Who's still with us?
I like to watch the TV shows that were on when I was growing up and cone group of shows I remember watching were the Warner Brothers Detective Shows. I was trying to think of which cast members of those shows were still alive and still working in the business today.
77 SUNSET STRIP 1958-64 (6 of 9 still living)
Stu Bailey - Efrem Zimbalist Jr.: Born 11/30/18, now age 92. Film/TV credits from 1946-2008 Still performing on stage as late as 2007
Jeff Spencer - Roger Smith: Born 12/18/32, now age 78. Film/TV credits from 1956-1968. Stopped acting due to myasthenia gravis and to manage the career of his second wife, Ann-Margaret.
Kookie - Edd Byrnes: Born 7/30/33, now age 78. Film/TV credits from 1956-1999. Career went downhill due to a contract dispute with Warner Brothers, typecasting and alcoholism.
Roscoe - Louie Quinn: Born 3/23/15, died 9/14/88, age 73, (lung cancer). Film/TV credits from 1956-1987. Former comedy writer.
Suzanne - Jacqueline Beer: Born 10/14/32, now age 78. Film/TV credits from 1955-1979. Former beauty queen. Married Thor Hyerdahl in 1991 and is presently the board chairperson of his foundation.
Lt. Gilmore - Byron Keith: Born 11/17/17. Died 1/19/96, age 78. Film/TV credits from 1946-1973.
J. R. Hale - Robert Logan: Born 5/29/41, now age 70. Film/TV credits from 1961-1997
Rex Randolph - Richard Long: Born 12/17/27. Died 12/21/74, age 47. Film/TV credits from 1946-1974. Had long-standing heart condition.
Hannah- Joan Staley: Born 5/20/40, now age 71. Film/TV credits from 1960-2009, (but not much after 1960’s). Former Playboy centerfold.
BOURBON STREET BEAT 1959-60 (2 of 4 still living)
Rex Randolph - Richard Long: Born 12/17/27. Died 12/21/74, age 47 (heart attack). Film/TV credits from 1946-1974. Had long-standing heart condition.
Cal Calhoun - Andrew Duggan: Born 12/28/23 Died 5/15/88, age 64 (throat cancer). Film/TV credits from 1949-1987
Kenny Madison - Van Williams: Born 2/27/34, now age 77. Film/TV credits from 1954-1993 but only one after the 1970’s.
Melody Lee Mercer - Arlene Howell Born 10/25/35, now age 75. Film/TV credits from 1958-66. Former beauty queen.
HAWAIIAN EYE 1959-1963 (5 of 9 still living)
Tracy Steele - Anthony Eisley: Born 1/19/25. Died 1/20/03, age 78, (heart failure). Film/TV Credits from 1952-1991
Tom Lopaka - Robert Conrad: Born 3/1/29, now age 82. Film/TV credits from 1958-2002. Badly injured in a car crash 2003 that left his left side paralyzed.
Greg MacKenzie - Grant Williams: Born 8/31/31. Died 7/28/85, age 53 (peronitis). Film.TV credits from 1954-1976. Difficult to get along with, very argumentative and drank too much, his career faded after Hawaiian Eye and he didn’t take care of himself.
Cricket Blake - Connie Stevens: Born 8/8/38, now age 73. Film/TV credits from 1957-2011. Popular singer.
Kazuo Kim- Poncie Ponce: Born: 4/10/33, now age 78. Film/TV credits from 1959-1987 but not much after the 60’s.
Moke - Doug Mossman. DOB unknown. Film/TV credits from 1959-2004.
Mt. Danny Quon - Mel Prestridge: Born: 11/20/28. Died 1/25/11, age 82. Film/TV credits 1958-78. Was an LA County Sheriff when he got the role of Danny Quon and kept both jobs- he actually could have arrested someone on the set!
Philip Barton - Troy Donahue: Born 1/27/36. Died 9/2/01, age 65, (heart attack). Film/TV credits from 1957-2000. After early stardom, became an alcoholic and drug addict and was homeless at one point.
Sunny Day- Tina Cole: Born 8/4/43, now age 68. Film/TV credits from 1963-2005 but only one after 1974. A member of the King Family singers.
SURFSIDE 6 1960-62 (2 of 8 still alive)
Sandy Winfield II - Troy Donahue: Born 1/27/36. Died 9/2/01, age 65, (heart attack). Film/TV credits from 1957-2000. After early stardom, became an alcoholic and drug addict and was homeless at one point.
Ken Madison - Van Williams: Born 2/27/34, now age 77. Film/TV credits from 1954-1993 but only one after the 1970’s.
Dave Thorne - Lee Patterson: Born 3/31/29. Died 2/14/07, age 77. Film/TV credits from 1953-1994
Cha Cha O’Brien - Margarita Sierra: Born 1/5/36. Died 9/6/63, age 27, (heart disease). Nightclub singer- this was her only acting credit. She always looked about a decade older than her listed age to me, but died very young of a congenital heart problem in any case.
Daphne Dutton - Diane McBain: Born 5/18/41, now age 70. TV Film Credits from 1959-2001. Both miscast as a “bad girl” and typecast, her career faded. She was raped in 1982 and became a crusader for rape victims.
Lt. Snedigar - Donald “Red” Barry: Born 1/11/12. Died 7/17/80, age 68, (suicide). TV/Film credits from 1933-1981. Appeared in many westerns. Famed for his temper, which limited his career.
Lt. Gene Plehn - Richard Crane: Born 6/6/18. Died 3/9/69, age 50, (heart attack). Film/TV credits from 1940-1968.
Mousie- Mousie Garner: Born 7/31/09. Died 8/8/04, age 95. Film/TV credits from 1929-2008. Worked with the three stooges.
The Warner Brother announcer was Dick Tufeld, Born 12/11/26. He was also the voice of Robbie the Robot on “Lost in Space”.
Including Tufeld, that’s 15 of 28 still living as of 9/8/2011, (I didn‘t count Van Williams, Troy Donahue or Richard Long twice).
The past is a series of presents. The present is living history we are privileged to witness