Old TV Shows From The Beginning Through 1969

Where are they now?

What happened to all the stars of yesteryear? Many have sadly passed away, but you may be surprised to know how many are still going strong with some still on TV. If you have any information on the whereabouts of the stars of old tv shows, please add an entry to our forum, under the appropriate TV show listing or as a new entry in the General Discussions Forum.

Name Pic Age Details Real Name Real Last Name Meaning Show Role
James Coburn Died Continued to act, although rheumatoid arthritis restricted his work in later years. He died in 2002 of a heart attack Unknown Coburn: lived in Cockburn, Berwickshire, England Death Valley Days Actor
Gary Conway - 68 Continued in acting roles in movies and tv. Also moved into screenwriting. He is also a highly successful vintner and an expert in vineyard planning. He and his wife Marion (former Miss America), who also takes a full part in the vineyard business, have been married for 47 years Gareth Carmody After personal Name Cearmaid (irish) Land Of The Giants Actor
Noreen Corcoran - 63 Retired from acting. Now concentrates on dance and theater management and her family Noreen Corcoran Descendant of personal name Corcra (means purple) - Irish Bachelor Father Actor
Andy Devine Died Died in 1977: leukemia Jeremiah Schwartz Dark [haired] (german) Andy's Gang Presenter
Angie Dickinson 74 Still a busy and successful Hollywood actress on movies and tv Angeline Brown Brown hair (English Scottish or Irish) Death Valley Days Actor
Jeff Donnell Died Had plenty of acting roles on tv shows, including General Hospital. She died of a heart attack (in her sleep) in 1988 at the age of 66 Jean Marie Donnell After personal name Domhnall (English) The George Gobel Show Actor
Patricia Driscoll 78 Continued to appear in acting roles on tv shows until the early 80s. Now retired Unknown Driscoll: Descendant of the messenger (Irish) The Adventures of Robin Hood Actor
Archie Duncan Died Played in many tv roles. He died in London, aged 65 Unknown Duncan: After personal name Donnchadh or descendant of Donncheann (Irish, poss. Scottish) The Adventures of Robin Hood Actor
Clint Eastwood 75 Apart from a 2 year spell as mayor of Carmel, California in 1988, he has had continuing success as an actor and director Clint Eastwood Probably from Essex, England, possibly from Nottinghamshire, England Death Valley Days Actor
Paul Eddington Died Successful actor on British stage and television, until his death, at the age of 68, of skin cancer. He received the title of Commander of the British Empire in 1987 Unknown Edington, of which there are several in England and Scottland The Adventures of Robin Hood Actor
Eddie Fisher 77 Retired Edwin John Fisher Fisherman, or having a connection to fish (English) The George Gobel Show Performer
Kellie Flanagan unknown Left acting and started a video production company. She co-wrote a song by group Venice Unknown Flanagan: After personal name Flanagan - Irish The Ghost and Mrs Muir Actor
John Forsythe - 88 Retired actor - enjoying his art collection and watching tennis John Lincoln Freund Friendly Bachelor Father Actor
Everett Freeman - Died Died of renal failure in 1991 Everett Freeman Free Bachelor Father Producer
Alexander Gauge Died After playing Friar Tuck in The Adventures of Robin Hood He had a few acting roles on tv and the theater before, at the age of 46, he took his own life by taking an overdose of pills. Unknown Gauge:Unknown The Adventures of Robin Hood Actor
Bruce Geller - Died He continued in television production and directed one movie and one tv movie. He died at the age of 47 when the light airplane he was piloting crashed in fog in May 1978. Bruce Geller Ginger (red) hair or fair hair (Jewish) Mission Impossible Writer
Mission Impossible Producer
George Gobel Died Continued to appear in many live cabaret shows and was a favorite on tv talk shows. Regular panellist on The Hollywood Squares. He died in 1991 from complications after heart surgery George Leslie Gobel After personal name Göbel (German) The George Gobel Show Performer
Peter Graves 80 He has starred in countless movies and tv shows and continues to this day. He is married to Joan Endress - they have been together for over 50 years Peter Aurness Unknown Whiplash Actor
Mission Impossible Actor
Richard Green Died When he had finished filming The Adventures of Robin Hood, he pursued his leisure interests of sailing and horse breeding, whilst taking on occasional tv roles. He died in 1985, aged 66, from a heart attack. Richard Marius Joseph Greene Either an association with the color green (clothes, lived near/on a village green or playing the Green Man in May Day festivities) or descendant of Uainín (various possible European sources) The Adventures of Robin Hood Actor
William Hanna - died Died of natural causes at the age of 90 William Hanna After personal name Hannaigh (Irish) or after personal (female) name Hannah or Anna (English). Also poss. German and Scottish derivations The Flintstones Producer
Kristin Harmon - 60 Retired from acting but continues to paint. She has written an autobiography Tracy Kristine Harmon Probably a soldier The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Actor
John Hart - 88 Retired actor living in Warner Springs, Calif. Still makes guest appearances at various events such as movie festivals Unknown Hart: Stag or poss. strong, hero, rope maker or hangman (English/N German, possibly Jewish, Irish, French or Dutch) The lone Ranger Actor
Don Herbert 88 Lives in Southern California. He still makes occasional appearances at functions and continues to market the Mr Wizard brand Don Jeffry Herbert After personal name Herbert (Dutch, German, English or French) Watch Mr Wizard Presenter
Steven Hill 84 After he left Mission Impossible he left acting and public life for 10 years while he studied Judaism and carried on a real estate business. He has since returned to acting and has appeared in many tv and film roles. For many years he played D.A. Adam Schiff in Law & Order Solomon Krakovsky Lived in Kraków, Poland (it may not be the city - it may be a Polish town of the same or similar name) Mission Impossible Actor
Pat Hogan - Died Died in 1966 in Los Angeles (cause unknown) Unknown Hogan: Young or young warrior - Irish Brave Eagle Actor
Ronald Howard Died Continued in acting roles on tv and movies until, in the mid 1970's, he left acting to run an art gallery. He also wrote a biography of his father, famed English actor Leslie Howard. He died aged 78 Ronald Howard After personal name Heward or Haward (English) One Step Beyond Actor
The Adventures of Superman Actor
Kurt Kasznar - Died Died of Cancer in 1979 Kurt serwicher Unknown Land Of The Giants Actor
Peggy King 76 After a succesful singer/songwriter career she retired and is living in Philadelphia Unknown Having kingly characterisitics or having worked in the royal household (English or Scottish). May also be a corruption of various names (Chinese, Swiss, German or Jewish) King: Having kingly characterisitics or having worked in the royal household (English or Scottish). May also be a corruption of various names (Chinese, Swiss, German or Jewish) King: Having kingly characterisitics or having worked in the royal household (English or Scottish). May also be a corruption of various names (Chinese, Swiss, German or Jewish) King: Having kingly characterisitics or having worked in the royal household (English or Scottish). May also be a corruption of various names (Chinese, Swiss, German or Jewish) The George Gobel Show Performer
Martin Landau 74 Continues his vibrant acting career in movies and tv. He has also produced 3 movies Martin Landau From Landau in Alsace or in Palatinate (German Jewish) Mission Impossible Actor
Hope Lange Died Died of ischemic colitis in 2003 at the age of 72 Hope Elise Ross Lange Tall or angel (Scandinavian, German or French) The Ghost and Mrs Muir Actor
Angela Lansbury 80 Continued in many film and tv roles including the long running Murder She Wrote. She lives in Brentwood, California and takes regular holidays in Cork, Ireland. She is a keen supporter of several charities, especially those that help women. Continued in many film and tv roles including the long running Murder She Wrote. She lives in Brentwood, California and takes regular holidays in Cork, Ireland. She is a keen supporter of several charities, especially those that help women. Continued in many film and tv roles including the long running Murder She Wrote. She lives in Brentwood, California and takes regular holidays in Cork, Ireland. She is a keen supporter of several charities, especially those that help women. Angela Brigid Lansbury Probably lived in a place with a similar name to Lansbury (probably English) The George Gobel Show Performer
Keith Larsen - 80 Went on to appear in many tv shows and produced and directed various movies Keith Larsen Burt Larsen: After personal name Lars (Danish or Norwegian). Burt: Bright (English) and possibly conscientious (German) and possible big beard (Jewish) Brave Eagle Actor
Norman Lear 83 Continues to direct, write and produce top tv shows and movies Norman Lear Stone layer (English), or face (English), or heir (English), or clearing or from near the River Leire (Essex, England), or from Lay (Germany) The George Gobel Show Writer
Jack Lord - Died Died of heart failure in 1998 John Joseph Patrick Ryan King Hawaii Five 0 Actor
Deanna Lund - 68 She has continued with her vibrant tv and movie acting career. She also teaches drama, writes novels, sings and has attended Land of the Giants Conventions Deanna Lund lived by a grove (Swedish, poss. Other Scandinavian, German or English Land Of The Giants Actor
Peter Lupus 73 Continued with his bodybuilding and weightlifting career as well as running a nutrition company with the help of his wife, Sharon. He has landed occasional bit parts on tv and in movies. He continues to work out and keeps his body in good shape. Peter Lupus Wolf (German or English) Mission Impossible Actor
Fred Macmurray Died Continued acting in many movies and tv shows. Also made promotional videos. He continued to play golf and to paint. He died in Los Angeles in 1991, aged 83 Fredrick Martin MacMurray After personal name Muireadhach, meaning sailor (Northern Ireland) The George Gobel Show Performer
Don Marshall 70 He continues in acting roles, runs a production company and advices on racial issues Donald James Marshall Keeper of horses, possibly military officer of high rank (English or Scottish) Land Of The Giants Actor
Ray Milland Died Acted in a wide variety of roles on tv and movies. Directed some movies too. Died of Lung cancer at the age of 81 Reginald Alfred Truscott-Jones Truscott: Lived in Truscott, Cornwall, England. Jones: After personal name John Death Valley Days Actor
Greg Morris Died He continued in tv and movie acting. He survived a major auto accident in 1981. In 1990 he was diagnosed with cancer and died from the disease 6 years later, aged 62 Francis Gregory Alan Morris After personal name Maurice (English) or after personal name Muirgheas (Irish) or after personal name Meurig (Welsh) Mission Impossible Actor
Edward Mulhare Died Died of Lung Cancer In 1997, Aged 74 Edward Milhare Unknown (Irish) The Ghost and Mrs Muir Actor
Jim Nabors - 75 Singer and nut farmer. Lives in Hawaii Unknown Nabors Neighbor (English, poss. German) Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Actor
Noel Neill - Unknown She retired from acting in 1958 but made several comeback appearances throughout the 1970s and is slated to appear in movie Superman Returns in 2006 Noel Neill After personal name Niall - Irish The Adventures of Superman Actor
David Nelson - Died Died in a airplane crash in 1985, aged 45 Eric Hilliard Nelson After personal name Nel or Neal (Scottish or English) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Actor
Oswald Nelson - Died Died of Cancer in 1975, aged 69 Oswald George Nelson After personal name Nel or Neal (Scottish or English) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Producer
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Actor
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Director
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Writer
John Newland Died Died of a stroke in 2000 at the age of 82 Unknown Newland: Lived in or by new land (English Newland: Lived in or by new land (English) One Step Beyond Actor
One Step Beyond Director
Leonard Nimoy 75 He has been very active in front and behind the camera in numerous roles and has written books and has released several albums as a vocalist. He now runs a photographic studio and regularly exhibits his work. Leonard Simon Nimoy Foreigner (Slavic) Death Valley Days Actor
Mission Impossible Actor
Bernadette O'Farrell Died After playing Maid Marian in The Adventures of Robin Hood she retired from acting to bring up her family. She died aged 75 of cancer. Bernadette O'Farrell Descendant of Fearghal (Irish) The Adventures of Robin Hood Actor
John Payne Died Continued acting until the mid 1970s. Died of heart failure at the age of 77 Unknown Payne: Country Dweller, civilian or heathen (English) Death Valley Days Actor
Ronad Reagan Died His last acting role was in Death Valley Days after which he was elected Governor of California and later President of the United States. Towards the end of his life he suffered from Alzheimer's disease and died of pneumonia at the age of 93 Ronald Wilson Reagan Son of Riagán (Irish) Death Valley Days Actor
Alan Reed Died Died of a heart attack in 1977 Edward Bergman Lived by a hill or mountain (German, Dutch or Swedish) The Flintstones Actor
George Reeves - Died Died in 1959 of apparent suicide George Keefer Brewer Unknown The Adventures of Superman Actor
Charles Nelson Reilly 75 Still very active acting, directing and teaching drama. He occasionally tours with his one man show and is the voice of The Dirty Bubble in Spongebob Squarepants Unknown Reilly: Descendant of Raghailleach - Irish The Ghost and Mrs Muir Actor
Dale Robertson 82 Continues in many tv roles Dayle LyMoine Robertson Son of Robert (Scottish, possibly English) Death Valley Days Actor
Will Rogers Jr Died War hero and former congressman, son of the great entertainer Will Rogers. Rogers jr. continued acting into old age (he even presented The CBS Morning News for a short time). In severe pain after a hip operation, he shot himself dead at the age of 81 William Rogers After personal name Roger (English) Death Valley Days Actor
Reta Shaw - Died Died of emphysema in 1982, aged 69 Unknown Lived in a wooded area or possibly from a town or village called Shaw (or similar). Also, may mean wolf (English or Scottish) The Ghost and Mrs Muir Actor
Frank Sutton - Died Died in 1974 of a heart attack Unknown Sutton: Lived in Sutton, south-town (English) Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Actor
Robert Taylor Died Death Valley Days was Taylor's last tv engagement before his death from lung cancer at the age of 57 Spangler Arlington Brough lived in the village of Brough (there are several in England) or possibly someone who tends to enjoy himself (German) Death Valley Days Actor
Sammee Tong - Died Gambling debts led him to suicide on 1964 Unknown Tong: Variant of Tang which is a variant of Deng, a state in China from Xia and Shang dynasties. Several other possibilities (Chinese) Bachelor Father Actor
Jean Vander Pyl - Died Died of lung cancer in 1999, aged 80 Unknown Vander Pyl: Unknown The Flintstones Actor
Hannah Weinstein - Died Returned to the U.S. in 1962 and continued to produce tv shows and movies and continued as a left-wing political campaigner. Awarded Hollywood's Women in Film Life Achievement Award for her work with African-American artists. She died, aged 72, of a heart attack Hannah Dorner Lived in Dorn or Dornau, Germany or Dorna in Saxony or Thuringia The Adventures of Robin Hood Producer
Alan Wheatley Died Continued acting in tv roles on British television until he retired. He died, aged in 1991, aged 84 Unknown Wheatley: lived in Wheatley in England (there are many Wheatleys in England The Adventures of Robin Hood Actor
Bert Wheeler - Died Died in 1968 of emphysema Albert Jerome Wheeler Wheel maker (English) Brave Eagle Actor
Kim Winona - Died Committed suicide in 1978 by shooting herself in the head Constance Elaine Mackey Descendant of Macdha or son of Aodh (Irish or Scottish) Brave Eagle Actor
Ruth Woodman Died Died in 1970 in Santa Monica at the age of 75 Ruth Cornwell Woodman Woodcutter or lived in woods - English (probably) Death Valley Days Actor
Heather Young - 61 She has concentrated on bringing up her five children but still has the odd acting role and writes children's plays Patricia Kay Paterson After personal name Pat, Patt or Pate (English or Scottish, poss. French or German) Land Of The Giants Actor
James B Allardice - Died Wrote for top rated television shows up to his death from a heart attack at the age of 46 James B Allardice Lived in Allardice in Scotland Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Writer
The George Gobel Show Writer
Peggy Lee Died She continued her singing career until a stroke in 1998. She died of a heart attack in 2002, aged 81 Norma Dolores Egstrom Unknown Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Main Character
Irwin Allen - Died Died of a heart attack in 2001 Irwin Allen After personal name Alan (English or Scottish, poss. Irish) Land Of The Giants Producer
Stanley Andrews Died Continued to work as an actor until his death in 1969 Unknown After personal name Andrew Death Valley Days Actor
Stefan Arngrim - 50 Still acting on tv and movies. Lead singer of Knights of the Living Dead Unknown arngrim: Unknown Land Of The Giants Actor
Phyllis Avery 81 Had many acting roles on tv and in movies. She is now a real estate broker Patricia Avery After personal name Alfred or possibly Aubri (English) The George Gobel Show Actor
Barbara Bain 74 Continues with her movie and tv acting career. In 1993 she founded a very succesful charity that uses actors to help and encourage children to read Millicent Fogel A happy person or a bird catcher (jewish) Mission Impossible Actor
Joseph Barbera - 95 Continued to work into his eighties, producing a cartoon short featuring Dino from The Flintstones for the Cartoon Network's What-a-Cartoon! Show Joseph Roland Barbera Prostitute or woman of disrepute or named after place name Barbarianum (in Tarragona) (Italian or Catalan) The Flintstones Producer
Bea Benaderet Died Died of Cancer, Aged 62 Unknown Benaderet: Unknown The Flintstones Actor
June Blair - 69 Retired from acting, living in San Fernando Valley Margaret June Blair Lived near or on a field - Scottish The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Actor
Mel Blanc - Died Died of Heart Disease in 1989 Melvin Jerome Blank Light colored hair (German, Dutch or Jewish) The Flintstones Actor
James Caan 66 Continues to act in movies and has directed as well James Caan Unknown (Likely to be of German origin) Death Valley Days Actor
Rory Calhoun Died Acted in numerous movies and tv shows. Died, aged 76, of emphysema and diabetes Francis Timothy McCown Son of Eoghan or possibly son of a servant (Scottish or Irish) Death Valley Days Actor
Harlen Carraher - 45 He now lives in Silver Lake and works as a civil engineer Unknown Carraher: Son of Fearchar (personal name) - Irish The Ghost and Mrs Muir Actor
Jack Carson Died Continued in movies and tv until his death, in 1963 from stomach cancer John Elmer Carson Family originating in Calvados, France moving to Northern Ireland or Scotland The George Gobel Show Performer
Phyllis Coates - 79 Retired Gypsie Ann evarts Stell Lived near a marsh (German); poss. calmness, strength (English) The Adventures of Superman Actor