Dog Credited as Donald Porter 1957 Desk Set Elevator operator Don Uncredited
Alternative title: His Other Woman1961 Bachelor in Paradise Thomas W. Jynson 1964 Youngblood Hawke Ferdie Lax 1968 Live a Little, Love a Little Mike Lansdown 1972 The Candidate Senator Crocker Jarmon 1973 40 Carats Mr. Latham 1975 White Line Fever Cutler 1985 Joey Alternative title: Making Contact Television Year Title Role Notes 1953–1957 Private Secretary Peter Sands 103 episodes 1959–1961 The Ann Sothern Show James Devery 92 episodes 1965–1966 Gidget Professor Russell Lawrence 32 episodes 1969 Judd, for the Defense Frank Vinton 1 episode 1972 Cade's County Martin Russell 1 episode Banacek Arnold Leeland 1 episode The Rookies General Brooker 1 episode 1973 The New Adventures of Perry Mason Otis Temple 1 episode Tenafly Miles 1 episode 1974 Here's Lucy Ken Richards 1 episode The Six Million Dollar Man Dr. Stanley Bacon 1 episode Chase Miller 1 episode The F.B.I. Mason Hammond 1 episode 1975 Ellery Queen Gregory Layton 1 episode McMillan & Wife Adrian Danzinger 1 episode 1976–1977 The Bionic Woman Dr. James Courtney 3 episodes 1977 Three's Company Uncle Fremont 1 episode 1978 The Paper Chase Franklin Ford II 1 episode Vega$ Senator William Mitchell 1 episode Sword of Justice Judge Addams 1 episode 1980 Dallas Matt Devlin 4 episodes 1981 Fantasy Island Emmett Latham 1 episode 1983 Hotel Jonathan Corry 1 episode 1986 Matlock Professor Erskine Tate 1 episode Award nominations
Year Award Result Category Series 1974 Daytime Emmy Award Nominated Best Actor in Daytime Drama - For a Special Program The ABC Afternoon Playbreak References
- ^ Vosburgh, Dick (independent.co.uk). "Obituary: Don Porter". 1997-3-5. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-don-porter-1271124.html. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
- ^ "Don Porter, 84, Actor In Sitcoms and Films". The New York Times. 1997-02-24. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/24/arts/don-porter-84-actor-in-sitcoms-and-films.html. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
External links
Categories:- Actors from Oklahoma
- American film actors
- American television actors
- People from Ottawa County, Oklahoma
- 1912 births
- 1997 deaths
- United States Army Air Forces soldiers
- First Motion Picture Unit personnel
- American military personnel of World War II
- American screen actor, 1910s birth stubs
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