A Portrait of Pam Dawber and Mark Harmon

 

Mark Harmon and Pam Dawber were married on March 21, 1987 and this year they will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.  That's pretty impressive by Hollywood standards, isn't it?

Mark and Pam are the parents of two sons, Sean Thomas and Ty Christian.  Sean was born on April 25, 1988 and Ty was born on June 25, 1992.  The couple met in March of 1986 at a party given by a mutual friend and were introduced to each other by actress Gina Hecht.  They have always been a tad reclusive and they have guarded their privacy fiercely. 

Pam Dawber was born in the Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills, Michigan on October 18, 1951.  She is the daughter of Eugene E. Dawber, a commercial artist and his wife Thelma (nee Fisher), a photo agency operator.  Pam was raised in Farmington Hills where she attended North Farmington High School.  Gifted with a beautiful soprano voice, she later prepared for a singing career at Oakland Community College in Oakland County, Michigan.  While at the college, she did some modelling in Detroit.

At the age of 19, Pam Dawber moved to New York City and began a career as a fashion model, eventually signing a contract with the Wilhelmina Model Agency.  She went on to study acting and was cast in her breakout role as Mindy McConnell.

From 1978 to 1982, Pam played Mindy in the hit television series Mork and Mindy.  She and co-star Robin Williams shot to fame in this comedy about a wisecracking extraterrestrial, Mork from the planet "Ork," played by Williams. 

In December of 1976, Pam suffered the devastating loss of her only sibling.  Born with a heart condition, Leslie Dawber, Pam's younger sister, was just 22 years old when she died during open-heart surgery. 

After Leslie's death, Pam underwent therapy.  "When a tragedy happens that big," she told People magazine in 1987, "you have to reassess your life."  She said, "I believe my sister is out there somewhere, and that is a calming idea."

After the demise of Mork and Mindy, Pam Dawber, won the lead role in another situation comedy.  From 1986 to 1988, she played freelance photographer Samantha Russell on My Sister Sam.  Sam Russell shared a San Francisco apartment with her younger sister Patti, played by Rebecca Schaeffer. 

Sadly, on July 18, 1989, an obsessed fan killed Rebecca in the doorway of her Los Angeles apartment building.  The crazed gunman, John Bardo, had been stalking the 21-year-old actress for three years.  Her tragic murder left Pam heartbroken at the death of her television sister.



Rebecca Schaeffer

Pam Dawber has not been active on screen for quite awhile.  In a 2008 interview, she said she may return to acting at some point.  She also revealed that she had not seen Robin Williams for about eight years.  To watch the 2008 interview, click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qAY7gBe-5A


Mark Harmon is the son of American football hero Tom Harmon.  Tom won the Heisman Trophy in 1940 and is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the Michigan Wolverines.  After his retirement from football, he became a sports broadcaster.  On March 15, 1990, Tom Harmon passed away in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack.  He was 70 years old.

Mark's mother, Elyse Knox, died last week at her home in Los Angeles.  She was 94 years old at the time of her death.  Elyse was a model and fashion designer in Manhattan until Hollywood beckoned in the late 1930s.  A contract player, she appeared in almost 40 films for major studios.  When she married Tom Harmon in 1944, Elyse's wedding dress was made from the parachute that saved his life when his plane was shot down over China during World War II.

Tom and Elyse settled in Los Angeles and raised three children: Sharon Kristen (born June 25, 1945); Kelly Jean (born November 9, 1948) and Thomas Mark (born September 2, 1951).  Mark and his older sisters all became actors.  In 1963, Kristen married singer/actor Ricky Nelson of Ozzie and Harriet fame.  She and Rick had four children and divorced acrimoniously.

In 1987, two years after Rick's death in a plane accident, Mark and Pam petitioned for custody of their nephew, Sam Hilliard Nelson (born August 29, 1974), Kristen and Rick's youngest child.  They contended that Kristen was incapable of being a good parent due to drug use and mood swings. 

Sam was 13 at the time and the custody battle was highly publicized.  It tore the Harmon family apart.  In the end, however, Mark and Pam dropped the petition and Kristen was given custody of Sam.  Mark and his wife were granted visitation rights.

Following in his father's footsteps, Mark Harmon was a college football star during his days at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).  In 1972, he appeared with his parents in a television commercial for Kellogg's Product 19.

Click on the link below to watch the Kellogg's Product 19 ad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvKLC01cY_k

Mark Harmon launched his long and highly successful television career with an appearance on Ozzie's Girls, a 1973-74 syndicated series starring his sister Kristen's in-laws, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. Since 1973, Mark has been involved in series after series including St. Elsewhere, Moonlighting, Chicago Hope and The West Wing. He often plays the role of a doctor or a law enforcement officer.

On the medical drama St. Elsewhere, Mark portrayed Dr. Robert "Bobby" Caldwell, a philandering plastic surgeon.  He played the role from 1983 until the final episode of the series in 1986.  In that last episode, it was revealed that Dr. Caldwell was HIV postive. 

Harmon, now 60 years old, currently plays the lead role in the No 1 series on American television.  The series is called NCIS, which stands for Naval Criminal Investigative Service.  It's in its ninth season and recently celebrated its 200th episode.

NCIS is viewed in more than 200 countries around the world and is translated into more than 20 different languages.  This forensic police show, originally a spinoff of the CBS drama JAG, made its debut in 2003.  Mark Harmon plays the part of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a former sniper, who leads a fictional team of special agents headquartered in Washington, D.C.  Their mission is to investigate crimes within the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

Mark and Pam's eldest son, 23-year-old Sean Harmon, is also an actor and has portrayed the young Gibbs on NCIS.  Sean attended the Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) and has had small roles in independent productions.  He has also taken classes in stunt coordination.

Sean T. Harmon

Mark Harmon is a master at evading unwanted questions.  In matters regarding his family, he remains steadfastly and unfailingly discreet.  For example, when asked about the possibility of his actress wife, Pam, appearing as a guest star on NCIS, Harmon replied, "You'll have to ask her." 

Pam and Mark have worked together in the past.  In the late 1990s, they performed in the play Love Letters.  They also played husband and wife John and Barbara Cooper in the 1999 film I'll Remember April.  The film tells the story of four young boys who discover a shipwrecked Japanese soldier during World War II and must decide whether to save him.

To watch a video about Mark, Pam and their children, click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGx9HkiBiao


Editor's Note and Update (December 28, 2012)  

A reader pointed out that I neglected to mention that Mark Harmon appeared in the prime time soap Flamingo Road.  Mark played the role of Fielding Carlyle in all 38 episodes of the show from 1981 until 1982.  Flamingo Road chronicled the lives of the citizens of a sleepy little fictional town called Truro, Florida.


- Joanne

Beverly Hillbillies Quiz

TV BANTER QUIZ #10

Well, howdy folks!  Do you think you know a lot about Jed Clampett and his kin?  Well then, test your knowledge by trying the 12-question quiz below.  Good luck!

BEVERLY HILLBILLIES QUIZ

1.  After the Clampetts struck it rich with oil, how much money did they deposit in Mr. Drysdale's Beverly Hills bank?

A.  $50 million

B.  $20 million

C.  $30 million

D.  $25 million

E.  $35 million



2.  Who was Jethro's mother?

A.  Jed's cousin, Pearl Bodine

B.  Jed's sister, Dolly Bodine

C.  Granny's daughter, Loretta Bodine

D.  Jed's sister-in-law, Molly Bodine

E.  Granny's daughter-in-law, Rose Bodine



3.  What animal was Jed hunting when he struck oil?

A.  Deer

B.  Ducks

C.  Rabbits

D.  Pheasants

E.  Possums



4.  Granny used to cook grits.  What are grits?

A.  A kind of Southern pancake

B.  A thick porridge made from corn

C.  A type of fried chicken

D.  A Southern cornbread

E.  A special Southern waffle with a spicy sauce



5.  What did the Clampetts use as their dining room table?

A.  A pool table

B.  A ping pong table

C.  A large cardboard box

D.  A fancy wooden desk

E.  They put a coffee table on top of a big box.



6.  What was the first name of Mr. Drysdale's secretarial assistant, Miss Hathaway?

A.  Joan

B.  June

C.  Jean

D.  Janet

E.  Jane



7.  For how many seasons was The Beverly Hillbillies on the air?

A.  7

B.  6

C.  8

D.  9

E.  10


8.  During the first season of the Beverly Hillbillies, there was a storyline about a romance between Jethro Bodine's sister and a character named Jasper DePew.  What was the name of Jethro's sister?

A.  Justine Bodine

B.  Charlene Bodine

C.  Jethrine Bodine

D.  Jodine Bodine

E.  Jenine Bodine


9.  What was Jed Clampett's favourite expression?

A  Hot Dog!

B.  Well, doggie!

C.  Fix me some grits!

D.  I'm done tired, Granny!

E.  Those folks just don't understand!   


10.  What was Miss Hathaway's hobby?

A.  Stamp collecting

B.  Photography

C.  Bird watching

D.  Knitting

E.  Coin collecting


11.  Granny was Jed Clampett's mother-in-law.  What was Granny's real name?

A.  Dottie Ann Moses

B.  Jenny May Moses

C.  Myrna May Moses

D.  Daisy May Moses

E.  Mary Ellen Moses


12.  Which of the following Hollywood personalities appeared in an episode of the Beverly Hillbillies?

A.  Rock Hudson

B.  Louella Parsons

C.  Zsa Zsa Gabor

D.  Bing Crosby

E.  Hedda Hopper



ANSWERS

1.  D

The Clampetts deposited $25 million in Milburn Drysdale's Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills.  John Brewster of the OK Oil Company gave the money to them in exchange for drilling rights to their land.

2.  E

Jethro Bodine was the son of Jed's widowed cousin, Pearl Bodine. Although Jethro referred to Jed Clampett as his "Uncle Jed," Jed was not really his uncle.  Note: The part of Pearl Bodine was played by Bea Benaderet who later portrayed matriarch Kate Bradley on Petticoat Junction.


3.  C

Jed was hunting rabbits when he struck oil on his land in the Ozark Mountains.


4.  B

Grits are a thick porridge common in the southern United States.  They are made of coarsely ground corn and mostly eaten at breakfast.

5.  A

The Clampetts used a pool table as their dining room table.



6.  E



Nancy Kulp

Mr. Drysdale's assistant at the bank was Jane Hathaway. The Clampetts addressed her as "Miss Jane."  The role of Jane Hathaway was played by Nancy Kulp.  Nancy Kulp passed away on February 3, 1991 at the age of 69.  She died of cancer in Palm Desert, California.


7.  D

The Beverly Hillbillies ran for nine seasons.  It was originally broadcast on CBS from 1962 until 1971.


8.  C

Jethrine Bodine was the name of Jethro's sister.  Max Baer, Jr., who portrayed Jethro, dressed as woman to play Jethrine.  Jethrine's speaking voice was provided by Linda Kaye Henning, the daughter of Paul Henning, the creator of The Beverly Hillbillies.  Linda later went on to play the role of Betty Jo Bradley on Petticoat Junction.

Jethrine

9.  B

Jed was fond of the expression "Well, doggie!"  It was Jethro who liked to say, "Hot dog!"


10.  C

Miss Hathaway was an avid bird watcher and could often be seen with binoculars.


11.  D

Granny's real name was Daisy May Moses.  Irene Ryan, who played the part of Granny, died on April 26, 1973 in Santa Monica California after suffering a stroke.  In hospital, it was discovered that she had an undiagnosed brain tumour.  Irene was 70 years old at the time of her death.

12.  E

Hollywood Columnist Hedda Hopper appeared as herself in the final episode of a four-part Beverly Hillbillies series.  The episode was entitled "Hedda Hopper's Hollywood" and it aired on October 14, 1964.  The episode centres around greedy Mr. Drysdale's plans to tear down a studio backlot for a real estate development.  The development is opposed by Hedda Hopper.

- Joanne

Betty White and other 90-something stars

Nonagenarian - A person whose age is in the nineties. 

- Merriam-Webster Dictionary

I watched Betty White at the People's Choice Awards recently.  All I can say is that when I am 90 years old, I hope to be as energetic and vibrant as she is.  Betty Marion White was born in Oak Park, Illinois on January 17, 1922.  Today she celebrates her 90th birthday.  Happy Birthday and congratulations to the star of Hot in Cleveland!

 

Betty in 1958

Marjorie Lord, who played Danny Thomas' wife Kathy on Make Room for Daddy from 1957 until 1964, is 93 years old.  She was born Marjorie F. Wollenberg on July 26, 1918 in San Francisco, California.  On May 8, 2008, she took part in a panel discussion organized by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences which was called "Salute to Television Moms."  In real life, Marjorie is the mother of actress Anne Archer of Fatal Attraction fame.

Lord has written a memoir entitled A Dance and a Hug.  You can check out her website at http://www.marjorielord.com/

Marjorie Lord

Marjorie and her television daughter, Angela Cartright, in 2005.

Oscar-winning actor Ernest Borgnine was born Ermes Effron Borgnino on January 24, 1917 in Hamden, Connecticut.  Borgnine, who starred as Quinton McHale in the television comedy McHale's Navy from 1962 until 1966, is just days away from his 96th birthday. 

Borgnine also co-starred in a 1980s action series Airwolf.  In 1992, at the age of 92, the actor earned an Emmy nomination for his performance on ER.  Have a happy 96th, Ernie.


Actress and singer Nanette Fabray is 91 years old.  She was born Ruby Bernadette Nanette Fabares on October 27, 1920 in San Diego, California.  Her television performances with Sid Caesar in 1954 and 1955 earned her three Emmy Awards.  In 1961, she played the role of Broadway star Nan McGovern in her own sitcom, The Nanette Fabray Show. From 1979 until 1984, Fabray portrayed Katherine Romano, the mother of Bonnie Franklin's character, Ann Romano, on One Day at a Time.

Nanette has been legally deaf for many years and has campaigned vigorously for the betterment of the hearing impaired in the United States.  She is the widow of screenwriter/director Ronald McDougall, who died in 1973, and the aunt of singer/actress Shelley Fabares.

Nanette Fabray

Phyllis Diller was born Phyllis Ada Driver, on July 17, 1917 in Lima, Ohio.  The comedian is 94 years old and still active.  In fact, TV Guide Magazine has reported that the nonagenarian firebrand is set to make a two-day appearance on The Bold and the Beautiful in March, just in time for the CBS soap opera's 25th anniversary. 

Diller will reprise her role as Gladys Pope, a wild and impetuous make-up artist.  The character was seen many times on the show between 1995 and 2004.  According to TV Guide, The Bold and Beautiful has not announced the exact dates of Diller's appearances, but has revealed that "Gladys will be back with a whole new vocation and will play an integral part in a very romantic event - one that's timed perfectly for the soap's 25th anniversary."

Phyllis Diller

On the Cusp of 90

Jack Klugman of The Odd Couple and Quincy, M.E. will turn 90 years old in April of this year.  He was born Jacob Joachim Klugman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 27, 1922.



Editor's Updates

Ernest Borgnine passed away in Los Angeles, California on July 8, 2012 at the age of 95. 

Phyllis Diller died at her home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California on August 20, 2012.  She was also 95 at the time of her death.  

Jack Klugman died on December 24, 2012 in Woodland Hills, California.  He was 90 years old.  

Marjorie Lord passed away at her home in Beverly Hills, California on November 28, 2015.  She died of natural causes at the age of 97.

Nanette Fabray passed away on February 22, 2018 at the Canterbury Nursing Home in California.  She was 97 years old and she died from natural causes.


- Joanne

Further update on James (Jimmy) McNichol

On September 29, 2011, I wrote about James (Jimmy) McNichol.  A reader has sent me this update on him.

The reader says that James and his wife, Renee (nee Nash), are not divorced.  They currently reside in Durango, Colorado where they own a lakeside cabin that they rent out.  It's called "The Blue Water Lodge."  Their son, James Nash McNichol, goes by his middle name, Nash.  Nash is a freshman at Animas High School in Durango.

Apparently, James McNichol is completely removed from the entertainment industry.

My thanks to the reader.  Keep the banter coming!  I want to provide you with the most accurate information possible. 

- Joanne

Brady Bunch Guest Stars

The Brady Bunch ran for five seasons, from 1969 until 1974 on ABC.  During its run, the series featured many celebrity guest stars.  Here are descriptions of some of the most notable guest appearances on the show.

* Desi Arnaz, Jr., the son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, appeared on The Brady Bunch during his teen heartthrob days.  In a Season One episode titled "The Possible Dream," Marcia Brady (Maureen McCormick) meets Desi after writing about him in her diary.  The episode aired on February 27, 1970.  Oh yes, we must not forget Marcia's heartfelt declaration after receiving her first kiss from Desi Jr.  "I'll never wash this cheek again!" she says dreamily.

Desi Jr. kisses Marcia

* Former football star Joe Namath guest-starred on a Season Five episode entitled "Mail Order Hero."  In that episode, which aired on September 21, 1973, Broadway Joe visits Bobby Brady (Mike Lookinland) because he mistakenly believes that Bobby is suffering from a terminal illness.


* In a Season Three episode, Davy Jones of the Monkees performs the song "Girl" at a music studio, visits the Brady home and promises to escort Marcia to her school dance.  The episode, titled "Getting Davy Jones," aired December 10, 1971.  Trivia note: Marcia Wallace, who portrayed Carol on The Bob Newhart Show, played the role of Marcia Brady's teacher in his episode.

Davy Jones on The Brady Bunch

To watch Davy Jones as he sings "Girl" on The Brady Bunch, click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRNFus7Pbp4


* Marion Ross, the actress who later became famous as Marion Cunningham, the mother on Happy Days, played the part of Dr. Porter, a doctor who treats the Brady girls' measles in a Season One episode.  "Is There a Doctor in the House?" aired on December 26. 1969.

Marion Ross as Dr. Porter

* Hawaiian singer Don Ho appeared in the first of a three-part Season Four opener called"Hawaii Bound."  "Hawaii Bound was filmed on location in Hawaii and the first segment aired on September 22, 1972.  In Part One, Ho serenades the two youngest Brady children, Bobby and Cindy (Susan Olsen).  By the way, Don Ho passed away in Waikiki on April 14, 2007 of heart failure.  He was 76 years old.

To watch "Hawaii Bound," click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnz2S72QOI8


* The late horror actor Vincent Price appeared in two of the three segments of the Hawaii episode.  He played the role of the dastardly Professor Hubert Whitehead in "Pass the Tabu" (Part Two) and "The Tiki Caves" (Part Three).  Whitehead holds the Brady boys hostage until they are rescued by their parents, Mike (Robert Reed) and Carol (Florence Henderson).

Vincent Price, a lifelong smoker, died of lung cancer and emphysema on October 25, 1993.  He was 82 years old.


* Comic actress Imogene Coca is best remembered for her role opposite Sid Caesar in the 1950s variety series Your Show of Shows. In 1972, she played the Brady girls' eccentric Aunt Jenny in a Season Three episode entitled "Jan's Aunt Jenny."  In this episode, Jan Brady (Eve Plumb) sees a photograph of Aunt Jenny and fears that she will grow up to resemble her aunt.  FYI: Imogene Coca died in Westport, Connecticut on June 2, 2001 at the age of 92.

Imogene Coca as Aunt Jenny with Eve Plumb.

- Joanne

Bing Crosby and David Bowie: Their duet on Bing's last Christmas special

Eighty-something crooner Tony Bennett has made a habit of recording duets with much younger artists such as Lady Gaga and the late Amy Winehouse.  Intergenerational duets, however, are nothing new.

Bing Crosby was 74 years old in September of 1977 when he and his family and singer Rosemary Clooney embarked on a concert tour of England.  The tour included two weeks at the famed London Palladium.  While in England, Crosby recorded his final album, Seasons, and his last television appearance, a Christmas special.

The special was called Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas and Bing's guest star was 27-year-old British rock star David Bowie.  The two singers recorded a duet of "The Little Drummer Boy" and "Peace on Earth" for the show.  They taped the segment in London on September 11, 1977.

The original plan had been for Bowie to sing "The Little Drummer Boy" along with Bing.  David, however, did not feel comfortable with the song and his voice did not adapt well to it.  Composer/lyricists Buz Cohan, Larry Grossman and Ian Frasier quickly whipped up "Peace on Earth" which suited Bowie's voice much better.  Bing and Bowie met the morning of the taping, rehearsed for an hour and finished their duet in only three takes.

Crosby and Bowie made an unlikely pair.  They were men of different generations and different lifestyles.  The flamboyant Bowie, known for wearing makeup on stage, appeared much more conservative on Bing's special.  There was nary a hint of his androgynous persona because he was scrubbed clean of his usual mascara and fingernail polish.  For the TV special, Crosby wore a comfortable cardigan and the usually outlandish Bowie was almost unrecognizable with his neatly-combed hair and royal blue blazer.

Bing had no idea of who David Bowie really was.  If he had been better informed, it is almost certain that the collaboration wouldn't have taken place.  In an interview four days after the filming of the Christmas special, Bing described Bowie as "a clean cut kid and a real fine asset to the show.  He sings well, has a great voice and reads lines well.  He could be a good actor if he wanted."  Crosby, of course, was unaware that David Bowie had already starred in the 1976 film The Man Who Fell to Earth.

If Bing were so uninformed about David Bowie, how then did the pairing of this proverbial odd couple happen?  What brought about their collaboration?  Bing, it seems, wanted a young star to appear on his Christmas special and someone mentioned the name of David Bowie.  Although Bing had never heard of David, his children certainly had. An invitation was sent to Bowie and he accepted enthusiastically.  Surprisingly, he was a fan of Bing's.

After his tour of England was completed, Bing Crosby flew to Spain on his own.  His intention was to do some hunting and golfing there.  On the evening of October 14, 1977, however, Crosby, who had a heart condition, collapsed after playing 18 holes of golf near Madrid.  He died of a massive heart attack.

Bing's final Christmas special aired on November 30, 1977, just weeks after his death and his duet with David Bowie generated a great deal of public interest.  It became a perennial music video, best-selling single and a CD-ROM.

In the June 5, 1999 issue of TV Guide, the Crosby-Bowie performance was selected as one of the 25 best television moments of the 20th century and their duet turned out to be a great Christmas song.  Yet, if Bing had known more about David Bowie and his underground lifestyle, it probably wouldn't have come about. 

To watch a video clip of David Bowie on Bing Crosby's Merrie Old Christmas, click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXjbI3kRus


- Joanne

More televison pets: From Jed Clampett's dog to Mr. Ed

On April 25, 2011, I wrote about well known pets on television shows.  I profiled such TV pet luminaries as Fred the Cockatoo on Baretta and Arnold the Pig on Green Acres.  At the end of my posting, I said there would be future postings about television pets on TV Banter.  As promised, here is some more about TV animals.

Ann B. Davis (Alice on The Brady Bunch) and Tiger

On The Brady Bunch, the Brady family had a pet dog named Tiger.  In real life, the original Tiger died after being run over by a florist's truck.  It happened during the filming of an episode of the series titled "Katchoo."  In that 1969 episode, the Bradys fear that daughter Jan (Eve Plumb) is allergic to the family dog.

The Clampetts and Duke

Remember how Elly May Clampett loved her critters on The Beverly Hillbillies?  There was, however, one critter who was more associated with Elly's father, Jed.  It was Jed's sleepy hound dog, Duke. 

Duke, a blood hound, was Jed Clampett's hunting dog.  When the Ozark hillbilly family moved to Beverly Hills after striking oil, Duke became increasingly lazy.  The canine just sat around the mansion all day.  Jed, who bemoaned Duke's behaviour, once remarked, "There's a dog who could trail a butterfly through a rain storm.  Now he couldn't smell cabbage cooking."

Duke was portrayed by canine actor Stretch who had appeared in the military comedy No Time for Sergeants with Andy Griffith.  When Stretch reached the age of 13, he was replaced on The Beverly Hillbillies by a younger bloodhound.

Honey West (Anne Francis) with Bruce

In the 1965-66 detective series Honey West, starring the late Anne Francis, Honey had a pet ocelot named Bruce.  According to Ronald L. Smith in his book Sweethearts of 60s TV, "The powerful thirty-pound animal pelted Anne around with his paws, leaving her black and blue.  When he chomped on her hand and drew blood, she had to have a tetanus shot."

Various South American ocelots played the role of Bruce.  Animal trainer Ralph Helfer, who supplied the wild cats, is quoted in The Encyclopedia of TV Pets as saying, "Anne Francis was a sweetheart, one of the few who that didn't mind if the ocelot scratched her a little bit when it jumped on her lap."  Helfer described the late actress as "a real animal lover."




Ted and Button the Chimp

How can we forget a pet monkey on a television series?  Back in 1972, the late Ted Bessell of That Girl fame starred in his own short-lived sitcom.  It was called Me and the Chimp and Bessell portrayed a dentist named Mike Reynolds.  Reynolds lived with his wife Liz, their children, Scott and Kitty, and a trouble making chimp named Buttons. 

Unfortunately for Ted Bessell, Me and the Chimp was a complete flop.  Critics panned it savagely to the point where Ted was forced to turn to directing in order to find work.  He died on October 6, 1996 of an aortic aneurysm.  At the time of his passing, he was 61 years old.

Alan Young and Connie Hines with Mr. Ed

The popular sitcom Mr. Ed (1961-1966) featured a talking equine.  Mr. Ed was a horse who only spoke to his owner, good-natured architect Wilbur Post (played by Alan Young).  Connie Hines had the role of Wilbur's wife, Carol Post. 
Ed was portrayed by a palomino named Bamboo Harvester.  The gelding was foaled in California in 1949 and trained by Les Hilton, a protege of Will Rogers.  In 1968, two years after the cancellation of Mr. Ed, Bamboo's health began to decline.  He suffered from a variety of ailments and was euthanized in 1970 at the age of 20.

You might wonder who provided Mr. Ed's deep voice.  It was cowboy star Allen Lane.  Lane, who was never credited during the run of the series, died of cancer in 1973.  He was 64.

As for Alan Young, he is now 92 years old.  His television wife, Connie Hines, passed away on December 18, 2009 at the age of 78.

- Joanne