7.4
7.4
Imitation of Life
1959
as Frankie
Troy Donahue
Acting
Born:January 27, 1936
Died:September 2, 2001(aged 65)
Birthplace:New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality:United States
Education:Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, New York Military Academy, Columbia University
N/A
CommunityBiography
Troy Donahue (born Merle Johnson Jr., January 27, 1936 – September 2, 2001) was an American film and television actor and singer. He was a popular sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s. His father was Merle Johnson, the manager of the motion-picture department of General Motors. His mother, Edith Johnson, was a retired stage actress. Donahue attended a New York military academy, where he met Francis Ford Coppola. When Donahue was 18, he moved to New York and got a job as a messenger in a film company founded by his father. He was fired, he says, because he was too young to join the union. He attended Columbia University and studied journalism. He trained briefly with Ezra Stone, and then moved to Hollywood. The big break of Donahue's career came when he was cast opposite Sandra Dee in A Summer Place, made by Warner Bros. in 1959. The director was Delmer Daves. Warner signed him to a long-term contract. They put him to work guest-starring in episodes of their Western TV series, such as Colt .45 (1959), Maverick (1959), Sugarfoot (1959), The Alaskans (1960), and Lawman (1960). In 1968, Donahue signed a long-term contract with Universal Studios for films and TV. This lasted a year and saw him get four roles: guest shots on Ironside (1968), The Name of the Game (1968), and The Virginian (1969), and an appearance in the TV movie The Lonely Profession (1969). Donahue declared bankruptcy in 1968 and eventually lost his home. In 1969, Donahue moved from Los Angeles to New York City. By this time, Donahue's drug addiction and alcoholism had ruined him financially. In May 1982, he joined Alcoholics Anonymous, which he credited for helping him achieve and maintain sobriety. Donahue continued to act in films throughout the 1980s and into the late 1990s. Donahue's final film role was in the 2000 comedy film The Boys Behind the Desk, directed by Sally Kirkland. On August 30, 2001, Donahue suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica. He died three days later, on September 2, at the age of 65.
Filmography (67 movies)
6.7
6.7
The Tarnished Angels
1957
as Frank Burnham
6.7
6.7
The Perfect Furlough
1958
as Sgt. Nickles
6.5
6.5
Cry-Baby
1990
as Hatchet's Father
6.5
6.5
A Summer Place
1959
as Johnny Hunter
6.5
6.5
The Monolith Monsters
1957
as Hank Jackson
6.1
6.1
Monster on the Campus
1958
as Jimmy Flanders
6.0
6.0
Cockfighter
1974
as Randall Mansfield
5.8
5.8
Merchants of Venus
1998
as FBI Agent
5.8
5.8
Susan Slade
1961
as Hoyt Brecker
5.8
5.8
Man Afraid
1957
as Reporter (uncredited)
5.8
5.8
Voice in the Mirror
1958
as Paul Cunningham
5.7
5.7
Grandview, U.S.A.
1984
as Donny Vinton
5.7
5.7
Live Fast, Die Young
1958
as Artie Sanders / Artie Smith
5.6
5.6
The Crowded Sky
1960
as McVey
5.5
5.5
Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon
1967
as Gaylord Sullivan
5.5
5.5
Rome Adventure
1962
as Don Porter
5.3
5.3
A Distant Trumpet
1964
as 2nd Lt. Matthew 'Matt' Hazard
5.3
5.3
Fight to Win
1987
as Rosenberg
5.2
5.2
The Platinum Triangle
1989
as Harold Farber
5.0
5.0
Seizure
1974
as Mark Frost
5.0
5.0
Summer Love
1958
as Sax Lewis
5.0
5.0
Parrish
1961
as Parrish McLean
4.9
4.9
Dr. Alien
1989
as Dr. Ackerman
4.8
4.8
Deadly Prey
1987
as Don Michaelson
4.8
4.8
Hard Rock Nightmare
1988
as Uncle Gary
4.8
4.8
Palm Springs Weekend
1963
as Jim Munroe
4.7
4.7
Double Trouble
1992
as Leonard
4.7
4.7
The Drifting Classroom
1987
as Taggart
4.6
4.6
Low Blow
1986
as John Templeton
4.5
4.5
Wild Heritage
1958
as Jesse Bascomb
4.5
4.5
My Blood Runs Cold
1965
as Ben Gunther
4.5
4.5
Hawkeye
1988
as Mayor
4.4
4.4
Hollywood Cop
1987
as Lt Maxwell
4.4
4.4
Showdown
1993
as Police Captain
4.2
4.2
Shock 'Em Dead
1991
as Record Exec
4.1
4.1
Sounds of Silence
1989
as Larry Haughton
4.0
4.0
The Phantom Gunslinger
1970
as Bill
4.0
4.0
This Happy Feeling
1958
as Tony Manza
4.0
4.0
Outrage
1977
as Daniel
3.9
3.9
Cyclone
1987
as Bob Jenkins
3.9
3.9
The Pamela Principle
1992
as Troy
3.8
3.8
Bad Blood
1988
as Jack Barnes
3.7
3.7
The Chilling
1989
as Dr. Miller
3.4
3.4
Hot Times at Montclair High
1989
as Mr. Nichols
3.4
3.4
Nudity Required
1990
as Jack
3.3
3.3
Assault of the Party Nerds
1989
as Sid Witherspoon
3.2
3.2
Sweet Savior
1971
as Moon
3.2
3.2
Legion
1998
as Flemming
3.1
3.1
Click: The Calendar Girl Killer
1990
as Alan
3.0
3.0
American Rampage
1989
as Police Psychiatrist
3.0
3.0
Terminal Force
1989
as Slim
3.0
3.0
Tin Man
1983
as Lester
2.9
2.9
Bimbo Movie Bash
1997
as Dr. Ackerman (archive footage)
2.8
2.8
Omega Cop
1990
as Slim
2.3
2.3
Malibu
1983
as Clint Redman
2.3
2.3
Blood Nasty
1989
as Barry Hefna
1.3
1.3
Deadly Spygames
1989
as Python
1.0
1.0
Sexpot
1990
as Phillip
1.0
1.0
Deadly Diamonds
1991
as Matt Plimpton
Split Second to an Epitaph
1968
as Father Dugan
Come Spy with Me
1967
as Jill Parsons
South Seas
1974
as Steve
The Legend of Frank Woods
1977
as Sheriff John Baxom
Lover, Come Back to Me
1983
The Lonely Profession
1969
as Julian Thatcher
The Boys Behind the Desk
2000
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