Don DeFore

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Don DeFore (September 1987)

Donald John DeFore , called Don DeFore (born August 25, 1913 in Cedar Rapids , Iowa , † December 22, 1993 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American film and stage actor .

Life

Childhood and youth

Don DeFore, like his five siblings, grew up in simple circumstances. His father, Joseph Ervin DeFore, was an engineer on the Cedar Rapids tram, and his mother, Albina Sylvia Nezerka, was a housewife. After attending Washington High School , DeFore briefly attended the University of Iowa , with the professional goal of attorney . But after less than a year he broke off his studies in order to pursue his real dream job, actor. After traveling through the country as a theater actor in a few amateur groups, he came to Hollywood in the mid-1930s .

Career

Here he got his first minor role in Norman Taurog's comedy Reunion in 1936 . After receiving a scholarship, DeFore studied acting for three years at a theater in Pasadena (California) and was discovered there by Oscar Hammerstein II . DeFore took DeFore with him to New York City in 1938 , where the young actor played Where Do We Go From Here? made its debut on Broadway . After DeFore was seen in two more plays until 1940, he concentrated on his work in film and television. It was not until May 1951 that he appeared again, albeit for the last time, on stage in Dream Girl .

DeFore has appeared in numerous classic films, including the 1944 world war drama Thirty Seconds About Tokyo . But television too soon discovered the actor for itself. Between 1952 and 1957 he was seen in over 100 episodes of the sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet at the side of Ozzie and Ricky Nelson . He was also between 1961 and 1965 at the side of Shirley Booth leading actor in the 154-episode television series Hazel . Most recently, he has also appeared in front of the camera as a guest actor in television series such as The People of Shiloh Ranch , Mannix (both 1970) and Murder is Her Hobby (1986).

In addition to his acting career, DeFore was also keen on the film itself. He was brief president of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences from 1954 to 1955 and was so significantly involved that in March 1955 the Emmy Awards ceremony was broadcast on television for the first time . At that event he was also nominated for an Emmy for his role in The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet .

Private life

In 1957, DeFore went into the hospitality industry and, thanks to Walt Disney's approval, founded Don DeFore's Silver Banjo Barbecue with his brother Verne on the grounds of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California . It was the only restaurant on Disneyland that was self-sufficient and not run by Disney itself. However, after just four years, in 1961, it had to be closed due to the expansion of the adjoining Disney restaurants.

In his private life, actor Ronald Reagan was one of DeFore's best friends, as the two had appeared together in front of the camera in several films. DeFore therefore acted as a campaign assistant to Reagan, both in his election as governor of California, and later in the election of Reagan as President of the United States. After Reagan's election as governor of California in November 1966, DeFore is reported to have said: This is a great night for actors! (Eng .: This is a great night for actors! )

Don DeFore was married to Marion Holmes DeFore, a woman of Swedish ancestry , from February 1942 until his death . At the wedding, actress Judy Garland was DeFore's wife's maid of honor. The couple had five children, three daughters and two sons. DeFore's grandson, Sean Welch , the son of DeFore's eldest daughter Penny DeFore, was nominated for an Oscar in 2003 for Best Documentary for Spellbound .

Don DeFore was 80 years old and died in December 1993 of a heart attack . His grave is in the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery .

Filmography (selection)

Awards

Web links

personal data
SURNAME DeFore, Don
ALTERNATIVE NAMES DeFore, Donald John (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American film and stage actor
DATE OF BIRTH August 25, 1913
PLACE OF BIRTH Cedar Rapids , Iowa
DATE OF DEATH December 22, 1993
Place of death Los Angeles , California