Трой Донохью: Жизнь и карьера американского актера

American actor

Troy Donahue (born Merle Johnson Jr., January 27, 1936 – September 2, 2001) was an American film and television actor, best known for his role as Johnny Hunter in the film A Summer Place. He was a popular sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s.

Merle Johnson Jr., later known as Troy Donahue, was born on January 27, 1936, in New York General Hospital. His father was Frederick Merle Johnson, the Production Chief of promotional motion pictures of General Motors. His mother, Edith "Dede" Johnson (née Frederickson), was a Swedish retired stage actress. Donahue stated in a 1959 interview:
Acting is all I ever wanted. Ever since I can remember, I've studied and read plays. My mother would help me, but my parents didn't want me to become an actor. They preferred something more stable—doctor, lawyer, Indian chief, anything. "I can remember always being exposed to Broadway and theater people", he added in 1984. "I can remember sitting with Gertrude Lawrence while she read her reviews in The King and I." When he was six years old, he contracted pneumonia and confined to bed for six weeks. Donahue's parents decided it would be better to move out the city for his recovery. They purchased a five acre estate in Middle Road, in Bayport, Suffolk County on Long Island. The family acquired a variety of farm animals. His sister, Eve, was born a year after the move. Frederick was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis when Donahue was young. As his father's health declined over two years, Donahue began to exhibit behavior issues, including drinking alcohol in excess. On December 5, 1950, Frederick died in St. Alban's Hospital in New York City when Donahue was 14 years old. Following his death, Donahue and his mother's relationship became strained. There he met Francis Ford Coppola after casting him in school plays. He was to attend West Point, but suffered a knee injury at a track meet, knocking it out of the joint and tearing the cartilage. The injury ruined the chance for a sports scholarship. He volunteered for the United States Army, but was rejected due to his permanently damaged knee. After Donahue was left unable to participate in sports, he turned to writing and acting. He also wrote for the school paper, eventually ending up as the editor. He graduated from the academy in June 1954. During this time, Donahue had very little money and was kicked from six different apartments for not paying rent. He would move around different cheap hotels, refusing to move back in with his mother and sister who had both moved back to New York. He would visit occasionally to eat a meal there.

In 1956, Donahue met actress Judi Meredith and the two began dating. The studio encouraged the romance and sent them on "publicity dates." The couple separated in 1958 due to her claims of Donahue being "too rough and too possessive." Meredith would go on to allege that Donahue "stormed into [her] place and pushed [her] face into a glass covered picture" upon learning she was dating a mutual friend after their break up.

In 1957, he began a relationship with Nan Morris. They were engaged at one point during the two year relationship, however Donahue continued to see other women. Morris attempted to salvage the relationship, despite his infidelity and heavy drinking. Donahue allegedly became physical with Morris during arguments including, at one point, throwing her into the pool. The engagement was ended the same year after an alleged domestic abuse incident. Kardell claimed that she had gone to Donahue's home on August 16 to pick up her dog and found him with another woman some claims state it was Suzanne Pleashette. According to her, Donahue charged at her and she slapped him in defense. The two got into a fist fight and he punched her in the face, knocking her to the floor. Donahue denied all the claims, however agreed that the argument did become physical. Diane McBain, Donahue's Surfside 6 co star, admitted to having an affair with him at this time as well however, claiming that she was unaware he had a serious girlfriend. Pleshette filed for divorce in June 1964 on the grounds of mental cruelty from Donahue. She was awarded the divorce by the Superior court in Santa Monica, California. She would later state that Donahue was a "sweet, good man [They] just were never destined to be married [and] didn't have the same values."

In 1966, Donahue met his second wife, actress Valerie Allen, at an audition for the film Come Spy With Me. The two began a relationship while filming the same year. Donahue and Allen married on October 21, 1966 in Dublin, Ireland. Allen filed for divorce in April 1968, citing "extreme cruelty" from Donahue. The divorce was finalized in November 1968, with Donahue agreeing to pay $14,000 then and $600 a month of alimony.

Donahue's third marriage was to executive secretary Alma Sharpe. They married on November 15, 1969, in Roanoke, Virginia. The two had an on again/off again relationship. Sharpe grew tired of Donahue's friends and became frustrated that he would not listen to her warnings of them. The two separated in the early '70s with Donahue's packing a backpack and leaving upon Sharpe's request. Their divorce was finalized in summer of 1974. As he recalled in 1984:
<blockquote>She walked over and introduced herself and I remembered that we had been together four or five times in L. A. in 1969. Nothing serious. Just fun and games. She said, "I'm glad I saw you. I've always wanted to tell you about something. Look over there, Troy." I looked and across the room I saw a 13 year old spitting image of what I looked like when I was young. "This is your son, Sean", she said. "He's known all his life that you are his father." I see him every couple of weeks now. In 1968, while performing for troops in Vietnam with the USO, Donahue had been obtaining "mind numbing" drugs from the nurses. He later admitted that he went "partly because [he] had nowhere else to go, but mostly because [he] was into drugs, and [he] knew Vietnam was one big medicine chest." When Special Services became aware of this he was kicked out and sent back to the United States. Donahue stated<blockquote>I realized I was going to die, and I was dying or, worse than that, I might live the way I was living for the rest of my life. On August 9, 1968, the U. S. Tax Court ruled in favor of the Internal Revenue Service to collect $5,100 (equivalent to $45,500 in 2024) in back taxes from Donahue. His accountant had prepared the actor’s 1964 income tax return. At the time, Donahue was involved in his divorce from Suzanne Pleshette. The court decided his filing status had been incorrectly reported, which resulted in a delinquent tax bill.

In 1961, Kardell sued him for $60,450 in damages, claiming he had hit her without provocation. Kardell claimed that she had gone to Donahue's home on August 16, 1961 to pick up her dog and found him with another woman. According to her, Donahue charged at her and she slapped him. The two got into a fist fight and he punched her in the face, knocking her to the floor. Donahue recounted the story differently, however agreed that blows were inflicted between the two. In an attempt to suppress the news, Warner Bros. president, Jack L. Warner settled the case out of court for $3,000 ($31,300 in 2024) for medical and legal expenses, as well as a new two piece suit to replace her ripped one. Donahue protested that the article described them as better friends than they really were. His lawyer said they were only casually acquainted and had met only once, when Becker interviewed Donahue for a teen magazine. Donahue’s action claimed that the story violated privacy and said the statements in the article were “unjustified and untrue.”

Eventually, Dell Publishing Co. printed a retraction, and paid Donahue an undisclosed settlement.

On August 30, 2001, Donahue suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. An emergency angioplasty was performed successfully, however Donahue suffered a second heart attack. He underwent a bypass surgery on September 1. He died on September 2 at the age of 65.

Year Title Role Notes 1957 Man Afraid Reporter Uncredited Man of a Thousand Faces Assistant Director in Bullpen Uncredited The Tarnished Angels Frank Burnham Flood Tide Teenager at Beach Uncredited The Monolith Monsters Hank Jackson Uncredited Summer Love Sax Lewis 1958 Live Fast, Die Young Artie Sanders / Artie Smith This Happy Feeling Tony Manza Wild Heritage Jesse Bascomb Voice in the Mirror Paul Cunningham The Perfect Furlough Sgt. Nickles Monster on the Campus Jimmy Flanders 1959 Imitation of Life Frankie A Summer Place Johnny Hunter 1960 The Crowded Sky McVey 1961 Parrish Parrish McLean Susan Slade Hoyt Brecker 1962 Rome Adventure Don Porter 1963 Palm Springs Weekend Jim Munroe 1964 A Distant Trumpet 2nd Lt. Matthew 'Matt' Hazard 1965 My Blood Runs Cold Ben Gunther 1967 Come Spy with Me Pete Barker Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon Gaylord Alternative title: Those Fantastic Flying Fools 1970 The Phantom Gunslinger Bill 1971 Sweet Savior Moon Alternative title: Frenetic Party 1972 The Last Stop Sheriff 1974 Seizure Mark Frost Cockfighter Randall Mansfield South Seas Steve The Godfather: Part II Merle Johnson 1977 The Legend of Frank Woods Sheriff John Baxom Ultraje Daniel 1983 Tin Man Lester 1984 Katy the Caterpillar Chester Voice, English dubbed version Grandview, U. S. A. Donny Vinton 1986 Low Blow John Templeton Alternative title: The Last Fight to Win: The Bloody End 1987 Fight to Win Rosenberg Alternative titles: Dangerous PassagesEyes of the Dragon Cyclone Bob Jenkins Hyôryu kyôshitsu Taggart English title: The Drifting Classroom Hollywood Cop Lt. Maxwell Deadly Prey Don Michaelson 1988 Hawkeye Mayor Alternative title: Karate Cops Hard Rock Nightmare Uncle Gary 1989 Assault of the Party Nerds Sid Witherspoon Direct to video release American Rampage Police Psychiatrist Dr. Alien Dr. Ackerman Terminal Force Slim Sounds of Silence Larry Haughton Bad Blood Jack Barnes Hot Times at Montclair High Mr. Nichols Blood Nasty Barry Hefna The Chilling Dr. Miller Deadly Spygames Python The Platinum Triangle Harold Farber 1990 Click: The Calendar Girl Killer Alan Cry Baby Hatchetface's Father Omega Cop Slim Nudity Required Jack Alternative title: Young Starlet Sexpot Phillip 1991 Shock 'Em Dead Record Exec Deadly Diamonds Matt Plimpton Direct to video release 1992 Double Trouble Leonard The Pamela Principle Troy 1993 Showdown Police Captain 1998 Merchants of Venus FBI Agent Alternative title: A Dirty Little Business 2000 The Boys Behind the Desk

Year Title Role Notes 1958 Man Without a Gun Jan Episode: "Night of Violence" The Californians Episode: "A Girl Named Sue" 1959 Rawhide Buzz Travis Episode: "Incident at Alabaster Plain" Wagon Train Ted Garner Segment: "The Hunter Malloy Story" Tales of Wells Fargo Cliff Smith Episode: "The Rawhide Kid" Maverick Dan Jamison Episode: "Pappy" Sugarfoot Ken Savage Episode: "The Wild Bunch" Colt .45 James 'Jim' Gibson Episode: "The Hothead" Bronco Roy ParrottBart Bonner 2 episodes The Alaskans Ted Andrews Episode: "Heart of Gold" 1960 Lawman David Manning Episode: "The Payment" 1960–1961 77 Sunset Strip Star BrightSandy Winfield I 2 episodes 1960–1962 Surfside 6 Sandy Winfield II 71 episodes 1962–1963 Hawaiian Eye Philip Barton 26 episodes 1965 The Patty Duke Show Dr. Morgan Episode: "Operation: Tonsils" 1968 Ironside Father Dugan 2 episodes The Name of the Game Norman Hoak Episode: "Nightmare" 1969 The Virginian Bracken Episode: "Fox, Hound and the Widow McCloud" The Lonely Profession Julian Thatcher Television movie 1970 The Secret Storm R. B. Keefer 1976 Ellery Queen Gilbert Mallory Episode: "The Adventure of the Sinister Scenario" 1977 The Godfather Saga Merle Johnson Miniseries 1978 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Alan Summerville Episode: "Mystery on the Avalanche Express" CHiPs Bob Niles Episode: "Peaks and Valleys" 1978 Vega$ Teddy Howard Episode: "The Games Girls Play" The Eddie Capra Mysteries Duane Episode: "Dying Declaration" 1978–1981 Fantasy Island Jack TerryWallis Jaeger 2 episodes 1980 Laverne and Shirley Himself 1 episode The Love Boat Mr. Clark Episode: "Tell Her She's Great " 1982 Matt Houston William 'Willie' Hoyt Episode: "Joey's Here" 1983 Malibu Clint Redman Television movie 1990 Monsters Dr. Thomas Becker Episode: "Micro Minds" 1998 Legion Flemming Television movie 1999 Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story Rob Kamen Miniseries

YearTitleRoleDirectorVenueNotesRef.1966 1967The Owl and the PussycatFelixPhilip RoseIvanhoe Theatre, Chicago1997Love LettersLuke YankeeSacramento Theatre, Sacramento1998Bye Bye BirdieHarry MacAfeeTour

Troy Donahue was one of the inspirations for The Simpsons character Troy McClure, along with Doug McClure, and a measure of the character's voice actor Phil Hartman. Donahue is mentioned in the song "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee", from the 1971 musical Grease, reflecting his status as a teen idol at the time in which the action is set. The line, which is performed by Stockard Channing in the 1978 film version, is as follows: "As for you, Troy Donahue, I know what you want to do." Donahue is also mentioned in the song "Mother" in the musical A Chorus Line, when the character Bobby sings, "If Troy Donahue could be a movie star, then I could be a movie star."