Classic TV Birthdays: February 15

UK actress Jane Seymour is first on today’s birthday list. The 63 year old Seymour appeared on a number of TV movies and miniseries, plus guested on 1970s classics Battlestar Galactica and McCloud. She is best known for her long-running role as Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

Sherry Jackson is 72 today. She played Danny Thomas’ daughter on Make Room for Daddy and later appeared on 77 Sunset Strip, Barnaby Jones and Batman. Also celebrating a birthday is TV personality Geoff Edwards (83). As an actor, he guested on I Dream of Jeannie and That Girl. Edwards went on to emcee game shows Jackpot! and The New Treasure Hunt, and later co-hosted a local Los Angeles daytime talk show with the late Meredith MacRae (Petticoat Junction).

There are a number of classic TV stars born on February 15 but since passed. The list includes Allan Arbus (M*A*S*H, Quincy M.E.), Mary Jane Croft (The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show, Here’s Lucy), Rusty Hamer (Make Room for Daddy), Harvey Korman (The Carol Burnett Show, The Harvey Korman Show) and Kevin McCarthy. The stage and film star guested on such TV classics as Burke’s Law, Flamingo Road, Hawaii Five-0 and The Rifleman. McCarthy may be best remembered for his role in the 1956 movie Invasion of The Body Snatchers.

Also born this day was film and TV star Cesar Romero. He starred in the mid-1950s adventure series Passport to Danger, later guesting on such shows as Daniel Boone, Fantasy Island and The Love Boat. Romero later had a recurring role on the primetime soap Falcon Crest, but most classic TV fans will always remember him as The Joker on the campy 1960s series Batman.

February 15 also marks the day we lost many classic TV friends, including singer Nat King Cole (The Nat King Cole Show), Walker Edmiston (best known as the voice of Ernie the Keebler Elf), composer Ray Evans (Bonanza, The Bugs Bunny Show), Tim Holt (Chevron Theatre, The Virginian), actress-singer Ethel Merman (Batman, The Lucy Show), stage-film-radio actress Jan Miner (played Palmolive spokeswoman Madge for nearly 3 decades), Tommy Rettig (Lassie), newsman Howard K. Smith (CBS News, ABC News) and McClean Stevenson. Stevenson starred on The Doris Day Show, Hello Larry and the short-lived McClean Stevenson Show. His biggest role was as Lt. Colonel Henry Blake on M*A*S*H.

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Wally Cox also died on this day. He starred in the 1950s comedy series Mr. Peepers, later guesting on Here’s Lucy and The Twilight Zone. He was also a frequent guest on the game show Hollywood Squares. His most enduring role? Cox was the voice of canine superhero Underdog!

Classic TV Birthdays: February 14

Although those born today have the Aquarius sign, we’ll start off our birthday list with a Scorpio. Actor Andrew Robinson turns 72 today and is best-known for his role as serial killer Scorpio in the classic Clint Eastwood movie Dirty Harry. Robinson also guested on TV classics Bonanza, Kung Fu and The Rookies. He later had roles on the daytime drama Ryan’s Hope and Star Trek: Deep Space 9.

Others celebrating Valentine’s Day birthdays: film and TV star Andrew Prine (appeared on Baretta, Dr. Kildare, Gunsmoke, The Virginian) is 78, Brady Bunch mom and former Wesson Oil spokeswoman Florence Henderson turns 80 and TV personality Hugh Downs is 93. Downs was the announcer for Jack Paar’s Tonight Show, longtime host of The Today Show and later the primetime newsmagazine 20/20. He also hosted the daytime game show Concentration, syndicated talk show Not for Women Only and the PBS senior series Over Easy. Quite an impressive career!

Today was also the birthday of many classic TV friends who are no longer with us, including Mel Allen (longtime New York Yankees announcer, host of This Week in Baseball), Stuart Erwin (star of 1950s comedy The Stu Erwin Show, guested on Big Valley and Perry Mason), Brian Kelly (Flipper), Vic Morrow (Combat!, father of actress Jennifer Jason Leigh), Edward Platt (Get Smart) and Thelma Ritter. A veteran stage and film actress, Ritter appeared on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Wagon Train. She also had a memorable role in the classic Christmas movie Miracle on 34th Street.

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Benjamin Kubelsky was also born this day. The multi-talented comedian appeared on vaudeville, radio, film and television and was also an accomplished violinist. His radio and TV programs ran for more than three decades and continue to air in reruns to this day. We know Benjamin better by his stage name, Jack Benny. He would have been 39 years old today 🙂

February 14 is also the day we lost several classic TV contributors. Richard J. Collins was a producer of Bonanza, The Family Holvak and later, Matlock. Playwright-actor Michael V. Gazzo appeared in The Godfather Part II movie and also guested on TV classics The Defenders, Fantasy Island, Vega$ and Welcome Back Kotter.

Obit: Ralph Waite

Actor Ralph Waite has died at age 85.

Best known for his role as John Walton on the long-running CBS family drama The Waltons, Waite guested on such TV classics as Bonanza and N.Y.P.D. He later starred in the 1980s drama The Mississippi. Waite’s most recent roles were on Bones, NCIS and the daytime drama Days of Our Lives.

It’s been a sad week for classic TV fans, as we have lost Shirley Temple Black, Sid Caesar and now Ralph Waite. Our sympathies to their families and our thanks for bringing us such wonderful entertainment over the years.

Movies! Network Celebrates Shirley Temple

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National diginet Movies! will be airing a special 12-hour marathon of movies starring the late Shirley Temple (Black).

The “icon-a-thon” will air this Sunday February 16 from 8AM to 8PM. Here is the schedule:

  • 8:00AM The Blue Bird (1940)
  • 9:55AM Heidi (1937)
  • 12:00N The Little Princess (1939)
  • 2:05PM Stowaway (1936)
  • 4:10PM Wee Willie Winkie (1937)
  • 6:25PM The Littlest Rebel (1935)

What a great way to honor a Hollywood icon, and it’s on free over-the-air TV to boot! For more info and to find your local Movies! affiliate, please visit their website.

Classic TV Birthdays: February 13

Actor David Naughton kicks off today’s long list of classic TV birthdays. The 63 year old first appeared on TV as co-star of the 1974 TV series Planet of the Apes (I loved this show as a kid, had the Apes treehouse and action figures!). Naughton later had roles on sitcoms At Ease, Makin’ It and My Sister Sam. Many of us remember his guest role on Seinfeld: he played Elaine’s recovering alcoholic boyfriend in “The Red Dot” episode.

Also celebrating birthdays: Ellen Bry (guested on CHiPs, Kojak and The Love Boat…best known for her role as Nurse Shirley Daniels on St. Elsewhere) is 63, Stockard Channing (starred in two-short lived sitcoms in 1979-80, later appeared on The West Wing and The Good Wife) turns 70, Peter Tork (The Monkees) is 72, Carol Lynley (guested on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Fantasy Island) is 72 and Swedish-born Bo Svenson (Here Come the Brides, Walking Tall) turns 73.

Still a few more classic TV birthdays. George Segal (guested on The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and Naked City, currently on ABC sitcom The Goldbergs) is 80, film star Kim Novak (guested on The Ed Sullivan Show, later had a recurring role on Falcon Crest) turns 81 and UK horror movie queen Barbara Shelley is 88. Shelley starred in such movies as Dracula Prince of Darkness and Village of the Damned, also guesting on TV classics 12 O’Clock High, The Donna Reed Show and Hazel.

February 13 was also the birthday of a number of classic TV favorites no longer with us, including Lyle Bettger (starred in several 1950s series, guested on Daniel Boone, Hawaii Five-0, Laramie), singer Tennessee Ernie Ford (sang Sixteen Tons, hosted his own variety show) and Jean Muir (guested on Naked City and Route 66).

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Actress, director and pilot Susan Oliver (pictured) appeared on many classic TV shows from the 1950s through the 1980s. Her resume included The F.B.I., Love American Style, Peyton Place and Wagon Train. Perhaps her most memorable role was as alien Vina in the pilot episode of Star Trek.

A pair of classic TV stars died on this day. Martin Balsam had a long career in film (A Thousand Clowns, Psycho, Tora! Tora! Tora!) and TV (Kojak, Naked City and The Twilight Zone). He also played Archie’s bar-owner partner on Archie Bunker’s Place. David Janssen starred in The Fugitive as well as Harry O, O’Hara U.S. Treasury and Richard Diamond Private Detective.

Obit: Sid Caesar

Emmy Award winning actor-comedian Sid Caesar has passed away at age 91.

Caesar was a pioneer of early television, starring alongside Imogene Coca on the live 90-minute variety series Your Show of Shows. It aired from 1950-54 on NBC and featured many well-known and up-and-coming performers. YSOS also boasted a future all-star lineup of writers, including Mel Brooks, Larry Gelbart, Carl Reiner and Neil Simon.

YSOS ended in June of 1954, but Caesar returned to TV that fall with The Caesar Hour (1954-57). He later appeared on a number of TV shows and on film, notably in Grease and Grease 2.

TCM Slates Shirley Temple Marathon

Turner Classic Movies will be paying tribute to the late actress with a Shirley Temple Tribute on Sunday March 9.

Here is the scheduled lineup:

  • 4:30PM Heidi (1937)
  • 6:15PM Stowaway (1936)
  • 8PM Bright Eyes (1934)
  • 9:30PM The Little Princess (1939)
  • 11:15PM I’ll Be Seeing You (1944)
  • 12:45AM The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer (1947)
  • 2:30AM A Kiss For Corliss (1949)
  • 4:15AM That Hagen Girl (1947)


Also, diginet getTV will be airing The Little Princess tonight at 10PM. Another diginet, Cozi TV, will be showing Temple’s Little Miss Marker Saturday at 330AM EST and Sunday afternoon at 2PM EST.

Classic TV Birthdays: February 12

Joanna Kerns is the first name on today’s birthday list. The 61-year-old actress guested on classic 1970s shows Charlie’s Angels, Emergency!, Quincy M.E. and Starsky & Hutch. She is best known for her role as Maggie Seaver on the long-running sitcom Growing Pains. Her sister is Olympic gold medal swimmer Donna de Varona.

Also celebrating birthdays today: Swedish actress and 2-time Bond Girl Maud Adams (Hawaii Five-0, Kojak, Love American Style) is 69, singer-turned-actor Cliff DeYoung (guested on Family, Marcus Welby M.D.) is 69, Joe Don Baker (starred in Walking Tall movie, 1979 TV series Eischied) turns 78, Charles Van Doren (famed contestant on Twenty One, led to quiz show scandal) is 88, and former baseball player turned TV personality Joe Garagiola (NBC MLB Game of the Week, Today, To Tell The Truth) is 88.

We have a long list of classic TV stars born February 12 but since passed away. Wallace Ford appeared on the first season of Henry Fonda’s TV western The Deputy, and also guested on The Andy Griffith Show and Lassie. Joseph Kearns is best-known as harried neighbor Mr. Wilson on Dennis the Menace. Richard Lynch guested on Baretta, Barnaby Jones and Starsky & Hutch. Ted Mack hosted the long-running radio and TV talent search The Original Amateur Hour. Forrest Tucker is remembered for his starring role on F Troop.

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Classic TV favorite Lorne Greene was also born this day. Greene started out as a news anchor for the CBC in his native Canada, later moving to Hollywood. He appeared on numerous films and classic TV shows, but is best known for his role as family patriarch Ben Cartwright on the classic western Bonanza. Greene later starred in Battlestar Galactica, Code Red, Griff and hosted a syndicated nature series: Lorne Greene’s New Wilderness.

Many classic TV favorites died on February 12, including director-turned-actor Nicholas Colasanto. He was behind the camera for such shows as Hawaii Five-0 and Run For Your Life, later gaining fame as Coach Ernie Pantusso on Cheers. Betty Garrett had recurring roles on All in the Family and Laverne & Shirley. Character actor Victor Jury appeared on Nakia, The Rockford Files and The Virginian. Kenneth Mars appeared in several Mel Brooks movies and guested on shows like Fernwood Tonight, Love American Style and Mannix.

Also passing this day: Charles Schultz (creator of the Peanuts comic strip franchise) and Sal Mineo. The stage and film star guested on a number of classic TV series, including Combat!, Hawaii Five-0, The Patty Duke Show and S.W.A.T. Mineo’s life ended tragically when he was murdered at age 37.

Obit: Shirley Temple

Actress Shirley Temple is dead at age 85.

The legendary former child star appeared in such classic movies as Bright Eyes, Curly Top, Heidi and The Littlest Rebel. She also had a TV series, Shirley Temple’s Storybook, which aired from 1958-61.

After leaving Hollywood, Temple got involved in politics. She ran for political office in California, then later served as U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia.

Shirley Temple Black passed away Monday in California, surrounded by her family.

Here’s a rare episode of Shirley’s TV show. The House of the Seven Gables is based on the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel and stars Shirley Temple, Agnes Moorehead (Bewitched), Robert Culp (I Spy), Jonathan Harris (Lost in Space) and Martin Landau (Mission: Impossible). It was produced by William Asher (Bewitched) and originally aired on NBC on December 11, 1960. Enjoy the show as we remember Shirley Temple.

Classic TV Birthdays: February 11

Burt Reynolds leads off today’s birthday list. The 78-year-old actor was a regular on the vintage Darren McGavin western Riverboat, then played Quint on the classic western Gunsmoke. Reynolds also guested on a number of classic TV series, including Perry Mason and The Twilight Zone. He later starred in B.L. Stryker, Dan August, Evening Shade and Hawk.

One of the last two surviving cast members of Gilligan’s Island is celebrating her 80th birthday this day. Tina Louise (Ginger) also had guest appearances on Cannon, Love American Style and Route 66. She and Dawn Wells (Mary Ann) are the last of the castaways, following the death of Russell Johnson (The Professor) last month.

A number of classic TV favorites were born February 11 but are no longer with us. Boxer-turned-actor Max Baer Sr. guested on Make Room for Daddy and Playhouse 90. His son, Max Baer Jr., played Jethro on The Beverly Hillbillies. Eva Gabor is best remembered as Lisa Douglas on Green Acres.

Billy Hallop was one of The Dead End Kids in the movies, as an adult he guested on Adam-12, Gomer Pyle USMC, Gunsmoke and Perry Mason. He also played Bert Munson on All in the Family. Stage and film actress Kim Stanley appeared on Ben Casey, Night Gallery and Quincy M.E. She was also the uncredited narrator on the classic movie To Kill A Mockingbird.

leslie-nielsen
Recognize the face in the above photo? It’s veteran Canadian actor Leslie Nielsen, who was also born this day. The photo is from one his “serious” roles in the sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet. Nielsen guested on many classic TV series, often playing a heavy. He had roles on Hawaii Five-O, Kung Fu, Naked City and Studio One. He starred in several 1960s series including The New Breed and The Bold Ones: The Protectors.

Nielsen’s career changed in a big way after his appearance on the satirical 1980 comedy film Airplane! He starred in the cult classic TV series Police Squad!, which led to the hugely-popular Naked Gun movie series. Nielsen’s acting career spanned 6 decades, ending with his passing in 2010.

February 11 is also a day we lost some classic TV friends, including Sorrell Booke (The Dukes of Hazzard), William Conrad (starred on Cannon, Jake & The Fatman, Nero Wolfe…narrated The Fugitive and The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show), Lee J. Cobb (The Virginian) and Don Porter (The Ann Sothern Show, Gidget, Private Secretary).

George O’Hanlon also died on this day. O’Hanlon (Sr. actually, his son is also an actor) appeared in shows like The Life of Riley, Maverick, Mister Ed and Sanford and Son. He even had a role in the classic 1976 movie Rocky. We best know O’Hanlon for his voice: he was George Jetson.