Don Porter

About Don Porter

Who is it?: Actor, Director, Sound Department
Birth Day: September 24, 1912
Birth Place:  Miami, Oklahoma, United States
Died On: February 11, 1997(1997-02-11) (aged 84)\nBeverly Hills, California, U.S.
Birth Sign: Libra
Occupation: Actor
Years active: 1939 – 1988
Spouse(s): Peggy Converse (m. 1944)

Don Porter Net Worth

Don Porter was born on September 24, 1912 in  Miami, Oklahoma, United States, is Actor, Director, Sound Department. Veteran actor Don Porter started his career on stage and in "B" films in the 40s but would be better remembered for his buttoned-down executives and cheery dads on 50s and 60s TV. Universal Studios signed the handsome, articulate, deep-voiced actor to a contract in 1939 debuting in Mystery in the White Room (1939). He continued on in a rather non-descript fashion as co-star of second-string potboilers such as Night Monster (1942), Abbott and Costello's Who Done It? (1942), Eyes of the Underworld (1943), and, most noticeably, opposite June Lockhart's She-Wolf of London (1947) as her heroic fiance. Seemingly headed toward obscurity, he refocused his career in the 50s with television and took a strategic turn toward light, superficial comedy. He finally hit pay dirt co-starring as Ann Sothern's exasperated boss on "Private Secretary." Their chemistry proved so winning that he segued into her next series "The Ann Sothern Show" (albeit the second season) again as her boss. Although quite adept at drama with his portrayals of spiffy 'stuffed shirt' types whose shady intentions were often disguised by impeccable table manners and a pleasant disposition, Don's forte was still breezy, cheeky comedy and he was most fittingly cast as Sally Field's bewildered and bemused dad on the "Gidget" series. He had already played Gidget's father once before in the 1963 film Gidget Goes to Rome (1963) with Cindy Carol. Don kept quite busy after the series' demise in 1966 with numerous guest roles although such forgettable film fodder as Elvis Presley's mediocre Live a Little, Love a Little (1968) and Lucille Ball's misguided version of Mame (1974) as the stuck-up Mr. Upson didn't improve his lot. With perhaps the exception of the terrific Robert Redford film The Candidate (1972) in which he ably portrayed a martinet Republican incumbant, Don was a highly appealing and durable actor but seldom tested, with most of his roles noted for their lack of dimension. Long married to actress Peggy Converse, who was a few years older than Don, the couple appeared frequently together on stage in such 60s touring productions as "The Best Man," "Any Wednesday" and "Love and Kisses." Porter died in 1997 at age 84.
Don Porter is a member of Actor

💰Don Porter Net worth: $1.1 Million

Some Don Porter images

Biography/Timeline

1930

Born in Miami, Oklahoma, Porter began his acting career in the late 1930s. Porter's obituary in the Deseret News reported that his career in show Business began in Portland, Oregon, after he served in World War II.

1940

He appeared in various films in the 1940s before landing the role of Peter Sands, the boss of Susan Camille MacNamara (Ann Sothern) on the 1950s sitcom Private Secretary. A retooled version of the series appeared later, titled The Ann Sothern Show. It featured many of the same actors, including Porter as hotel manager James Devery, in the venue of a fashionable New York City hotel. He later guest starred on episodes of Green Acres, Love, American Style, The Mod Squad, Barnaby Jones, The Six Million Dollar Man, Hawaii Five-O, Three's Company (on which he played Jack Tripper's uncle), and Switch. Porter also had a lucrative stage career that included the long-running hit Any Wednesday (1964) opposite Sandy Dennis and Gene Hackman.

1952

Porter also appeared in numerous films including The Turning Point (1952), Our Miss Brooks (1956), Gidget Goes to Rome (playing Russell Lawrence two years prior to repeating the role in the series), The Candidate (1972), and as Mr. Upson in the film adaptation of Mame (1974) with Lucille Ball and Bea Arthur. Porter made his last onscreen appearance in a 1988 episode of CBS Summer Playhouse.

1968

Besides his work in film and television, Porter was active on stage, as he acted in more than 200 plays. His Broadway credits include The Front Page (1968), Plaza Suite (1967), and Any Wednesday (1963).

1997

Porter was married to Actress Peggy Converse with whom he had two children. He died at the age of 84 at his home in Beverly Hills, California on February 11, 1997. He was survived by his wife, a son, two sisters, a brother, and two grandchildren.