Born in a multicultural New York City neighborhood, comedian Don Adams joined the Marines upon the outbreak of World War II. After Guadalcanal, Adams saw little action due to a life-threatening bout of blackwater fever (malaria) that kept him out of commission until the end of the war. As a civilian, Adams tried at first to carve out a career as a professional artist, taking outside jobs to support himself and his family. Blessed with a gift for mimicry, Adams and a friend teamed up for a comedy act but response was minimal, and soon Adams was involved in the cartographic and engineering
… More business.Then in 1954, on a whim, he auditioned for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts; his routine went over, and he was on his way. Collaborating with his close friend Bill Dana, Adams developed a topnotch act full of "inside" showbiz references that fortunately never went over the heads of the audience. His best monologue was "The Defense Attorney," wherein Adams adopted the clipped speech cadence of actor William Powell. Though he would be seen in a variety of sketches during his nightclub years and his early-1960s stint as a regular on The Perry Como Show, it was the Powell imitation that scored highest. Adams would use this voice for the cartoon character of Tennessee Tuxedo in 1963, and that same year expanded on the impression in the role of inept house detective Byron Glick on The Bill Dana Show.
The "spy cycle" of 1965 enabled Adams to refine the Byron Glick character into the magnificently self-confident but monumentally inept secret-agent Maxwell Smart on the hit TV sitcom Get Smart, which ran until 1970. In addition to providing Adams a conduit for his beloved movie parodies, the series also gave him an opportunity to direct.
In 1971, Adams moved onto another genre-spoof TV series, The Partners, in which he played police detective Lennie Crook. Hampered by weak scripts and a death-valley timeslot opposite All in the Family, The Partners perished after thirteen weeks. After this debacle, Adams found the going rough for a while, though he made a comfortable living with nightclub appearances and guest spots on such TV series as The Love Boat.
He made no fewer than three attempts to revive Get Smart between 1980 and 1994, one of which actually resulted in a (very short-lived) weekly Fox network sitcom. Adams is best known to children of the 1980s as the voice of cartoondom's bionic blockhead, Inspector Gadget. Don Adams was the brother of another comic actor, the late Richard Yarmy; Adams' cousin Robert Karvelas played secret agent Larrabee on Get Smart.
Welcome to the TV.com Forums for Don Adams. Here is your area to discuss, dissect and debate all things about this person.
Would you believe...Agent Maxwell Smart takes phone-booth elevator to the Chief's office in the sky?
Don Adams
1923-2005
My ninth grade drama class attended a city drama festival where we competed against drama classes from all over the city. The highlight of the festival was a special guest who came on stage to read the name of winning team in the "Group Improvisation" competition. The special guest was Don Adams who was greeted with a standing ovation that lasted for five minutes. When the crowd quieted down Mr. Adams said three simple words, "Would you believe?" and the crowd went into another five-minute standing ovation.
I was a fan of Mr. Adams before that special event and an even bigger fan after. Everyone has been expressing how much he or she loved "Get Smart", "Tennessee Tuxedo" and "Inspector Gadget", but no one has mentioned one of my favorite shows Don Adams' Screen Test.
Good Night Mr. Adams.
I wanted to shake your hand that day but I missed you by that much.
Stay Tuned
Tony Figueroa
He in the series 'Maxwell Smart' played a bumbling spy. He lived in a house that was filled with gadgets. That if he pressed the wrong button would do something very funny. He drove around in convertibles. When he went to his office he would go inside a phone booth as shown in the opening sequence. He fell in love with his co-star Barbara Felden and ruined the wedding. One of my favorite episodes was the birth of the babies. He was fighting the bad guys right in the middle of the hospital. When the doctor would come out and announce one was born he would stop mid fight and shake hands and give out cigars. It was a great show. He played Maxwell Smart to perfection.
Don Adams was one the greatest comedic actors ever. His acting in Get Smart earned him 3 awards, and well deserved too. Get Smart Season 1 is scheduled to release early next year. I am looking forward to it's release and I'm sorry that Mr. Adams will not be around to see it. It's release, "Missed him by that much". He pulled "the old die at 82 trick" & he'll be missed.
When I was young, I loved watching Get Smart and Inspector Gadget. Don Adams was a key reason behind my love of GS, and THE reason I enjoyed IG. His voice was so distinct and enjoyable. I loved imitating it, as I'm sure many others did. May he rest in peace.
When I was a young kid living in Coe-Des Neige montreal. I was always interested in becomig an action adventure spy. One of my all time greatest spy idols was Maxwell Smart, agent 86. Where did they get that term from,"86 that!"?
I think they should make a modern day Movie based on the funniest spy before Austin Powers.
beowulf579
Editor
aplourey
christopher_007
spicciotti
bender21345
