DON PORTER BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Don Porter was born on September 24th, 1912 in Miami, Oklahoma with the birth name Don Cecil Porter.  His career as an actor began as a stage performer  and he later began to break into the film industry. 

In1939 he was signed to a contract with Universal Studio's and made his film debut in, "Mystery in the White Room" starring Bruce Cabot, Helen Mack, Thomas E. Jackson, Joan Woodbury, Constance Worth, Addison Richards and Frank Puglia, which soon followed with roles in the films, "Night Monster" (1942) starring Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, Leif Erickson, Ralph Morgan, Nils Asther, Frank Reicher and Irene Hervey, "Who Done It?" (1942) starring with Abbott and Costello, William Gargan and William Bendix, "Eyes of the Underworld" (1943) starring Richard Dix, Wendy Barrie, Lon Chaney Jr. and Lloyd Corrigan and Edward Pawley, "She-Wolf of London" (1947) co-starring June Lockhartand "711 Ocean Drive" (1950) also starring Edmond O'Brien, Joanne Dru, Otto Kruger and Howard St. John.

Although he had made quite a name for himself already as a film actor, he increased his level of popularity when he began appearing on such television series as, "Private Secretary", "Our Miss Brooks", "The Ann Sothern Show, "Love, American Style", "The Mod Squad", "Green Acres", "Barnaby Jones" and his most well known role on, "Gidget" starring Sally Field, portraying the father character, Russell Lawrence.

Don Porter remained working as a film actor throughout his entire career in the industry and some other more well known roles he added to his credits included, "The Turning Point" (1952) starring William Holden, Edmond O'Brien, Alexis Smith, Tom Tully and Ed Begley, "Gidget Goes to Rome" (1963) starring Cindy Carol, Cesare Danova, Noreen Cocrcoran and James Darren as Moondoggie, "Live a Little, Love a Little" (1968) starring Elvis Presley, Rudy Vallee, Michele Carey, Dick Sargent and Sterling Holloway, "The Candidate" (1972) starring alongside Robert Redford, Peter Boyle, Melvyn Douglas, Kenneth Tobey and Natalie Wood and his final on screen appearance was in 1988 on, "CBS Summer Playhouse".

He married only once to actress Peggy Converse in 1944 and they had one daughter, Melissa Converse who also pursued a career as an actress.  The couple would sometimes appear together on stage in such productions as, "The Best Man", "Love and Kisses" and "Any Wednesday".  They remained married until he passed away on February 11th, 1997 in Los Angeles, California at the age of eighty four. 

Filmography

1988         CBS Summer Playhouse
1986         Matlock
1985         Joey
1984         All Together Now 
1983         Hotel
1978-1983     The Love Boat
1981         Fantasy Island 
1980         Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color 
1980         The Ghosts of Buxley Hall 
1980         The Last Song
1980         Battles: The Murder That Wouldn't Die 
1980         Dallas 
1979         Turnabout
1979         Butterflies in Heat
1978         Sword of Justice 
1978         Frankie and Annette: The Second Time Around
1978         Vega$
1978         The Paper Chase 
1978         The President's Mistress
1977         Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A.
1975-1977     Switch 
1977         Three's Company
1976-1977     The Bionic Woman
1977         Phyllis
1976         City of Angels
1973-1976     Hawaii Five-O
1975         McMillan & Wife
1975         Ellery Queen 
1975         A Woman for All Men
1975         White Line Fever
1975         Last Hours Before Morning
1975         Archer
1975         The Legend of Lizzie Borden
1975         Insight
1973-1974     Barnaby Jones
1974         Happy Anniversary and Goodbye
1974         Murder or Mercy 
1974         The F.B.I. 
1974         Mame
1974         Chase 
1974         The Morning After
1974         The Six Million Dollar Man
1974         Here's Lucy 
1974         The ABC Afternoon Playbreak 
1973         Tenafly
1973         The New Perry Mason
1973         40 Carats
1973         The Fuzz Brothers
1973         The Norliss Tapes
1970-1973     The Mod Squad
1972         The Rookies
1972         Banacek
1972         The Candidate
1972         Cade's County
1971         Green Acres
1969-1971     Love, American Style
1969         Judd for the Defense 
1968         Live a Little, Love a Little
1965-1966     Gidget 
1965         Vacation Playhouse 
1964         Youngblood Hawk
1963         Gidget Goes to Rome
1962         I Love My Doctor 
1961         Bachelor in Paradise
1959-1961     The Ann Sothern Show 
1957         Desk Set
1953-1957     Private Secretary
1956         Our Miss Brooks
1952         The Turning Point
1952         The Savage
1952         Because You're Mine
1952         Cripple Creek
1951         The Racket
1950         Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malon
1950         711 Ocean Drive
1950         My Friend Irma Goes West
1947         Buck Privates Come Home
1946         Wild Beauty
1946         Danger Woman
1946         Cuban Pete
1946         She-Wolf of London
1944         Resisting Enemy Interrogation
1943         Keep 'Em Slugging
1942         Madame Spy
1942         Who Done It?
1942         Keeping Fit 
1942         Night Monster
1942         Eyes of the Underworld
1942         Eagle Squadron
1942         Top Sergeant
1941         Sing for Your Supper
1939         Mystery of the White Room