Don Porter

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

76

Gender

Male

Birthday

1912-09-24

Day of death

1997-02-11 (84 years old)

Place of Birth

Miami, Oklahoma, USA

Don Porter

Biography

Donald "Don" Porter (September 24, 1912 –February 11, 1997) was an American actor who appeared in a number of films since the 1940s, including Top Sergeant and Eagle Squadron. On television, he portrayed the widowed father of 15-year-old Frances "Gidget" Lawrence (Sally Field) in the 1965 ABC sitcom Gidget. Besides his work in film and television, Porter was active on stage, as he acted in more than 200 plays, including The Front Page, Plaza Suite, and Any Wednesday. He appeared in various films in the 1940s before landing the role of Peter Sands, the boss of Susan Camille MacNamara (Ann Sothern), on the 1950s sitcom Private Secretary. A retooled version of the series appeared later, titled The Ann Sothern Show. It featured many of the same actors, including Porter as hotel manager James Devery in the venue of a fashionable New York City hotel. He later guest starred on episodes of Green Acres, Love, American Style, The Mod Squad, Barnaby Jones, The Six Million Dollar Man, Hawaii Five-O, Three's Company (on which he played Jack Tripper's uncle), and Switch.

Known For

  • Dallas

    Dallas

  • The Love Boat

    The Love Boat

  • Love, American Style

    Love, American Style

  • Hawaii Five-O

    Hawaii Five-O

  • Hawaii Five-O

    Hawaii Five-O

  • Hotel

    Hotel

  • Matlock

    Matlock

  • The Six Million Dollar Man

    The Six Million Dollar Man

  • The F.B.I.

    The F.B.I.

  • Barnaby Jones

    Barnaby Jones

  • Here's Lucy

    Here's Lucy

  • Three's Company

    Three's Company

  • The Rookies

    The Rookies

  • Green Acres

    Green Acres

  • Switch

    Switch

  • Switch

    Switch

  • The Bionic Woman

    The Bionic Woman

  • Vega$

    Vega$

  • Ellery Queen

    Ellery Queen

  • The Mod Squad

    The Mod Squad

  • Judd for the Defense

    Judd for the Defense

  • The Paper Chase

    The Paper Chase

  • Gidget

    Gidget

  • Vacation Playhouse

    Vacation Playhouse

  • City of Angels

    City of Angels

  • 40 Carats

    40 Carats

  • The Racket

    The Racket

  • Wild Beauty

    Wild Beauty

  • Interview with Pontius Pilate

    Interview with Pontius Pilate

  • Private Secretary

    Private Secretary

  • Last Hours Before Morning

    Last Hours Before Morning

  • The Murder That Wouldn't Die

    The Murder That Wouldn't Die

  • Who Done It?

    Who Done It?

  • Eyes of the Underworld

    Eyes of the Underworld

  • The Fallbrook Story

    The Fallbrook Story

  • She-Wolf of London

    She-Wolf of London

  • Eagle Squadron

    Eagle Squadron

  • Resisting Enemy Interrogation

    Resisting Enemy Interrogation

  • Keep 'Em Slugging

    Keep 'Em Slugging

  • The Savage

    The Savage

  • White Line Fever

    White Line Fever

  • Because You're Mine

    Because You're Mine

  • The Morning After

    The Morning After

  • Happy Anniversary and Goodbye

    Happy Anniversary and Goodbye

  • The Turning Point

    The Turning Point

  • 711 Ocean Drive

    711 Ocean Drive

  • Reconnaissance Pilot

    Reconnaissance Pilot

  • Youngblood Hawke

    Youngblood Hawke

  • A Woman for All Men

    A Woman for All Men

  • Archer

    Archer

  • Top Sergeant

    Top Sergeant

  • Live a Little, Love a Little

    Live a Little, Love a Little

  • Cuban Pete

    Cuban Pete

  • The President's Mistress

    The President's Mistress

  • Madame Spy

    Madame Spy

  • Mame

    Mame

  • The Legend of Lizzie Borden

    The Legend of Lizzie Borden

  • Gidget Goes to Rome

    Gidget Goes to Rome

  • Tropic of Desire

    Tropic of Desire

  • Night Monster

    Night Monster

  • Cripple Creek

    Cripple Creek

  • The Last Song

    The Last Song

  • Bachelor in Paradise

    Bachelor in Paradise

  • Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A.

    Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A.

  • How to Fly the B-26 Airplane

    How to Fly the B-26 Airplane

  • Buck Privates Come Home

    Buck Privates Come Home

  • My Friend Irma Goes West

    My Friend Irma Goes West

  • Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone

    Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone

  • The Candidate

    The Candidate

  • Our Miss Brooks

    Our Miss Brooks

  • The Norliss Tapes

    The Norliss Tapes

  • Desk Set

    Desk Set

  • The Ghosts of Buxley Hall

    The Ghosts of Buxley Hall

  • Mystery of the White Room

    Mystery of the White Room

  • Danger Woman

    Danger Woman

  • Murder or Mercy

    Murder or Mercy