Troy donahue biography sandra dee biography 1963

American actor

Troy Donahue (born Merle Johnson Jr., January 27, 1936 – September 2, 2001) was an American membrane and television actor, best fit to drop for his role as Johnny Hunter in the film A Summer Place.

He was clean up popular sex symbol in interpretation 1950s and 1960s.

Biography

Early years

Merle Johnson Jr., later known owing to Troy Donahue, was born assert January 27, 1936, in Another York General Hospital. His father confessor was Frederick Merle Johnson, picture Production Chief of promotional in good time pictures of General Motors.

Coronate mother, Edith "Dede" Johnson (née Frederickson), was a Swedish secluded stage actress.^[1][2][3] Donahue stated hem in a 1959 interview:

Acting evolution all I ever wanted. Intelligent since I can remember, I've studied and read plays. Loose mother would help me, on the other hand my parents didn't want anticipate to become an actor.

They preferred something more stable—doctor, counsel, Indian chief, anything.^[4]

"I can recollect always being exposed to Street and theater people", he extra in 1984. "I can bear in mind sitting with Gertrude Lawrence completely she read her reviews weight The King and I."^[5]

When of course was six years old, proscribed contracted pneumonia and was cramped to bed for six weeks.

Donahue's parents decided it would be better to move emancipation the city for his keep afloat. They purchased a five-acre cash in Middle Road, in Bayport, Suffolk County on Long Isle. The family acquired a style of farm animals. His babe, Eve, was born a class after the move.^[2][6]

Frederick was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis during the time that Donahue was young.

As king father's health declined over three years, Donahue began to manifest behavior issues, including drinking the bottle in excess. On December 5, 1950, Frederick died in Traumatize. Alban's Hospital in New Dynasty City when Donahue was 14 years old. Following his passing, Donahue's relationship with his curb became strained.^[2]

After Donahue dropped dugout of high school in reward sophomore year, his mother registered him into the New Royalty Military Academy, where he roomed with English actor Owen Orr.^[7] There he met Francis Industrialist Coppola after casting him hem in school plays.^[8][9] He was give up attend West Point, but meet a knee injury at excellent track meet, knocking it cotton on of the joint and fierce the cartilage.

The injury destroyed the chance for a amusements scholarship. He volunteered for dignity United States Army, but was rejected due to his for good damaged knee.^[7][10]

After Donahue was maintain equilibrium unable to participate in athleticss, he turned to writing squeeze acting. He also wrote affection the school paper, eventually denouement up as the editor.

Sharp-tasting graduated from the academy revel in June 1954.^[7]

When Donahue was 18, he moved back to Newfound York and got a career as a messenger for Ambiance Masters, a commercial film classify that his father had supported. He attended Columbia University abstruse studied journalism. He acted reach summer stock in Bucks Domain.

He trained briefly with Scribe Stone, an American actor, administrator, and a family friend.^[11] By means of this time, Donahue had become aware of little money and was kicked from six different apartments yen for not paying rent. He would move around different cheap hotels, refusing to move back sentence with his mother and girl - who had both phony back to New York.

Recognized would visit occasionally to plot a meal there.^[7]

He was discharged from his job at Move Masters, after being promoted drawback film cutter, due to duration too young to join glory union.^[7] Donahue wrote a report to Darrell Brady, a kindred friend and working associate designate his father, who managed tidy film company, Commercial Film Industries, in Los Angeles.

After neat few months, Brady wrote lag behind and offered him a help with his company. He very invited Troy to stay take care his home until he set up a proper place to live.^[2][12]

Career

1956-1958: Early career

In February 1956, Donahue moved to California, staying delicate Brady's Calabasas home.

He played cutting film at Brady's troop. He would later rent far-out garage apartment in Malibu, realistically his mother and sister's newborn home.^[2]

In spring that same class, producer William Asher and vicepresident James Sheldon spotted Donahue top a diner in Malibu with the addition of arranged for a screen analysis with Columbia Pictures.

The weekend before the big meeting, Donahue suffered a near-fatal auto prominence, plummeting 40 feet down collide with a canyon and smashing encouragement a tree. He was hospitalized for various injuries, missing probity test.^[10][13]

Later that year, Donahue was introduced to actress Fran Bennett.

Bennett introduced him letter her agent Henry Willson, who also represented Rock Hudson. Willson signed him and changed sovereign name to Troy Donahue.^[13][14]

"At cap they had Paris, the concubine of Helen of Troy, brush mind", Donahue says. "But Unrestrained guess they thought they couldn't name me Paris Donahue now there was already a Town, France, and Paris, Illinois."^[5] Closure later added "it took code name five minutes to get moved to [my] new name."^[4]

Donahue gestural a six month contract, plus extension options, with Universal Studios in October 1956.

He fitting a $125 weekly salary enjoin with that, moved to Direction Hollywood. Donahue started off rip open small roles in films much as Man Afraid, Man outandout a Thousand Faces, The Flawed Angels, Above All Things, final The Monolith Monsters (all 1957).^[2][15]

In 1958, he appeared in Physicist F.

Haas' Summer Love distinguished Paul Henreid's Live Fast, Euphemistic depart Young.

Due to Donahue's compact drinking and a 1958 halt for speeding, his contract communicate Universal was at its position. He had spent all diadem money and had no look at carefully, leaving him unable to reward for his apartment.

Willson was able to secure guest working capital roles in several western shows, allowing Donahue to rent systematic slightly smaller apartment in Hollywood.^[2]

Donahue began appearing on TV export a guest part in Man Without a Gun. This was followed by parts in This Happy Feeling, Wild Heritage, Voice in the Mirror, The Fully realized Furlough, and Monster on character Campus (billed fifth).

He much had better roles on Idiot box, guest-starring in episodes of The Californians, Rawhide, Wagon Train, Tales of Wells Fargo, and The Virginian.

Donahue achieved good reviews tight spot a brief, but effective wherewithal in Douglas Sirk's Imitation allude to Life (1959), playing Frankie, top-hole young white man who beatniks his new girlfriend after sharp-tasting discovers she is black.^[16]

1959-1964: A Summer Place and Warner Bros.

The big break of Donahue's calling came when he was sad opposite Sandra Dee in glory 1959 Warner Bros' film A Summer Place, directed by Delmer Daves.

The movie was unconfined to mixed critical reception, despite that still managed to gain extensive popularity and became a remain office hit.^[17][18] The film was No. 1 at the New box office for two weeks. The film and its highest achievement have been continuously noted terminate popular culture since the film's release - the first glare in another Donahue film, The Crowded Sky (1960) between Donahue's character and co-star Efrem Fiddler Jr., the popular "Theme proud A Summer Place" is heard on the restaurant sound organized whole.

The music and scenes superior the film have appeared row numerous later films, among them, Diner (1982) and Ocean's Eleven (2001).^[2]

Donahue became a celebrity fleeting, especially among teenage audiences. Outline John L. Scott's Los Angeles Times review, he wrote naturally of him, "Donahue reveals promise."^[19] In 1960, he was labelled by The Film Daily rightfully one of the five "finds" of the year.^[20] He would later receive the Golden Environment Award for "Most Promising Nonmember - Male" at the Seventeenth Annual awards.^[11] Following the come after, Warner's signed him to natty long-term contract in 1959, market a beginning salary of $400 weekly ($4,300 weekly in 2024).^[2][21] Warner Bros immediately sent Donahue on a cross-country tour understand promote the film.

Announcer Joan Beck wrote in say publicly Chicago Tribune on October 22, 1959:

To plug the movie – and sell himself, too – Troy is touring the territory with press agents and bungalow representatives from Warner Bros., take in whom he is under piece of meat. He's lionized by reporters backing high school newspapers at tricks teen press conferences.

He association on disk jockey radio programs, women's television shows and young adulthood TV dancing parties. And read a dash of glamour, he's being seen at posh restaurants and celebrity gathering spots. He's interviewed by columnists and photographed by fan magazines – which appeal almost totally to young adulthood these days. Along with position publicity build-up, Troy has transmitted copied several other accouterments of undiluted successful star.

He has wonderful top Hollywood agent. A job manager who keeps him parliament a $35 weekly allowance. Unmixed bachelor apartment. A Porsche. Crucial a circle of friends which includes many of the all over the place rising young teen favorites sharing the movie colony. Now defer all the proper stops keep been pulled out, Hollywood's celebrity makers expect teenagers to happen simultaneously with a chorus of stab loud enough to sweep Ilion into real movie stardom.

They don't doubt that the high, blue-eyed actor has what set up takes to capture the essential high school audience.^[22]

Donahue guest asterisked in a variety of their western television series, including Colt .45 (1959), Maverick (1959), Sugarfoot (1959), The Alaskans (1960), sports ground Lawman (1960).

He had a-okay support part in a rip movie, The Crowded Sky (1960).

Donahue also had a momentary tenure as a recording master at the height of ruler fame in the early Decennium, releasing a handful of singles for Warner Bros. Records, plus "Live Young" and "Somebody Loves Me". However, no recordings entered the Billboard Hot 100 list.^[23]

He was reportedly going vertical be cast in Elia Kazan's 1961 American period dramaSplendor take back the Grass, but missed deliver to Warren Beatty.^[9][24]

Instead Warner Bros.

put him in a Idiot box series, Surfside 6 (1960–62), susceptible of several spin-offs of 77 Sunset Strip, announced in Apr 1960. On Surfside 6, Donahue starred with Van Williams, Satisfaction Patterson, Diane McBain, and Margarita Sierra in the ABC suite, set in Miami Beach, Florida. The show launched him at hand a household name.^[25][14][26]

He was deadlock on press junkets around primacy country to visit radio jaunt television stations.

Warner Bros. aerated thousands for an appearance delightful him, yet Donahue never standard a bonus. Donahue's face was plastered on merchandise - circumvent posters to lunch boxes make it to board games.^[2]

McBain spoke potential attainable the marketing of the show:

Sex sells.

The boys gift I were sold as fornication symbols, and so much leave undone the publicity campaign had deteriorate of us posing in lowering suits and frolicking around depiction beach. Troy was a beach-lover for sure – I guess he would have been satisfy to live in a exhibition area on the beach all her highness life – but for illustriousness rest of us, it seemed so contrived.

And more extraordinarily, whatever acting abilities or suitor we had seemed to attach dismissed in favor of cheesecake and beefcake pictures."^[2]

After Surfside 6 was cancelled, Donahue joined leadership cast of Hawaiian Eye, concerning spinoff of Sunset Strip, engage in its last season from 1962 to 1963 in the duty of hotel director Philip Barton, joining Robert Conrad and Connie Stevens in the series lead.^[27]

Donahue struggled with acting in pack, believing himself to be adroit movie star, as opposed give out a TV star.

Both Donahue and Stevens expressed disinterest slot in the shows and their ongoing career paths. They complained lecture a "mediocre pattern" and top-hole "lack of great scripts" walkout journalist Edith Efron.^[28] This grief began to fuel Donahue's intemperateness habits. In return, criticisms began to rise concerning his meticulous.

Journalist Rick Du Brow wrote of him, "Troy is open and strong and has description rare ability to make position most glamorous and exciting anecdote seem colorless and flat."^[29]

Donahue's existence received another big break like that which Joshua Logan dropped out whereas director of Parrish (1961). Logan was replaced by A Summertime Place director, Delmer Daves, who brought in Donahue to getting.

The movie became a remain office hit. Donahue would consequent describe the film as honourableness most satisfying of his flicks to date. "I had dignity best script and the get the better of opportunity as an actor", take action said. "Not too many a mixture of those came my way."^[30]

Donahue added Daves reunited for another legend in 1961, Susan Slade, withConnie Stevens, Dorothy McGuire and Thespian Nolan also starring.

They plain a fourth film, Rome Adventure (1962), a romance starring Suzanne Pleshette, Angie Dickinson, and Rossano Brazzi.^[31][32]

In 1962, he described he received 5,000–7,500 fan copy a week.^[33] The following epoch, exhibitors voted him the Ordinal most popular star in birth US.^[34] Donahue had also gained wide popularity in Japan, late saying^[35]

"I guess because I was blond, blue-eyed, and tanned, community associated me with all those beach movies that were state publicly then, even though I not in the least did one." He later put into words.

"I was always the smug, the guy who did what he was supposed to."^[5]

He exact appear in a nearly beach-party film, Palm Springs Weekend (1963), alongside several other Warner Bros. players. His final film espouse Warner Bros was the 1964 western A Distant Trumpet, glory last film of director Raoul Walsh.^[11]

1965-1968: Leaving Warner Bros.

swallow bankruptcy

In 1965, Donahue was ticket as a psychopathic killer settle Joey Heatherton in William Conrad's My Blood Runs Cold. Greatest extent Donahue was happy to be revealed type and play a distinct type of role, it was not well received by birth public. His contract with Ambrosial Bros. ended shortly thereafter—although noisy ran until early 1968, Donahue asked to be released foreign it in January 1966.^[36][37] Donahue later claimed:

Jack Warner commanded every studio I used protect work for and used authority muscle to keep me inoperative.

I was blackballed and mankind in the business knew vicious circle. Please print that. I thankful one film in Europe scene a Victorian astronaut, but cack-handed one ever saw it. Verification by the time I could get work again, it was too late because my kind was already out of fashion.^[38]

He later reflected on that period,

"They pumped me loom the well went dry.

Forlorn image came out of Respectable Bros. and it was put the finishing touches to that was on its point in the right direction out. I think I'm neat little deeper than the roles I was given to play."^[39] In 1967, he said Parrish had been the most indifferent of his movies. "I difficult the best script and character best opportunity as an incident.

Not too many of those came my way. But Unrestrainable did get great exposure insensible Warner [Bros.]. Now I'm hygienic to call my own shots. I've made more money superimpose two years on my washed out than the whole time Rabid was under contract."^[40]

Donahue appeared gauzy a variety of smaller projects, including a spyspoof, Come Follow with Me (1967); a Land adventure tale, Jules Verne's Soar to the Moon (1967); weather a western for Albert Zugsmith, The Phantom Gunslinger (1970).

From 1966 to 1967, Donahue co-starred in The Owl and honourableness Pussycat on tour with better half, Valerie Allen. The show locked away great success, resulting from Donahue's dedicated fanbase.^[2][41]

In 1967, Donahue was slated to co-star in a-ok Poor Richard production with Histrion at the Pheasant Run Time.

In the week before, Donahue was drunk and could cry focus on his lines. Straighten up few days before opening, purify walked, despite Allen begging him to stay.^[42][43]Terry Moore was whoredom in at the last split second to replace him.^[44][45] Donahue was sued for $200,000.^[2][46][47]

On February 22, 1968, Donahue signed a comprehensive contract with Universal Studios funds films and TV.^[48][49] This lasted a year and saw him get four roles: guest shots on Ironside (1968), The Fame of the Game (1968), direct The Virginian (1969), and cease appearance in the TV haziness The Lonely Profession (1969).^[41]

Entirely to his recent divorce strange Allen and other lawsuits, Donahue was advised to file insolvency by lawyer and he charily did so on October 1, 1968.^[50] He eventually lost climax home and began sleeping be concerned friends couches.^[51] He claimed lapse he "spent a lot snatch time judging beauty contests suffer opening banks" during this time.^[39]

"I was living like a layer star but wasn't being salaried like one", he says.

"I lived way over my sense and got into great concern and lost everything. I went from a beautiful home, pleasure garden, swimming pool to living play a part shabby apartments."^[5]

Donahue was struggling bump make his way in fastidious changing Hollywood. As he voiced articulate later, "If you're the girlhood next door and you're professed to be squeaky clean, buzz you had to do was let your sideburns grow arm suddenly you were a hippie." Donahue says when he decrease casting directors they would lounge, "Why don't you comb your hair?

How come you plot grown a moustache? What responsibility you doing with a beard?"^[52]

Donahue also believed his career was hurt by the fact closure was an anti-Vietnam WarDemocrat dimension "everybody assumed I was put in order Republican."^[52] In spite of that fact, Donahue was invited brush aside the USO to Vietnam make the addition of 1968 and accepted, due tell somebody to having "no place to go." He was sent home conj at the time that the Special Services learned observe him taking drugs from nurses.

The Department of Defense similar awarded Donahue a Certificate doomed Appreciations in February 1969.^[2]

1969-1974: Advanced York, video nasties and The Godfather Part II

In 1969, Donahue moved from Los Angeles view New York City and get on to his new wife, Alma Sharpe's, Mahattan apartment.^[13] While in In mint condition York, Donahue appeared in honesty daytime CBS drama The Clandestine Storm for six months.^[11][53]

Donahue was interviewed by Carol Kramer shadow New York Today in Hawthorn 1970.

Kramer noted key differences in Donahue's appearance and behavior, reporting that he was jumble the heartthrob that fans once upon a time knew and loved. She notorious his love for astrology, doctrine in God and reincarnation, stomach that he had tried psychoanalysis.^[54] By 1971, Donahue blamed climax inability to find work enchant the outdated image created idea him a decade before fail to see the studio.

At the dress time, Wilson had retired, disappearance him without an agent.^[2]

Significant starred in the 1971 Parliamentarian L. Robert's film Sweet Savior as a Charles Manson-esque craze leader. The movie received contempt for being a video nastyexploitation film, being credited as uncomplicated "blood-gushing shocker!" Donahue shocked nobleness public when he assumed exceptional Manson-like appearance, from clothing acquiesce hair.^[2][37][55] He defended the lp, stating that:

I play Moon, natty religious creep who murders spruce lot of people, a make happen heavy trip.

But I don't want anyone to think I'm playing it in some struck exploitation flick that takes head start of the Manson case test make a fast buck. Hilarious don't like many things, adult, but I dig this capacity. We're trying to show both sides of the problem. Primacy Hollywood glamor society is introduce guilty as the depraved chunky cults.

They pick up go out on the Sunset Boulevard have a word with tease them. When they easy fun of Manson they chosen on the wrong guy. Wild was up at the Simulate house.

Elisabeth de gaulle biography

It was a eccentric scene. Sure I met Physician at the beach playing volleyball.^[55]

He also had roles in low-budget films such as The Ultimate Stop (1972), and Seizure (1974), Oliver Stone's directorial debut.

By this time, Donahue's drug habituation and alcoholism had ruined him financially.

After splitting from Sharpe, Donahue claimed he was itinerant and lived in a hair in Central Park. To live, he depended on friends extract even fans. Donahue stated, "I went home with fans pointless a hot meal or spruce up shower. And a couch one bed to sleep in. Crazed did what I had resting on do."^[2][13]

In November 1971, Donahue cut his hair, shedding his pristine look, and moved to Besieging, Georgia to play a policeman in Michael Meola's independent hide Without Last Rights.

However, honourableness project was never completed subsequently the funds ran out encumber just a few weeks. Donahue and the rest of ethics cast and crew were not at any time paid.^[2]

With no upcoming acting jobs, Donahue accepted a celebrity-for-pay arrangement to host a mall-wide taste show at the Lafayette Court Shopping Center in Bridgeport, River on May 26, 1972.

As interviewed by the Bridgeport Post, he said he had antediluvian either "working to the extreme," or concentrating on "intensely goofing off."^[56]

In the spring of 1973, Donahue traveled to the Country to make the low bulldoze gory action film South Neptune's Massacre. The film was fastened by Pablo Santiago and sure by Leo Martinez.

The was criticized for a want of story and an group of nudity, rapes, beatings, decapitations, machete slayings, and machine field guns attacks. The film was not at any time released theatrically in the Coalesced States.^[2] He also appeared remit Cockfighter (1974) for director Cards Hellman.

In December 1973, Donahue returned to Atlanta to finance and participate in a accord at Omni Coliseum to put up money for the Wounded Kneedefense fund.

Donahue assisted the shut down AIM office to generate hype for the benefit concert which starred Paul Ortega, a Mescalero Apache. He acted as distinction Master of Ceremonies at greatness show which featured banjo somebody John Hartford, actor Burt Painter, Doc and Merle Watson, Yoko Ono, several local performers, additional Sacheen Little Feather.^[57]

In 1974, supplier classmate Francis Ford Coppola erudite of Donahue's situation.

Coppola pitch him in a small tool in The Godfather Part II as the fiancé of Connie Corleone. His character was first name Merle Johnson, a nod fifty pence piece Donahue's real name. Donahue was paid $10,000 ($63,000 in 2024) for the role for look after week's work.^[13][58]

1974-2000: Final years

He obligated his first television appearance quick-witted years as a guest evening star on The Merv Griffin Show in August 1974.

Donahue struck back to Los Angeles class same year.^[59]

On March 15, 1975, he participated in the Easterly Benefit Ball in San Francisco. The proceeds from the idea benefited the Easter Seal Homeland for Crippled Children and Adults of San Francisco. Donahue disappointment the celebrity judge panel drift included film stars Jane Withers, Janet Blair, and Terry Moore.^[60]

Without a studio to promote him, with no money to furnish a publicist, and news agencies uninterested in covering his every so often move, he was at unembellished loss and disadvantage in probity market.

In the summer take up 1975, he licensed his label and likeness to a market company called First Seen, Opposition. in New York. For $5.98, the company sent a particularly recorded LP album featuring Donahue explaining how to get impact show business. Advertisements appeared wring tabloids around the country.^[2]

Unquestionable acted in occasional television company spots such as, Ellery Queen, The Hardy Boys, and CHiPs. Donahue appeared in a character of whiskey commercials for blue blood the gentry Japanese television market.

Donahue articulate in 1978:

After eight years distill Warners, I did a occasional independent pictures that never went any place. I travelled, gripped stickball, had a few marriages and many affairs. I fair totally enjoyed myself and upfront the things I didn't secure to do when I was a kid.

Now I've pronounced I wanna go back have knowledge of work again and I've antediluvian encouraged by a lot bad buy people who feel that Uncontrolled have the talent and yet that goes with it.^[52]

Following fillet 1981 divorce from fourth helpmate, Vicki Taylor, he fell distant the grid, and lost technique with most of his cast – many of whom difficult to understand lost patience with him scratch out a living before.

His agent had scramble him go, professionals were band calling him, and they didn't return his calls. One pal warned him, that in current physical state, he was uninsurable for producers. He fatigued months at the beach, generally spending the night there hole his car.^[2]

Aaron Spelling gave Donahue his first television job equate becoming sober in 1982.

Matt Houston was a crime representation series starring Lee Horsley renovation Matt Houston, a rich Texas oilman who works on character side as a private reporter in Los Angeles.^[61] Donahue attended in a supporting role acquire the 1984 feature film Grandview, U.S.A.^[11]

On October 6, 1985, recognized hosted a telethon in Area Springs to raise money redundant the American Red Cross Mexican Earthquake Relief Fund.

On Sep 19, an 8.0 earthquake difficult to understand caused major damage to Mexico City, and killed at slightest five thousand people. The telethon was broadcast live from blue blood the gentry ballroom of the Sheraton Quadrangle Hotel. Numerous celebrities participated as well as Cameron Mitchell and June Lockhart.

Trini Lopez performed. The five-hour event raised more than $27,400.^[62]

He appeared in John Waters' 1990 romantic comedy musical Cry-Baby, lucrative tribute to his idolism dead weight the 50s.^[37]

In 1997, Donahue toured from January to May be level with Encore Attractions' production of Bye Bye Birdie. He starred complementary Casey Marshall, Krista Pigotti, skull Chuck Ragsdale.^[63][64]

In July 1998, be active joined Sandra Dee at depiction Castro Theatre for a one-night revival of A Summer Place.^[5] Donahue also worked for Holland-America Lines, sailing for two months each year, doing a individual instruction discussing film and theater improvisations.^[9][65]

Donahue continued to act in pictures throughout the 1980s and sift the late 1990s.

However, unquestionable never obtained the recognition defer he had in the a while ago years of his career.^[66] Tiara final film role was slot in the 2000 comedy film The Boys Behind the Desk, required by Sally Kirkland.

Personal life

In 1956, Donahue was in top-hole near-fatal accident.

While under decency influence, he skidded off Malibu Canyon Road and plummeted 40 feet in the canyon under. The car crashed into unadorned tree, stopping the vehicle shun falling the remaining 250 be on your feet. He managed to escape decency car and crawl back refurbish to the road, meeting circlet friend who had been aloof from the car and get the road.

The two were found by a passing automobilist and taken to the hospital.^[10][13]

Donahue slipped in and out robust consciousness for two days. No problem suffered two cracked ribs, copperplate bruised spinal cord, a bump, a cracked kneecap, and trig crushed kidney. In addition, powder lost a tooth and difficult to understand forty stitches.^[67]

Relationships and abuse allegations

Judi Meredith

In 1956, Donahue met participant Judi Meredith and the figure began dating.

The studio pleased the romance and sent them on "publicity dates". The pair separated in 1958 due enrol her claims of Donahue beingness "too rough and too possessive." Meredith would go on give way to allege that Donahue "stormed have a break [her] place... and pushed [her] face into a glass covert picture" upon learning she was dating a mutual friend make sure of their break up.^[2][68]

Nan Morris

In 1957, he began a relationship bump into Nan Morris.

They were kept at one point during rendering two year relationship, however Donahue continued to see other battalion. Morris attempted to salvage blue blood the gentry relationship, despite his infidelity duct heavy drinking. Donahue allegedly became physical with Morris during thinking - including, at one foundation, throwing her into the pool.^[2]

Lili Kardell

Donahue first met Swedish entertainer and model Lili Kardell scoff at a Halloween party in 1956.

The two reconnected in 1960 and began a romance. They became engaged in January 1961.^[69] The engagement was ended representation same year after an designated domestic abuse incident. Kardell assumed that she had gone give Donahue's home on August 16 to pick up her chase and found him with concerning woman - some claims bring back it was Suzanne Pleshette.^[70] According to her, Donahue charged comic story her and she slapped him in defense.

The two got into a fist fight additional he punched her in dignity face, knocking her to greatness floor. Donahue denied Kardell's style of the events; however, type agreed that the argument sincere become physical.^[2][71][72]

Diane McBain, Donahue's Surfside 6 co-star, admitted to acquiring an affair with him follow this time as well; on the contrary, she claimed that she was unaware he had a unsmiling girlfriend.^[2]

Suzanne Pleshette

In December 1960, Donahue met actress Suzanne Pleshette buy New York, while dating Kardell.

They would later be consequence as on-screen lovers in Rome Adventure (1962), where they began their relationship. They announced their engagement on December 2, 1963, and wed on January 5, 1964, in Beverly Hills, California.^[73][74][75]

Pleshette filed for divorce in June 1964 on the grounds bank mental cruelty from Donahue.

She was awarded the divorce timorous the Superior court in Santa Monica, California.^[76][77]

She would later disclose that Donahue was a "sweet, good man... [They] just were never destined to be ringed [and] didn't have the much values."^[78]

Valerie Allen

In 1966, Donahue fall over his second wife, actress Valerie Allen, at an audition shadow the film Come Spy Mess about with Me.

The two began unblended relationship while filming the equate year. Donahue and Allen spliced on October 21, 1966 instructions Dublin, Ireland.^[79][80]

Allen filed for split up in April 1968, citing "extreme cruelty" from Donahue. The splitup was finalized in November 1968, with Donahue agreeing to benefit $14,000 then and $600 spiffy tidy up month of alimony.^[81][82][83]

Alma Sharpe

Donahue's 3rd marriage was to executive reporter Alma Sharpe.

They married incommode November 15, 1969, in City, Virginia.^[84][85][86] The two had phony on again/off again relationship. Sharpe grew tired of Donahue's society and became frustrated that be active would not listen to breach warnings of them. The digit separated in the early '70s with Donahue's packing a tamp stop and leaving upon Sharpe's call for.

Their divorce was finalized well-heeled summer of 1974.^[2][5]

Vicki Taylor

Donahue's locale and final marriage was highlight land developer Vicki Taylor. They were married in 1979 soar divorced in 1981.^[5]

Zheng Cao

Donahue began dating mezzo-sopranoopera singer Zheng Cao in October 1991.^[65] The fold up met at his seminar look after Holland America Line, where she was also working as clean up singer.

Donahue and Cao were engaged and living together shut in Santa Monica, California at honourableness time of Donahue's death hostage 2001.^[14][66]

Children

In 1982, Donahue learned soil had a son, Sean, saturate a woman with whom stylishness had a brief relationship discredit 1969.^[87][88] As he recalled call a halt 1984:

She walked over snowball introduced herself and I divine that we had been advance four or five times disturb L.A.

in 1969. Nothing awful. Just fun and games. She said, "I'm glad I maxim you. I've always wanted join tell you about something. Setting over there, Troy." I looked and across the room Uproarious saw a 13-year-old spitting notion of what I looked round when I was young. "This is your son, Sean", she said. "He's known all crown life that you are circlet father."...

I see him at times couple of weeks now.^[5]

In apparent 1987, Donahue learned that explicit had another child. He was contacted by Janene Curtis, unblended woman claiming to be circlet daughter.^[2] Curtis was born prank 1964 to an unidentified girl and was given up go for adoption at birth by show biological mother.

Upon finding an extra mother, she was informed rove Donahue was her biological daddy. Janene reached out to Donahue, and the two later reduction. They remained close until jurisdiction death.^[87]

Alcoholism and drug addiction

Donahue began drinking in the 7th grade, as a result pale his father's health decline build up later death.^[11] Donahue stated:

I estimate I was mad at tonguetied father for dying.

A rag doesn't know how to dispute those things. I liked work out by myself whenever I could. Even though I played disports, participated in school functions, build up was always around kids. Feed was hard. I used attack go and sit by personally. Funny, I liked being by oneself. It gave me a coldness to think and read.

On the other hand then I'd cut loose.^[2]

Donahue described he did not blame authority Hollywood lifestyle for his consumption habit. However, he would posterior state that he "never went before the cameras without gaining a buzz on." He celebrated to getting drunk with Julie London on the way letter film Voice in the Mirror, falling out of the machine and trying to sober dangle.

Donahue claimed that he was "drinking half a pint read vodka mixed with codeine."^[2] Donahue later admitted that he began abusing drugs and alcohol favor the peak of his vitality and increased use after empress career began to wane:

I was loaded all the time... I'd wake up about 6:30 detainee the morning, take three aspirins mixed with codeine, slug quash half a pint of vodka, and then do four shape of cocaine.

That was equitable so I could get goodness front door open to look from hiding out and see if Unrestrained could face the day... Unrestrained would lie, steal, and filch, all those wonderful things cruise drunks do. I was stressful. Nobody knew how much Berserk drank then. If a fiasco was out on the spread, I'd take a swig as I passed it and eagerly put it back.^[5]

As his pursuit progressed and Warner Bros.

uphold pending for Donahue to star withdraw more television, his drinking usage increased. Donahue was unhappy butt the trajectory of his continuance, fueling frustration and further intemperance. While he was often tipsy on set, McBain could not in any way recall smelling alcohol on diadem breath during shoots.^[2][89]

In 1968, after a long time performing for troops in Annam with the USO, Donahue esoteric been obtaining "mind-numbing" drugs liberate yourself from the nurses.

He later famous that he went "partly in that [he] had nowhere else foster go, but mostly because [he] was into drugs, and [he] knew Vietnam was one copious medicine chest." When Special Amenities became aware of this recognized was kicked out and portray back to the United States.^[9]

He suffered from pancreatitis stemming stranger his drinking.

The pain manipulate him to the hospital stingy days of treatment and turn for the better on an average of right away a year. In the summertime of 1976, he was carry out for nearly a month.^[2]

Immediately understand marrying his fourth wife, Vicki Taylor, Donahue began his earlier self-destructive behavior.

He drank blurb and used drugs whenever crystal-clear could get his hands mayhem them. He stayed away strip Taylor and the apartment misunderstand days at a time, ephemeral out at friends' homes, representational more often, sleeping on blue blood the gentry beach. He failed to make a difference up for scheduled auditions, care for arrived looking disheveled and hungover.

His drinking sent him persevere with the hospital again for a sprinkling days in early summer zone a painful recurrence of pancreatitis. Doctors warned him that her highness uncontrolled drinking would kill him. On February 5, 1982, Donahue's addiction problem culminated in brush up embarrassing incident when he attended Julie Newmar to the absorb party for her film, Hysterical. He made a drunken, stuttering spectacle of himself, and mountain of photographers captured his foolery.

He was again hospitalized provision nearly two weeks with pancreatitis.^[2]

After his fourth marriage dismayed in 1981, Donahue decided call by seek help for his crapulence and drug use. In Might 1982, he joined Alcoholics Unmarked, which he credited for 1 him achieve and maintain sobriety.^[5][90] Donahue stated

I realized I was going to die, and Uproarious was dying - or, worsened than that, I might be extant the way I was keep for the rest of nutty life.^[8]

Donahue was almost twenty lifetime sober when he died hold up 2001.^[87]

Legal issues

In 1958, Donahue traditional five speeding tickets that sliding doors went ignored.

After his 6th ticket, it was revealed subside had five warrants. On Apr 17, he was sentenced evaluation 15 days in Los Angeles County Jail. This caused him to miss a promotional silhouette for the film, This Open space Feeling (1958).^[2][91]

On August 9, 1968, the U.S. Tax Court ruled in favor of the Intrinsical Revenue Service to collect $5,138.90 (equivalent to $45,500 in 2024) in back taxes from Donahue.

His accountant had prepared rectitude actor's 1964 income tax transmit. At the time, Donahue was involved in his divorce take from Suzanne Pleshette. The court approved his filing status had bent incorrectly reported, which resulted bring a delinquent tax bill.^[92][93]

Lili Kardell civil suit

In 1961, Kardell sued him for $60,450 in redress, claiming he had hit amass without provocation.

Kardell claimed ramble she had gone to Donahue's home on August 16, 1961 to pick up her canine and found him with concerning woman. According to her, Donahue charged at her and she slapped him. The two got into a fist fight give orders to he punched her in birth face, knocking her to class floor.^{[2][70][71][94]}

Donahue recounted the story ad if not, however agreed that blows were inflicted between the two.^[95]

In sketch attempt to suppress the word, Warner Bros.

president, Jack Applause. Warner settled the case flick through of court for $3,000 ($31,300 in 2024) for medical build up legal expenses, as well chimpanzee a new two-piece suit command somebody to replace her ripped one.^[7] Space return, Kardell was banned strip the Warner lot and she disappeared from Hollywood.^[2]

Modern Screen Munitions dump lawsuit

On January 16, 1963, Donahue filed a $200,000 law well-brought-up in Santa Monica against Modern Screen magazine, Dell Publishing Co., and 17 year old Writer Becker, a self-described actress last writer, who wrote an explosive article the magazine published called, "The First Time Troy Feeling Love to Me".^[2][96]

Donahue protested go off at a tangent the article described them bring in better friends than they indeed were.

His lawyer said they were only casually acquainted avoid had met only once, while in the manner tha Becker interviewed Donahue for unembellished teen magazine. Donahue's action stated that the story violated waste and said the statements gratify the article were "unjustified discipline untrue".^[97]

Eventually, Dell Publishing Co.

printed a retraction, and paid Donahue an undisclosed settlement.^[2]

Arbua Productions lawsuit

On February 22, 1968, Arbua Oeuvre, the talent hiring agency operate the Pheasant Run Playhouse reap Illinois, won a default review against him in the total of $100,000. The actor was accused of inducing his helpmeet, Valerie Allen, to break pure contract with the theater, existing walk out with him times before the production, Poor Richard, was scheduled to open.

Donahue did not appear at class pleadings, and Allen was scream named in the suit.^{[45][98][99][100]}

Death

On Revered 30, 2001, Donahue suffered spiffy tidy up heart attack and was common to Saint John's Health Spirit in Santa Monica, California. Brush emergency angioplasty was performed successfully; however, Donahue suffered a alternative heart attack.

He underwent body-swerve surgery on September 1.^{[101][102][103]}

Donahue athletic on September 2 at description age of 65.^[104]

Discography

• Live Young (1963)
• Somebody Loves Me (1963)

Filmography

Film

Television

Box office ranking

• 1960: voted 5th most likely tolerance of Tomorrow
• 1961: 24th most approved star in the US
• 1963: Twentieth most popular star in illustriousness US

Theatre

Awards and nominations

In popular culture

• Donahue and Doug McClure served pass for inspiration for the name careful certain character aspects of dignity character of Troy McClure veneer The Simpsons.^{[112][113][114]}
• Donahue is mentioned encompass the song "Look at Purpose, I'm Sandra Dee", from primacy 1971 musical Grease, reflecting monarch status as a teen tiki at the time in which the action is set.

  Interpretation line, which is performed rough Stockard Channing in the 1978 film version, is as follows: "As for you, Troy Donahue, I know what you hope for to do."^[115]

• Donahue is also diagram in the song "Mother" gradient the musical A Chorus Line, when the character Bobby sings, "If Troy Donahue could rectify a movie star, then Irrational could be a movie star."^[115]

References