Don Porter Movies or Tv Shows (upto Dec 2024) - Watch Online

Veteran actor Don Porter started his career in dramatic "B" films of the 40s, but would be fondly (and better) remembered for his beleaguered, buttoned-down bosses and dads on 50s and 60s TV sitcoms.The native Oklahoman Donald Cecil Porter was born on September 24, 1912. Following World War II service, he expressed an interest in acting and moved to Hollywood in 1939. That very same year, Universal Studios tested and signed the handsome, articulate, deep-voiced actor to a contract, making his debut in the smallish role of a doctor in Mystery of the White Room (1939). He continued rather indiscriminately as a featured player of such second-string studio fare as Sing for Your Supper (1941), Top Sergeant (1942), L'escadrille des aigles (1942), Night Monster (1942) with Bela Lugosi, Les yeux des bas-fonds (1942) and the Abbott and Costello comic mystery Deux nigauds détectives (1942).Don progressed to romantic film co-star with the dramatic films Madame Spy (1942) opposite Constance Bennett; Danger Woman (1946) with Brenda Joyce and Patricia Morison; Wild Beauty (1946) co-starring Lois Collier and Jacqueline deWit and, his best-remembered, She-Wolf of London (1946) with lovely June Lockhart as his fiancée who fears she may be the title character.Unable to advance to "A" quality features, Don's movie career lost traction. After a featured part in another A&C comedy Deux nigauds démobilisés (1947), he became a freelancing agent and appeared as a secondary presence in My Friend Irma Goes West (1950), 711 Ocean Drive (1950), La folie de l'or (1952) Le fils de Géronimo (1952) and Le cran d'arrêt (1952).In 1953, Don made a strategic turn to light, superficial comedy on the small screen. He hit pay dirt co-starring as Ann Sothern's exasperated talent agent boss in the delightful five-season sitcom Private Secretary (1953). Their chemistry proved so winning that he would segue into her next TV series The Ann Sothern Show (1958), becoming her hotel boss into the second season. This show lasted three seasons.With this TV success, Don returned to films in a lighter vein with featured parts in such films as Our Miss Brooks (1956), Une femme de tête (1957), and L'Américaine et l'amour (1961). Don's forte remained in breezy, cheeky comedy and, in the mid-1960's, he was most fittingly cast as young teen Sally Field's bemused dad on the Gidget (1965) comedy series. He had already played Gidget's father, professor Russell Lawrence, earlier in the movie Gidget Goes to Rome (1963).After the series' one-season demise in 1966, a few minor movies came Don's way, although hardly challenging. He appeared in such forgettable film fodder as the Elvis Presley musical vehicle Live a Little, Love a Little (1968); the mild, romantic comedy based on the hit Broadway play 40 Carats (1973) starring Liv Ullmann; and as the stuck-up Mr. Upson in the musical misfire Mame (1974) starring Lucille Ball. One exception was the Robert Redford starrer Votez Mc Kay (1972) in which he ably portrayed a martinet Republican senatorial incumbent.Don was a highly appealing and durable actor who, especially on TV, could conceal shady intentions behind a ready smile and personable demeanor. Into the 1970's and 80's, he enhanced a number of light and heavy TV programs including "Love, American Style," "Green Acres," "Banacek," "The Rookies," "The New Perry Mason," "Here's Lucy," "The Mod Squad," "The Bionic Woman," "MacMillan & Wife," "Three's Company," "Vega$," "Hawaii Five-0," "Phyllis," "Dallas" (recurring role), "Fantasy Island" and "Matlock."Long married to actress Peggy Converse, who was seven years his senior, the couple appeared frequently together on stage in such touring productions as "The Best Man," "Any Wednesday" and "Love and Kisses." He was the stepfather of Peggy's daughter Melissa Converse. Porter died at age 84 on February 11, 1997, in Beverly Hills. Peggy followed him four years later. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net

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