Classic TV Birthdays: March 8

Hey hey he’s a Monkee, he’s celebrating a birthday to-day! We’re talking about actor-musician Micky Dolenz of the classic 1960s series The Monkees. He is now 69.

Also on today’s classic TV birthday list: Susan Clark (guested on Columbus, Marcus Welby M.D…later starred with her late husband Alex Karras on the 1980s sitcom Webster) is 74 and Sue Ann Langdon is 78. Langdon had a recurring role on Bachelor Father and co-starred in the early 1970s sitcom Arnie. She guested on Bonanza, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Perry Mason and Surfside 6. Langdon also had roles in several films, including A Guide for the Married Man and Zapped!

March 8 was also the birthday of some classic TV friends no longer with us. Actress-dancer Cyd Charisse appeared in films (Singin’ in the Rain) and guested on the small screen (Hawaii Five-0, The Love Boat, Medical Center). English stage and film star Lynn Redgrave guested on Kojak and co-starred in the 1979-82 sitcom House Calls. Claire Trevor had roles in classic films (Key Largo, Stagecoach) and later guested on classic TV (Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Dr. Kildare, The Untouchables).

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Today was also the birthday of Alan Hale Jr. He starred in a 1950s children’s western series Casey Jones but we know him best as The Skipper. He played that role on the classic 1960s sitcom Gilligan’s Island, later reprising the role in a pair of animated Gilligan series and several made-for-TV movies. His father, Alan Sr., was also an actor…he is credited with nearly 250 film roles over a 5 decade career.

We also lost some classic TV favorites on March 8. Peggy Cass was a Broadway and film actress (Auntie Mame) who was a frequent panelist on the game show To Tell The Truth. Silent film star Harold Lloyd later appeared as himself on The Ed Sullivan Show and What’s My Line? Film actress Karen Morley guested on Kojak and Kung Fu. Character actor Edward Winter is best remembered for his recurring role as Colonel Flagg on M*A*S*H.

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Edward Andrews (pictured) also died this day. The familiar face with white hair and horn-rimmed glasses guested on many classic TV shows, including The Bob Newhart Show, The Doris Day Show, The F.B.I., Thriller and The Twilight Zone. He starred in a 1964 sitcom (Broadside) and in the quickly derailed 1979 series Supertrain. Andrews wrapped up his career with a pair of film roles in Gremlins and Sixteen Candles.

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