Troy Donahue
Biography
Troy Donahue was born Merle Johnson Jr. on January 27, 1936, in New York City, and died on September 2, 2001, in Santa Monica, California. He was an American film and television actor and singer who also became a popular sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s. His father, Merle Johnson, managed the motion-picture department of General Motors, and his mother, Edith Johnson, was a retired stage actress. Donahue attended a New York military academy, where he met Francis Ford Coppola, and later studied journalism at Columbia University. He is best known for his role as Johnny Hunter in the film A Summer Place, directed by Delmer Daves and costarring Sandra Dee, for which he won a special Golden Globe called the International Stardom Award.
Career overview
Troy Donahue was born Merle Johnson Jr. on January 27, 1936, in New York City, and died on September 2, 2001, in Santa Monica, California. He was an American film and television actor and singer who became a popular sex symbol during the 1950s and 1960s. His father, Merle Johnson, managed the motion-picture department of General Motors, and his mother, Edith Johnson, was a retired stage actress. Donahue attended a New York military academy, where he met Francis Ford Coppola, and later studied journalism at Columbia University after a brief period working as a messenger in a film company founded by his father. He also trained briefly with Ezra Stone.
As an actor, Donahue accumulated numerous known credits in film and television. He is best known for his role as Johnny Hunter in the film A Summer Place, directed by Delmer Daves and costarring Sandra Dee. For his work in A Summer Place, he won a special Golden Globe called the International Stardom Award. His filmography also includes appearances in projects such as The Godfather: A Novel for Television, Kmotr II, and Svengoolie. Throughout his career, Donahue established a recognized presence in American cinema and television before his death in 2001 at the age of sixty-five.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
103 titles- The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959 (2016) as Merle Johnson
- The Boys Behind the Desk (2000)
- Merchants of Venus (1998) as FBI Agent
- Legion (1998) as Flemming
- Bimbo Movie Bash (1997) as Dr. Ackerman (archive footage)
- Showdown (1993) as Police Captain
- Double Trouble (1992) as Leonard
- The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 (1992) as Merle Johnson
- The Pamela Principle (1992) as Troy
- Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story (1991) as Rob Kamen
- Shock 'Em Dead (1991) as Record Exec
- Deadly Diamonds (1991) as Matt Plimpton
- Cry-Baby (1990) as Hatchet's Father
- Click: The Calendar Girl Killer (1990) as Alan
- Omega Cop (1990) as Slim
- Sexpot (1990) as Phillip
- Nudity Required (1990) as Jack
- The Chilling (1989) as Dr. Miller
- Deadly Spygames (1989) as Python
- Dr. Alien (1989) as Dr. Ackerman
- Terminal Force (1989) as Slim
- Assault of the Party Nerds (1989) as Sid Witherspoon
- The Platinum Triangle (1989) as Harold Farber
- Hot Times at Montclair High (1989) as Mr. Nichols
- Blood Nasty (1989) as Barry Hefna
- American Rampage (1989) as Police Psychiatrist
- Sounds of Silence (1989) as Larry Haughton
- Monsters (1988) as Dr. Thomas Becker
- Hard Rock Nightmare (1988) as Uncle Gary
- Bad Blood (1988) as Jack Barnes
- Hawkeye (1988) as Mayor
- Cyclone (1987) as Bob Jenkins
- The Drifting Classroom (1987) as Taggart
- Deadly Prey (1987) as Don Michaelson
- Hollywood Cop (1987) as Lt Maxwell
- Fight to Win (1987) as Rosenberg
- Low Blow (1986) as John Templeton
- Grandview, U.S.A. (1984) as Donny Vinton
- Malibu (1983) as Clint Redman
- Tin Man (1983) as Lester
- Lover, Come Back to Me (1983)
- Matt Houston (1982)
- Fantasy Island (1978) as Jack Terry
- Vega$ (1978)
- The Eddie Capra Mysteries (1978)
- The Love Boat (1977) as Mr. Clark
- The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977)
- CHiPs (1977)
- Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television (1977) as Merle Johnson
- Outrage (1977) as Daniel
- The Legend of Frank Woods (1977) as Sheriff John Baxom
- Laverne & Shirley (1976)
- Bob Hope's World of Comedy (1976) as Self (archive footage)
- Ellery Queen (1975) as Gilbert Mallory
- The Godfather Part II (1974) as Merle Johnson
- South Seas (1974) as Steve
- Seizure (1974) as Mark Frost
- Cockfighter (1974) as Randall Mansfield
- Sweet Savior (1971) as Moon
- The Phantom Gunslinger (1970) as Bill
- The Lonely Profession (1969) as Julian Thatcher
- The Name of the Game (1968) as Norman Hoak
- Split Second to an Epitaph (1968) as Father Dugan
- Ironside (1967) as Father Dugan
- Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon (1967) as Gaylord Sullivan
- Mondo Hollywood (1967)
- Come Spy with Me (1967) as Jill Parsons
- My Blood Runs Cold (1965) as Ben Gunther
- A Distant Trumpet (1964) as 2nd Lt. Matthew 'Matt' Hazard
- The Patty Duke Show (1963)
- Palm Springs Weekend (1963) as Jim Munroe
- Rome Adventure (1962) as Don Porter
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Susan Slade (1961) as Hoyt Brecker
- Parrish (1961) as Parrish McLean
- Surfside 6 (1960) as Sandy Winfield II
- The Crowded Sky (1960) as McVey
- Rawhide (1959) as Buzz Travis
- Hawaiian Eye (1959)
- The Alaskans (1959)
- Bourbon Street Beat (1959) as Man on Phone (voice)
- A Summer Place (1959) as Johnny Hunter
- Imitation of Life (1959) as Frankie
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958)
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) as Sandy Winfield II
- Bronco (1958)
- This Happy Feeling (1958) as Tony Manza
- The Perfect Furlough (1958) as Sgt. Nickles
- Live Fast, Die Young (1958) as Artie Sanders / Artie Smith
- Monster on the Campus (1958) as Jimmy Flanders
- Wild Heritage (1958) as Jesse Bascomb
- Summer Love (1958) as Sax Lewis
- Voice in the Mirror (1958) as Paul Cunningham
- Maverick (1957) as Dan Jamison
- Sugarfoot (1957) as Ken Savage
- The Tarnished Angels (1957) as Frank Burnham
- The Monolith Monsters (1957) as Hank Jackson
- Man of a Thousand Faces (1957) as Assistant Director (uncredited)
- Man Afraid (1957) as Reporter (uncredited)
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Winner
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Troy Donahue best known for?
Troy Donahue is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Cry-Baby (1990), Deadly Spygames (1989), Assault of the Party Nerds (1989), American Rampage (1989).
When and where was Troy Donahue born?
Troy Donahue was born on January 27, 1936 in New York City, New York, U.S.. They passed away on September 2, 2001.
How many credits does Troy Donahue have?
Troy Donahue has accumulated over 103 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2016.
What is Troy Donahue's background in cinema and television?
Troy Donahue was born Merle Johnson Jr. on January 27, 1936, in New York City, and died on September 2, 2001, in Santa Monica, California. He was an American film and television actor and singer who also became a popular sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s. His father, Merle Johnson, managed the motion-picture department...
Troy Donahue by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television (1977) as Merle Johnson — aged about 41
- The Godfather Part II (1974) as Merle Johnson — aged about 38
- Ellery Queen (1975) as Gilbert Mallory — aged about 39
- Imitation of Life (1959) as Frankie — aged about 23
- Rawhide (1959) as Buzz Travis — aged about 23
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) — aged about 22
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