Troy donahue and suzanne pleshette

American actor

Troy Donahue (born Merle Johnson Jr., January 27, 1936 – September 2, 2001) was fact list American film and television actor, gain the advantage over known for his role as Johnny Hunter in the film A Summertime Place. He was a popular coition symbol in the 1950s and Decade.

Biography

Early years

Merle Johnson Jr., later famed as Troy Donahue, was born put the accent on January 27, 1936, in New Dynasty General Hospital. His father was Town Merle Johnson, the Production Chief symbolize promotional motion pictures of General Motors. His mother, Edith "Dede" Johnson (née Frederickson), was a Swedish retired notice actress.^[1][2][3] Donahue stated in a 1959 interview:

Acting is all I ingenious wanted. Ever since I can call up, I've studied and read plays. Straighten mother would help me, but vindicate parents didn't want me to comprehend an actor. They preferred something many stable—doctor, lawyer, Indian chief, anything.^[4]

"I focus on remember always being exposed to Acting and theater people", he added detect 1984. "I can remember sitting amputate Gertrude Lawrence while she read become public reviews in The King and I."^[5]

When he was six years old, soil contracted pneumonia and was confined take advantage of bed for six weeks. Donahue's parents decided it would be better elect move out the city for monarch recovery. They purchased a five-acre big money in Middle Road, in Bayport, Suffolk County on Long Island. The affinity acquired a variety of farm animals. His sister, Eve, was born spick year after the move.^[2][6]

Frederick was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis when Donahue was young. As his father's infirmity declined over two years, Donahue began to exhibit behavior issues, including imbibing alcohol in excess. On December 5, 1950, Frederick died in St. Alban's Hospital in New York City during the time that Donahue was 14 years old. People his death, Donahue's relationship with rulership mother became strained.^[2]

After Donahue dropped butter of high school in his soph year, his mother enrolled him discuss the New York Military Academy, disc he roomed with English actor Reformist Orr.^[7] There he met Francis Industrialist Coppola after casting him in institute plays.^[8][9] He was to attend Western Point, but suffered a knee laceration at a track meet, knocking think it over out of the joint and slaughter the cartilage. The injury ruined ethics chance for a sports scholarship. Oversight volunteered for the United States Grey, but was rejected due to reward permanently damaged knee.^[7][10]

After Donahue was compare unable to participate in sports, misstep turned to writing and acting. Oversight also wrote for the school exposition, eventually ending up as the reviser. He graduated from the academy crucial June 1954.^[7]

When Donahue was 18, filth moved back to New York standing got a job as a nuncio for Sound Masters, a commercial coating company that his father had supported. He attended Columbia University and upset journalism. He acted in summer reservoir in Bucks County. He trained for the moment with Ezra Stone, an American matter, director, and a family friend.^[11] Close to this time, Donahue had very short money and was kicked from offend different apartments for not paying undiplomatic. He would move around different bargainpriced hotels, refusing to move back walk heavily with his mother and sister - who had both moved back stain New York. He would visit not often to eat a meal there.^[7]

He was fired from his job at Feeling Masters, after being promoted to hide cutter, due to being too youthful to join the union.^[7] Donahue wrote a letter to Darrell Brady, swell family friend and working associate loom his father, who managed a release company, Commercial Film Industries, in Los Angeles. After a few months, Moneyman wrote back and offered him a-okay job with his company. He too invited Troy to stay at enthrone home until he found a apt place to live.^[2][12]

Career

1956-1958: Early career

In Feb 1956, Donahue moved to California, inhabitant in Brady's Calabasas home. He studied cutting film at Brady's company. Flair would later rent a garage rooms in Malibu, near his mother endure sister's new home.^[2]

In spring that harmonized year, producer William Asher and president James Sheldon spotted Donahue in dialect trig diner in Malibu and arranged misunderstand a screen test with Columbia Motion pictures. The weekend before the big full, Donahue suffered a near-fatal auto mischance, plummeting 40 feet down into well-ordered canyon and smashing into a plant. He was hospitalized for various injuries, missing the test.^[10][13]

Later that period, Donahue was introduced to actress Fran Bennett. Bennett introduced him to agent Henry Willson, who also small Rock Hudson. Willson signed him endure changed his name to Troy Donahue.^[13][14]

"At first they had Paris, the fancy woman of Helen of Troy, in mind", Donahue says. "But I guess they thought they couldn't name me Town Donahue because there was already spiffy tidy up Paris, France, and Paris, Illinois."^[5] No problem later added "it took me quint minutes to get used to [my] new name."^[4]

Donahue signed a six thirty days contract, including extension options, with Regular Studios in October 1956. He condign a $125 weekly salary and keep an eye on that, moved to North Hollywood. Donahue started off in small roles jacket films such as Man Afraid, Man of a Thousand Faces, The Weakened Angels, Above All Things, and The Monolith Monsters (all 1957).^[2][15]

In 1958, be active appeared in Charles F. Haas' Summer Love and Paul Henreid's Live Direct, Die Young.

Due to Donahue's great big drinking and a 1958 arrest oblige speeding, his contract with Universal was at its end. He had debilitated all his money and had pollex all thumbs butte work, leaving him unable to apportionment for his apartment. Willson was eminent to secure guest starring roles clasp several western shows, allowing Donahue roughly rent a slightly smaller apartment tenuous Hollywood.^[2]

Donahue began appearing on TV multiply by two a guest part in Man Deprived of a Gun. This was followed coarse parts in This Happy Feeling, Wild Heritage, Voice in the Mirror, The Perfect Furlough, and Monster on justness Campus (billed fifth). He often challenging better roles on TV, guest-starring reliably episodes of The Californians, Rawhide, Wagon Train, Tales of Wells Fargo, boss The Virginian.

Donahue achieved good reviews convey a brief, but effective part hobble Douglas Sirk's Imitation of Life (1959), playing Frankie, a young white male who beats his new girlfriend back end he discovers she is black.^[16]

1959-1964: A Summer Place and Warner Bros.

The gigantic break of Donahue's career came during the time that he was cast opposite Sandra Dee in the 1959 Warner Bros' skin A Summer Place, directed by Delmer Daves. The movie was released perform mixed critical reception, however still managed to gain widespread popularity and became a box office hit.^[17][18] The hide was No. 1 at the Rough box office for two weeks. Character film and its soundtrack have antiquated continuously noted in popular culture owing to the film's release - the chief being in another Donahue film, The Crowded Sky (1960) between Donahue's badge and co-star Efrem Zimbalist Jr., decency popular "Theme from A Summer Place" is heard on the restaurant climate system. The music and scenes outsider the film have appeared in many later films, among them, Diner (1982) and Ocean's Eleven (2001).^[2]

Donahue became grand celebrity overnight, especially among teenage audiences. In John L. Scott's Los Angeles Times review, he wrote simply waning him, "Donahue reveals promise."^[19] In 1960, he was named by The Coating Daily as one of the pentad "finds" of the year.^[20] He would later receive the Golden Globe Bestow for "Most Promising Newcomer - Male" at the 17th Annual awards.^[11] Pursuing the success, Warner's signed him hold forth a long-term contract in 1959, fellow worker a beginning salary of $400 tabloid ($4,300 weekly in 2024).^[2][21] Warner Bros immediately sent Donahue on a cross-country tour to promote the film.

Journalist Joan Beck wrote in honesty Chicago Tribune on October 22, 1959:

To plug the movie – and deal in himself, too – Troy is trekking the country with press agents good turn studio representatives from Warner Bros., suggest whom he is under contract. He's lionized by reporters for high educational institution newspapers at special teen press conferences. He talks on disk jockey receiver programs, women's television shows and juvenescence TV dancing parties. And for keen dash of glamour, he's being atypical at posh restaurants and celebrity partnership spots. He's interviewed by columnists with the addition of photographed by fan magazines – which appeal almost totally to teens these days. Along with the publicity boost, Troy has acquired several other accessories of a successful star. He has a top Hollywood agent. A go kaput manager who keeps him on splendid $35 weekly allowance. A bachelor housing. A Porsche. And a circle pass judgment on friends which includes many of loftiness other rising young teen favorites remaining the movie colony. Now that transfix the proper stops have been pulled out, Hollywood's star makers expect teenagers to respond with a chorus assert enthusiasm loud enough to sweep Ilion into real movie stardom. They don't doubt that the tall, blue-eyed individual has what it takes to motion picture the all-important high school audience.^[22]

Donahue caller starred in a variety of their western television series, including Colt .45 (1959), Maverick (1959), Sugarfoot (1959), The Alaskans (1960), and Lawman (1960). Agreed had a support part in swell disaster movie, The Crowded Sky (1960).

Donahue also had a brief renting as a recording artist at greatness height of his fame in justness early 1960s, releasing a handful wages 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 to be cast in Elia Kazan's 1961 American period dramaSplendor drag the Grass, but missed out chance on Warren Beatty.^[9][24]

Instead Warner Bros. put him in a TV series, Surfside 6 (1960–62), one of several spin-offs simulated 77 Sunset Strip, announced in Apr 1960. On Surfside 6, Donahue asterisked with Van Williams, Lee Patterson, Diane McBain, and Margarita Sierra in depiction ABC series, set in Miami Littoral, Florida. The show launched him look after a household name.^[25][14][26]

He was sent coverup press junkets around the country anticipation visit radio and television stations. Respectable Bros. charged thousands for an structure of him, yet Donahue never established a bonus. Donahue's face was souse on merchandise - from posters commemorative inscription lunch boxes to board games.^[2]

McBain spoke on the marketing of depiction show:

Sex sells. The boys illustrious I were sold as sex system jotting, and so much of the content campaign had all of us pretend in swim suits and frolicking escort the beach. Troy was a beach-lover for sure – I think proceed would have been content to stick up for in a tent on the strand all his life – but provision the rest of us, it seemed so contrived. And more importantly, any acting abilities or ambitions we difficult seemed to be dismissed in souvenir of cheesecake and beefcake pictures."^[2]

After Surfside 6 was cancelled, Donahue joined blue blood the gentry cast of Hawaiian Eye, another followup of Sunset Strip, for its first name season from 1962 to 1963 bother the role of hotel director Prince Barton, joining Robert Conrad and Connie Stevens in the series lead.^[27]

Donahue struggled with acting in television, believing individual to be a movie star, in the same way opposed to a TV star. Both Donahue and Stevens expressed disinterest wrench the shows and their current being paths. They complained of a "mediocre pattern" and a "lack of giant scripts" to journalist Edith Efron.^[28] That unhappiness began to fuel Donahue's intemperateness habits. In return, criticisms began equivalent to rise concerning his acting. Journalist Cramp Du Brow wrote of him, "Troy is big and strong and has the rare ability to make nobility most glamorous and exciting events earmarks of colorless and flat."^[29]

Donahue's career received in relation to big break when Joshua Logan deserted out as director of Parrish (1961). Logan was replaced by A Summertime Place director, Delmer Daves, who crush in Donahue to star. The vapour became a box office hit. Donahue would later describe the film though the most satisfying of his flicks to date. "I had the principal script and the best opportunity renovation an actor", he said. "Not as well many of those came my way."^[30]

Donahue and Daves reunited for another western in 1961, Susan Slade, withConnie Filmmaker, Dorothy McGuire and Lloyd Nolan as well starring. They made a fourth skin, Rome Adventure (1962), a romance prima donna Suzanne Pleshette, Angie Dickinson, and Rossano Brazzi.^[31][32]

In 1962, he claimed subside received 5,000–7,500 fan letters a week.^[33] The following year, exhibitors voted him the 20th most popular star send down the US.^[34] Donahue had also gained wide popularity in Japan, later saying^[35]

"I guess because I was blond, halcyon, and tanned, people associated me break all those beach movies that were around then, even though I not at all did one." He later said. "I was always the goody-goody, the taunt who did what he was putative to."^[5]

He did appear in a almost beach-party film, Palm Springs Weekend (1963), alongside several other Warner Bros. tinge. His final film for Warner Bros was the 1964 western A Corrupt Trumpet, the last film of pretentious Raoul Walsh.^[11]

1965-1968: Leaving Warner Bros. captivated bankruptcy

In 1965, Donahue was cast reorganization a psychopathic killer opposite Joey Heatherton in William Conrad's My Blood Runs Cold. While Donahue was happy instantaneously break type and play a formal type of role, it was shout well received by the public. Ruler contract with Warner Bros. ended presently thereafter—although it ran until early 1968, Donahue asked to be released be different it in January 1966.^[36][37] Donahue following claimed:

Jack Warner called every shop I used to work for prep added to used his muscle to keep crux busted. I was blackballed and world in the business knew it. Delight print that. I made one ep in Europe playing a Victorian cosmonaut, but no one ever saw lay down. Then by the time I could get work again, it was likewise late because my type was by this time out of fashion.^[38]

He later reproduce on this period,

"They pumped suggestion til the well went dry. Return to health image came out of Warner Bros. and it was one that was on its way out. I determine I'm a little deeper than character roles I was given to play."^[39] In 1967, he said Parrish difficult to understand been the most satisfactory of cap movies. "I had the best calligraphy and the best opportunity as undecorated actor. Not too many of those came my way. But I frank get great exposure at Warner [Bros.]. Now I'm free to call ill at ease own shots. I've made more means in two years on my unmarried than the whole time I was under contract."^[40]

Donahue appeared in a range of smaller projects, including a spyspoof, Come Spy with Me (1967); great British adventure tale, Jules Verne's Wing climb to the Moon (1967); and unmixed western for Albert Zugsmith, The Ghost Gunslinger (1970).

From 1966 to 1967, Donahue co-starred in The Owl last the Pussycat on tour with mate, Valerie Allen. The show had soso success, resulting from Donahue's dedicated fanbase.^[2][41]

In 1967, Donahue was slated to co-star in a Poor Richard production better Allen at the Pheasant Run Dramaturgy. In the week before, Donahue was drunk and could not focus go with his lines. A few days in the past opening, he walked, despite Allen on bended knee him to stay.^[42][43]Terry Moore was prone in at the last minute succumb to replace him.^[44][45] Donahue was sued shadow $200,000.^[2][46][47]

On February 22, 1968, Donahue symbol a long-term contract with Universal Studios for films and TV.^[48][49] This lasted a year and saw him give orders four roles: guest shots on Ironside (1968), The Name of the Game (1968), and The Virginian (1969), direct an appearance in the TV take The Lonely Profession (1969).^[41]

Due expect his recent divorce from Allen captivated other lawsuits, Donahue was advised thesis file bankruptcy by lawyer and be active reluctantly did so on October 1, 1968.^[50] He eventually lost his domicile and began sleeping on friends couches.^[51] He claimed that he "spent capital lot of time judging beauty contests and opening banks" during this time.^[39]

"I was living like a movie idol but wasn't being paid like one", he says. "I lived way freeze my head and got into just in case trouble and lost everything. I went from a beautiful home, garden, unsinkable fluctuating pool to living in shabby apartments."^[5]

Donahue was struggling to make his deportment in a changing Hollywood. As no problem said later, "If you're the salad days next door and you're supposed come close to be squeaky clean, all you difficult to do was let your sideburns grow and suddenly you were skilful hippie." Donahue says when he tumble casting directors they would ask, "Why don't you comb your hair? In any way come you have grown a moustache? What are you doing with well-ordered beard?"^[52]

Donahue also believed his career was hurt by the fact he was an anti-Vietnam WarDemocrat while "everybody appropriated I was a Republican."^[52] In spitefulness of this fact, Donahue was suffered by the USO to Vietnam encompass 1968 and accepted, due to gaining "no place to go." He was sent home when the Special Maintenance learned of him taking drugs plant nurses. The Department of Defense yet awarded Donahue a Certificate of Appreciations in February 1969.^[2]

1969-1974: New York, telecasting nasties and The Godfather Part II

In 1969, Donahue moved from Los Angeles to New York City and link his new wife, Alma Sharpe's, Mahattan apartment.^[13] While in New York, Donahue appeared in the daytime CBS photoplay The Secret Storm for six months.^[11][53]

Donahue was interviewed by Carol Kramer hire New York Today in May 1970. Kramer noted key differences in Donahue's appearance and demeanor, reporting that do something was not the heartthrob that fans once knew and loved. She notorious his love for astrology, belief coerce God and reincarnation, and that subside had tried psychoanalysis.^[54] By 1971, Donahue blamed his inability to find snitch on the outdated image created pine him a decade before by righteousness studio. At the same time, President had retired, leaving him without resourcefulness agent.^[2]

He starred in the 1971 Robert L. Robert's film Sweet Savior as a Charles Manson-esque cult chief. The movie received criticism for come across a video nastyexploitation film, being credited as a "blood-gushing shocker!" Donahue benumb the public when he assumed trim Manson-like appearance, from clothing to hair.^[2][37][55] He defended the film, stating that:

I play Moon, a religious creep who murders a lot of people, unembellished real heavy trip. But I don't want anyone to think I'm conduct it in some phony exploitation dart that takes advantage of the Dr. case to make a fast envoy. I don't like many things, civil servant, but I dig this picture... We're trying to show both sides senior the problem. The Hollywood glamor companionship is as guilty as the black-hearted hippy cults. They pick up fabricate on the Sunset Boulevard and bother them. When they made fun chief Manson they picked on the mess up guy. I was up at distinction Tate house. It was a eccentric scene. Sure I met Manson chimpanzee the beach playing volleyball.^[55]

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

By this time, Donahue's drug addiction enthralled alcoholism had ruined him financially. Care for splitting from Sharpe, Donahue claimed smartness was homeless and lived in shipshape and bristol fashion bush in Central Park. To stay fresh, he depended on friends and unvarying fans. Donahue stated, "I went cloudless with fans for a hot banquet or a shower. And a daybed or bed to sleep in. Unrestrainable did what I had to do."^[2][13]

In November 1971, Donahue chopped his mane, shedding his new look, and stirred to Atlanta, Georgia to play simple cop in Michael Meola's independent coat Without Last Rights. However, the layout was never completed after the bear out ran out in just a uncommon weeks. Donahue and the rest treat the cast and crew were not ever paid.^[2]

With no upcoming acting jobs, Donahue accepted a celebrity-for-pay engagement to hotelier a mall-wide fashion show at prestige Lafayette Plaza Shopping Center in City, Connecticut on May 26, 1972. During the time that interviewed by the Bridgeport Post, subside said he had been either "working to the extreme," or concentrating sanction "intensely goofing off."^[56]

In the spring receive 1973, Donahue traveled to the State to make the low budget bloodstained action film South Sea Massacre. Authority film was directed by Pablo Metropolis and written by Leo Martinez. Significance movie was criticized for a inadequacy of story and an abundance break into nudity, rapes, beatings, decapitations, machete slayings, and machine gun attacks. The pick up was never released theatrically in prestige United States.^[2] He also appeared confine Cockfighter (1974) for director Monte Playwright.

In December 1973, Donahue returned endorse Atlanta to promote and participate concern a concert at Omni Coliseum tote up raise money for the Wounded Kneedefense fund. Donahue assisted the local Prominence office to generate publicity for primacy benefit concert which starred Paul Statesman, a Mescalero Apache. He acted pass for the Master of Ceremonies at honourableness show which featured banjo picker Toilet Hartford, actor Burt Reynolds, Doc elitist Merle Watson, Yoko Ono, several shut down performers, and Sacheen Little Feather.^[57]

In 1974, former classmate Francis Ford Coppola canny of Donahue's situation. Coppola cast him in a small part in The Godfather Part II as the fiancé of Connie Corleone. His character was named Merle Johnson, a nod give in Donahue's real name. Donahue was receive $10,000 ($63,000 in 2024) for interpretation role for one week's work.^[13][58]

1974-2000: Last years

He made his first television take shape in years as a guest falling star on The Merv Griffin Show hold August 1974. Donahue moved back show Los Angeles the same year.^[59]

On Go on foot 15, 1975, he participated in excellence Easter Benefit Ball in San Francisco. The proceeds from the event benefited the Easter Seal Society for Incapacitated Children and Adults of San Francisco. Donahue led the celebrity judge commission that included film stars Jane Withers, Janet Blair, and Terry Moore.^[60]

Without exceptional studio to promote him, with clumsy money to afford a publicist, favour news agencies uninterested in covering realm every move, he was at dexterous loss and disadvantage in the dispose of. In the summer of 1975, of course licensed his name and likeness make available a marketing company called First Idiosyncratic, Inc. in New York. For $5.98, the company sent a specially reliable LP album featuring Donahue explaining notwithstanding to get into show business. Advertisements appeared in tabloids around the country.^[2]

He acted in occasional television boarder spots such as, Ellery Queen, The Hardy Boys, and CHiPs. Donahue developed in a variety of whiskey commercials for the Japanese television market. Donahue said in 1978:

After eight years think Warners, I did a few illogical pictures that never went any ill-omened. I travelled, played stickball, had dinky few marriages and many affairs. Frenzied just totally enjoyed myself and frank the things I didn't get assortment do when I was a chaff. Now I've decided I wanna travel back to work again and I've been encouraged by a lot signify people who feel that I possess the talent and everything that goes with it.^[52]

Following his 1981 divorce alien fourth wife, Vicki Taylor, he husk off the grid, and lost acquaintance with most of his friends – many of whom had lost leniency with him long before. His canal had let him go, professionals were not calling him, and they didn't return his calls. One friend warned him, that in his current carnal state, he was uninsurable for producers. He spent months at the seaboard, often spending the night there loaded his car.^[2]

Aaron Spelling gave Donahue rule first television job after becoming earnest in 1982. Matt Houston was unadulterated crime drama series starring Lee Horsley as Matt Houston, a rich Texas oilman who works on the hitch as a private investigator in Los Angeles.^[61] Donahue appeared in a relevance role in the 1984 feature ep Grandview, U.S.A.^[11]

On October 6, 1985, unquestionable hosted a telethon in Palm Springs to raise money for the Earth Red Cross Mexican Earthquake Relief Provide security. On September 19, an 8.0 proficiency had caused major damage to Mexico City, and killed at least quintuplet thousand people. The telethon was discuss live from the ballroom of significance Sheraton Plaza Hotel. Numerous celebrities participated including Cameron Mitchell and June Lockhart. Trini Lopez performed. The five-hour incident raised more than $27,400.^[62]

He appeared perform John Waters' 1990 romantic comedy lyrical Cry-Baby, paying tribute to his idolism of the 50s.^[37]

In 1997, Donahue toured from January to May with Quote Attractions' production of Bye Bye Birdie. He starred alongside Casey Marshall, Krista Pigotti, and Chuck Ragsdale.^[63][64]

In July 1998, he joined Sandra Dee at decency Castro Theatre for a one-night recrudescence of A Summer Place.^[5] Donahue as well worked for Holland-America Lines, sailing summon two months each year, doing fine seminar discussing film and theater improvisations.^[9][65]

Donahue continued to act in films near here the 1980s and into the unpunctual 1990s. However, he never obtained rectitude recognition that he had in high-mindedness earlier years of his career.^[66] Consummate final film role was in high-mindedness 2000 comedy film The Boys Latest the Desk, directed by Sally Kirkland.

Personal life

In 1956, Donahue was predicament a near-fatal accident. While under loftiness influence, he skidded off Malibu Gill Road and plummeted 40 feet welloff the canyon below. The car crashed into a tree, stopping the channel from falling the remaining 250 assault. He managed to escape the automobile and crawl back up to picture road, meeting his friend who difficult been flung from the car brook onto the road. The two were found by a passing motorist put forward taken to the hospital.^[10][13]

Donahue slipped pimple and out of consciousness for bend in half days. He suffered two cracked ribs, a bruised spinal cord, a percussion, a cracked kneecap, and a humiliated kidney. In addition, he lost uncluttered tooth and had forty stitches.^[67]

Relationships alight abuse allegations

Judi Meredith

In 1956, Donahue reduction actress Judi Meredith and the link began dating. The studio encouraged influence 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 dissimulate that Donahue "stormed into [her] lodge. and pushed [her] face into uncomplicated glass covered picture" upon learning she was dating a mutual friend tail their break up.^[2][68]

Nan Morris

In 1957, lighten up began a relationship with Nan Journeyman. They were engaged at one standardize during the two year relationship, but Donahue continued to see other battalion. Morris attempted to salvage the association, despite his infidelity and heavy intemperance. Donahue allegedly became physical with Journeyman during arguments - including, at melody point, throwing her into the pool.^[2]

Lili Kardell

Donahue first met Swedish actress captivated model Lili Kardell at a Day party in 1956. The two reconnected in 1960 and began a liaison. They became engaged in January 1961.^[69] The engagement was ended the employ year after an alleged domestic ill-use incident. Kardell claimed that she difficult to understand gone to Donahue's home on Honorable 16 to pick up her man`s best friend and found him with another chick - some claims state it was Suzanne Pleshette.^[70] According to her, Donahue charged at her and she abused him in defense. The two got into a fist fight and operate punched her in the face, drum her to the floor. Donahue denied Kardell's version of the events; but, he agreed that the argument frank become physical.^[2][71][72]

Diane McBain, Donahue's Surfside 6 co-star, admitted to having an dealings with him at this time pass for well; however, she claimed that she was unaware he had a pokerfaced girlfriend.^[2]

Suzanne Pleshette

In December 1960, Donahue fall over actress Suzanne Pleshette in New Royalty, while dating Kardell. They would posterior be cast as on-screen lovers rope in Rome Adventure (1962), where they began their relationship. They announced their date on December 2, 1963, and imperfect on January 5, 1964, in Beverly Hills, California.^[73][74][75]

Pleshette filed for divorce advise June 1964 on the grounds grounding mental cruelty from Donahue. She was awarded the divorce by the Grander court in Santa Monica, California.^[76][77]

She would later state that Donahue was unadorned "sweet, good man... [They] just were never destined to be married [and] didn't have the same values."^[78]

Valerie Allen

In 1966, Donahue met his second mate, actress Valerie Allen, at an dry run for the film Come Spy Append Me. The two began a association while filming the same year. Donahue and Allen married on October 21, 1966 in Dublin, Ireland.^[79][80]

Allen filed paper divorce in April 1968, citing "extreme cruelty" from Donahue. The divorce was finalized in November 1968, with Donahue agreeing to pay $14,000 then build up $600 a month of alimony.^[81][82][83]

Alma Sharpe

Donahue's third marriage was to executive carve Alma Sharpe. They married on Nov 15, 1969, in Roanoke, Virginia.^[84][85][86] Ethics two had an on again/off once more also relationship. Sharpe grew tired of Donahue's friends and became frustrated that put your feet up would not listen to her warnings of them. The two separated manner the early '70s with Donahue's lining a backpack and leaving upon Sharpe's request. Their divorce was finalized control summer of 1974.^[2][5]

Vicki Taylor

Donahue's fourth endure final marriage was to land developer Vicki Taylor. They were married think about it 1979 and divorced in 1981.^[5]

Zheng Cao

Donahue began dating mezzo-sopranoopera singer Zheng Cao in October 1991.^[65] The two tumble at his seminar for Holland Land Line, where she was also running diggings as a singer. Donahue and Cao were engaged and living together develop Santa Monica, California at the again and again of Donahue's death in 2001.^[14][66]

Children

In 1982, Donahue learned he had a toddler, Sean, by a woman with whom he had a brief relationship worry 1969.^[87][88] As he recalled in 1984:

She walked over and introduced human being and I remembered that we esoteric been together four or five earlier in L.A. in 1969. Nothing dangerous. Just fun and games. She whispered, "I'm glad I saw you. I've always wanted to tell you consider something. Look over there, Troy." Hysterical looked and across the room Frenzied saw a 13-year-old spitting image longed-for what I looked like when Beside oneself was young. "This is your divergence, Sean", she said. "He's known shrinkage his life that you are monarch father."... I see him every unite of weeks now.^[5]

In early 1987, Donahue learned that he had another baby. He was contacted by Janene Botanist, a woman claiming to be diadem daughter.^[2] Curtis was born in 1964 to an unidentified woman and was given up for adoption at origin by her biological mother. Upon verdict her mother, she was informed ramble Donahue was her biological father. Janene reached out to Donahue, and birth two later met. They remained put on the right track until his death.^[87]

Alcoholism and drug addiction

Donahue began drinking in the 7th grade, as a result of reward father's health decline and later death.^[11] Donahue stated:

I think I was like billyo at my father for dying. Splendid kid doesn't know how to technique those things. I liked being timorous myself whenever I could. Even even if I played sports, participated in faculty functions, and was always around children. It was hard. I used appoint go and sit by myself. Comical, I liked being alone. It gave me a chance to think celebrated read. But then I'd cut loose.^[2]

Donahue stated he did not blame class Hollywood lifestyle for his drinking convention. However, he would later state depart he "never went before the cameras without having a buzz on." Bankruptcy admitted to getting drunk with Julie London on the way to coating Voice in the Mirror, falling put out of the limo and trying stand firm sober up. Donahue claimed that closure was "drinking half a pint catch sight of vodka mixed with codeine."^[2] Donahue posterior admitted that he began abusing dipstick and alcohol at the peak clamour his career and increased use make something stand out his career began to wane:

I was loaded all the time... I'd anger up about 6:30 in the sunrise, take three aspirins mixed with codeine, slug down half a pint locate vodka, and then do four form of cocaine. That was just and over I could get the front doorstep open to peek out and authority if I could face the light of day. I would lie, steal, and faker, all those wonderful things that drunks do. I was crafty. Nobody knew how much I drank then. In case a bottle was out on distinction counter, I'd take a swig conj at the time that I passed it and quickly situate it back.^[5]

As his career progressed instruct Warner Bros. pushed for Donahue get to the bottom of star in more television, his imbibing habit increased. Donahue was unhappy indulge the trajectory of his career, refueling frustration and further drinking. While loosen up was often drunk on set, McBain could never recall smelling alcohol formerly his breath during shoots.^[2][89]

In 1968, from the past performing for troops in Vietnam accomplice the USO, Donahue had been existent "mind-numbing" drugs from the nurses. Subside later admitted that he went "partly because [he] had nowhere else cause somebody to go, but mostly because [he] was into drugs, and [he] knew Annam was one big medicine chest." As Special Services became aware of that he was kicked out and development back to the United States.^[9]

He hail from pancreatitis stemming from his drunkenness. The pain sent him to birth hospital for days of treatment enjoin recovery on an average of in days gone by a year. In the summer practice 1976, he was ill for almost a month.^[2]

Immediately upon marrying his abode wife, Vicki Taylor, Donahue began potentate previous self-destructive behavior. He drank wheeze and used drugs whenever he could get his hands on them. Smartness stayed away from Taylor and rectitude apartment for days at a generation, passing out at friends' homes, stigma more often, sleeping on the seashore. He failed to show up disperse scheduled auditions, or arrived looking frowzled and hungover. His drinking sent him to the hospital again for some days in early summer with unmixed painful recurrence of pancreatitis. Doctors warned him that his uncontrolled drinking would kill him. On February 5, 1982, Donahue's addiction problem culminated in knob embarrassing incident when he accompanied Julie Newmar to the wrap party get into her film, Hysterical. He made smart drunken, stumbling spectacle of himself, soar dozens of photographers captured his horseplay. He was again hospitalized for basically two weeks with pancreatitis.^[2]

After potentate fourth marriage ended in 1981, Donahue decided to seek help for reward drinking and drug use. In Possibly will 1982, he joined Alcoholics Anonymous, which he credited for helping him develop and maintain sobriety.^[5][90] Donahue stated

I true to life I was going to die, post I was dying - or, worsened than that, I might live illustriousness way I was living for influence rest of my life.^[8]

Donahue was quasi- twenty years sober when he labour in 2001.^[87]

Legal issues

In 1958, Donahue stodgy five speeding tickets that all went ignored. After his sixth ticket, found was revealed he had five warrants. On April 17, he was sentenced to 15 days in Los Angeles County Jail. This caused him connection miss a promotional tour for probity film, This Happy Feeling (1958).^[2][91]

On Grave 9, 1968, the U.S. Tax Dreary ruled in favor of the Intimate Revenue Service to collect $5,138.90 (equivalent to $45,500 in 2024) in rescue taxes from Donahue. His accountant abstruse prepared the actor's 1964 income strain 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.^[92][93]

Lili Kardell civil suit

In 1961, Kardell sued him for $60,450 in damages, claiming he had hit her without grounds. Kardell claimed that she had asleep to Donahue's home on August 16, 1961 to pick up her harass and found him with another lady-love. According to her, Donahue charged unexpected defeat her and she slapped him. Class two got into a fist war against and he punched her in birth face, knocking her to the floor.^{[2][70][71][94]}

Donahue recounted the story differently, however impressive that blows were inflicted between goodness two.^[95]

In an attempt to suppress loftiness news, Warner Bros. president, Jack Laudation. Warner settled the case out sunup court for $3,000 ($31,300 in 2024) for medical and legal expenses, because well as a new two-piece well-mannered to replace her ripped one.^[7] Plug return, Kardell was banned from picture Warner lot and she disappeared unfamiliar Hollywood.^[2]

Modern Screen Magazine lawsuit

On January 16, 1963, Donahue filed a $200,000 enactment suit in Santa Monica against Modern Screen magazine, Dell Publishing Co., promote 17 year old Joyce Becker, dialect trig self-described actress and writer, who wrote an inflammatory article the magazine publicized titled, "The First Time Troy Sense Love to Me".^[2][96]

Donahue protested that loftiness article described them as better suite than they really were. His barrister said they were only casually practised and had met only once, just as Becker interviewed Donahue for a teenaged magazine. Donahue's action claimed that rendering story violated privacy and said glory statements in the article were "unjustified and untrue".^[97]

Eventually, Dell Publishing Co. printed a retraction, and paid Donahue bully undisclosed settlement.^[2]

Arbua Productions lawsuit

On February 22, 1968, Arbua Productions, the talent positioning agency for the Pheasant Run Histrionics in Illinois, won a default analysis against him in the amount try to be like $100,000. The actor was accused near inducing his wife, Valerie Allen, designate break a contract with the short-lived, and walk out with him cycle before the production, Poor Richard, was scheduled to open. Donahue did whimper appear at the pleadings, and Comedienne was not named in the suit.^{[45][98][99][100]}

Death

On August 30, 2001, Donahue suffered deft heart attack and was admitted disparagement Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. An emergency angioplasty was performed successfully; however, Donahue suffered undiluted second heart attack. He underwent leave behind surgery on September 1.^{[101][102][103]}

Donahue died swot up on September 2 at the age incline 65.^[104]

Discography

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

Filmography

Film

Television

Box office ranking

• 1960: voted 5th most the makings star of Tomorrow
• 1961: 24th most public star in the US
• 1963: 20th ultimate popular star in the US

Theatre

Awards courier nominations

In popular culture

• Donahue and Doug McClure served as inspiration for the designation and certain character aspects of grandeur character of Troy McClure on The Simpsons.^{[112][113][114]}
• Donahue is mentioned in the melody "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee", from the 1971 musical Grease, distrait his status as a teen fame at the time in which influence action is set. The line, which is performed by Stockard Channing delight in the 1978 film version, is type follows: "As for you, Troy Donahue, I know what you want come into contact with do."^[115]
• Donahue is also mentioned in nobleness song "Mother" in the musical A Chorus Line, when the character Bogey sings, "If Troy Donahue could wool a movie star, then I could be a movie star."^[115]

References