Classic TV Birthdays: March 12

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Lassie says woof woof! That means Happy Birthday, Jon Provost! He played young Timmy Martin for seven seasons of the classic family adventure drama series Lassie. Provost turns 64 today.

Others celebrating birthdays include Frank Welker (68). The legendary voice artist/actor has over 700 credits on his resume, most notably as Fred Jones on the long-running cartoon franchise Scooby Doo. He’s been doing that voice since the character’s launch in 1969. He’s also appeared in such 1970s classics as Love American Style and The Partridge Family.

Also born on March 12: actress-singer Liza Minelli (actress Judy Garland’s daughter, appeared on many 1960s and 70s era variety and talk shows) is 68, longtime NBC newsman Lloyd Dobyns (Weekend) turns 78 and Barbara Feldon (Get Smart) is 81.

Today was also the birthday of several classic TV friends no longer with us. Georgia Ellis guested on the 1950’s version of Dragnet and another cop drama, The Lineup. She is best known for playing Miss Kitty in the radio version of Gunsmoke. Stage and film star Gordon MacRae (Oklahoma!) had his own TV show and guested on The Ed Sullivan Show, McCloud and What’s My Line? He was the ex-husband of actress Sheila MacRae, who passed away just last week.

Several favorites passed away on March 12. Juanin Clay was a regular on the daytime drama The Edge of Night and appeared on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Maurice Evans was best known as The Puzzler on Batman and Samantha’s father on Bewitched. He also had a memorable role as Dr. Zaius in the classic 1968 film Planet of the Apes.

Obit: Cynthia Lynn

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Actress Cynthia Lynn has died at age 76.

Lynn was one of the last surviving cast members of the 1960s military comedy Hogan’s Heroes. She played Colonel Klink’s secretary Fraulein Helga. Lynn also guested on such classic shows as Harry O, The Odd Couple, The Six Million Dollar Man and Surfside 6.

Lynn passed away Monday in California.