John Astin Played Gomez Addams, and His Real Life Was Just as Dramatic
TLDR: John Astin played Gomez Addams in the original 1964 series and is now 95 years old, the last surviving principal cast member. His marriage … Read more
Careers
“Mrs. Columbo” Was a Spinoff Peter Falk Hated, and It Showed
TLDR: NBC launched Mrs. Columbo in February 1979 starring a 24-year-old Kate Mulgrew over the strong objections of series creator Richard Levinson, series co-creator William … Read more
Paul Lynde as Uncle Arthur on “Bewitched”, and the Complicated Life Behind the Laughs
TLDR: Paul Lynde appeared in only 11 episodes of Bewitched across the show’s entire eight-season run, but Uncle Arthur became the most instantly quotable recurring … Read more
The Original “Hawaii Five-O” Cast, Where They Are Now, and Who We Have Lost
TLDR: The original Hawaii Five-O ran from 1968 to 1980 with a core cast that has almost entirely passed away. Jack Lord died in 1998, … Read more
Peter Falk, the Real Story Behind Columbo’s Most Beloved Detective
TLDR: Peter Falk spent his childhood adapting to life with one eye after surgery for cancer at age three, was rejected by the CIA for … Read more
Erin Murphy Played Tabitha on “Bewitched”, and Here Is What She Is Doing Now
TLDR: Erin Murphy played Tabitha Stephens on Bewitched from 1966 to 1972, appearing in 103 episodes starting when she was just two years old. After … Read more
“Happy Days” Cast, What Happened to Each of Them
TLDR: Happy Days nearly got cancelled in its second season before a creative overhaul turned it into a number one hit and made Henry Winkler’s … Read more
Kami Cotler Couldn’t Fake a Cough for Gunsmoke, So She Became Elizabeth Walton Instead
TLDR: Kami Cotler played Elizabeth Walton on The Waltons from 1972 to 1981, growing up from age seven to sixteen on the show. She walked … Read more
Conrad Bain Graduated with Don Rickles and Founded a Credit Union Before He Was Mr. Drummond
TLDR: Conrad Bain was born on February 4, 1923, in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. He trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts alongside Don Rickles … Read more
What Happened to Charlotte Rae after “Facts of Life”
TLDR: Charlotte Rae was born Charlotte Rae Lubotsky on April 22, 1926, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She originated Mammy Yokum in the original Broadway production of … Read more
Todd Bridges Was Acquitted of Attempted Murder and Then Rebuilt His Life From Scratch
TLDR: Todd Bridges played Willis Jackson on Diff’rent Strokes from 1978 to 1986 and spent the years immediately after the show in crack cocaine addiction … Read more
Dana Plato Was Training for the Olympics When Diff’rent Strokes Found Her
TLDR: Dana Plato played Kimberly Drummond on Diff’rent Strokes from 1978 until 1984, when she was written off the show after becoming pregnant. She died … Read more
Ron Masak Turned Down the White Sox to Become the King of Commercials
TLDR: Ron Masak was born in Chicago on July 1, 1936. Rogers Hornsby spotted him at 16 and the White Sox offered him $8,500 to … Read more
William Windom Won the Emmy, Played Commodore Decker and Became Jessica Fletcher’s Best Friend
TLDR: William Windom was born in Manhattan on September 28, 1923, served as a paratrooper in World War II, and made his Broadway debut in … Read more
What happened to Jerry Orbach from “Murder She Wrote”
TLDR: Jerry Orbach was born in the Bronx in 1935, originated Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway, played Harry McGraw on Murder, She Wrote, and … Read more
Tom Bosley Played America’s Dad for a Decade and Then Became Cabot Cove’s Sheriff
TLDR: Tom Bosley was born in Chicago on October 1, 1927, won a Tony Award for playing Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia on Broadway in 1960, and … Read more