Father Knows Best
CBS (ended 1960)
Cast & Crew
EDIT
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Elinor Donahue
Betty "Princess" Anderson
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Sarah Selby
Miss Thomas
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Robert Foulk
Ed Davis (1955-1959)
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Robert Young
Jim Anderson
Robert Young is best known for two roles Jim Anderson on "Father Knows Best" and Dr. Marcus Welby. Robert led a different life than the ones that he portrayed on television. He was a soft spoken man that grew up in California. He battle problems with confidence his whole life which manifested in his struggles with chronic depression and alcoholism. He described himself in 1983 as "a black terror behind a cheerful face" In 1991 he survived a much-publicized suicide attempt. His first stage experiences were with Pasadena Playhouse before he gained his roles in films in the early 1930's. The majority of his roles portrayed a good looking bland man who always did the right thing and never got the girl. Though he was an attractive man he never got a sex appeal role. His candor and honest with his personal struggles endeared him more to the audience. When he passed away at the age of 91 in 1998, Young was achieved awards for his community service, talent and professionalism.moreless -
Jane Wyatt
Margaret Anderson
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Billy Gray
James "Bud" Anderson, Jr.
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Lauren Chapin
Kathy "Kitten" Anderson
As a popular and talented child actress Lauren starred in many TV and radio programs as well as movies and commercials. She was awarded five JR. Emmy's for Best Child Actress. As an adult, she has been awarded Honorable Mayor of three cities in the states of Oklahoma, Texas and Florida for her numerous charity activities. In the past six years Lauren Chapi has raised over Two Million Dollars for Underprivileged and Abused Children through her public appearances and fundraising efforts. Currently, she is managing singers and Actors. She also performs with The Vagabond Troupe in a live inter-active version of Father Knows Best where she portrays Margeret Anderson for Cruise Lines, Convention Shows and Entertainment Venues all over the country. Also as having been a child star she conducts seminars on Show Business and teaching students the "do's & don'ts" of the business. As a writer Lauren Chapin is also a keynote speaker and licensed and ordained Evangelist. She has studied with Broadway's most successful dance and choreographer team, Marge and Gower Champion, France's mime Marcel Marceau, and songwriter and producer, David Blumburg. Her work lately has brought her back into the public light on such shows as Regis and The Today Show. As well as Entertainment Tonight & The Oprah Winfrey Show. She also hosted a 7 hour marathon on The Family Channel for Father's Day with the stars of Father Knows Best.moreless -
Yvonne Lime
Dotty Snow (1954-1957)
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Roger Smith
Doyle Hobbs (1957-1958)
Roger Smith began his acting career in the late 1950's appearing on various anthology programs with a film break in the 1957 film Man of a Thousand Faces. He is best known for his 1958 television series 77 Sunset Strip and later in the 1965 Henry Fonda series Mister Roberts. Married to sex kitten Ann-Margret since 1967, he has been retired from acting due to a muscle disorder called myasthenia gravis.
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Robert Chapman
Ralph Little (1957-1958)
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Paul Wallace
Kippy Watkins (1954-1959)
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Sue George
April Adams (1957-1958)
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Jymme Shore
Joyce Kendall (1958-1959)
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Jimmy Bates
Claude Messner (1954-1959)
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Susan Whitney
Marcia
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Vivi Janiss
Myrtle Davis (1955-1959)
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Barbara Eden
Marge Corbett
Barbara Eden, most known for her role in the popular 60's show "I Dream of Jeannie," was born on August 23rd, 1934 in Tuscon, Arizona. When Barbara was 3, her family moved to San Francisco. Around the same time her mother Alice divorced her father, later re-marrying to Harrison Connor Huffman. Barbara went to high school at Abraham Lincoln High School, where she was a cheerleader. She graduated in 1949. Barbara joined the Actor's Equity at her school when she was 16.
After graduating, Barbara studied acting at the Elizabeth Holloway School of Theatre and singing at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Her movie debut was in 1956, when she had an uncredited role in the movie "Back from Eternity." She was "discovered" by Fox Film Director Mark Robson who saw her in a play she was in. Barbara's first leading television role was in the comedy "How to Marry a Millionaire." She met actor Michael Ansara in October, 1957 and went on to marry him on January 17th, 1958.
Barbara was in several movies in the early 60's, including "The Yellow Canary," "Five Weeks in a Balloon," and "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm." On August 29th, 1965, she had her only son, Matthew Ansara, with Michael Ansara. Also in 1965, she attained her most famous role of her career to date, playing Jeannie in the well-known comedy "I Dream of Jeannie," which ran for five seasons, ending in 1970.
After "I Dream of Jeannie" ended, Barbara started to star in several made-for-TV movies. She divorced her first husband in 1972, going on to meet Charles Donald Fegert, her second husband, in 1974. She married him on September 3rd, 1977. In 1981, she starred in another comedy titled "Harper Valley P.T.A.," which only lasted for two seasons. In 1983, Barbara divorced her second husband. She met Jon Trusdale Eicholtz, her current husband, in 1989 and married him on January 5th, 1991. Also in the early 90's, she had several guest appearances on the long-running TV series "Dallas."
Barbara has reprised her famous role of "Jeannie" several times since the show ended, and still makes television appearances, along with occasional appearances at award shows and other events.moreless -
Parley Baer
Lyle
PARLEY was a radio star in the 40's and 50's. During the years 1955-61, he was the radio voice for Dodge City Deputy, CHESTER PROUDFOOT. He married circus performer ERNESTINE CLARK in 1946. She died August 5, 2000. They had two children. He has appeared in over 150 TV shows, most notably as MAYOR STONER in THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.
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Marion Ross
Guest Star
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Peter Miles (II)
Eddie
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Dabbs Greer
Mr. Collins
For over 5 decades-- appearing in almost 100 movies, and with almost 200 TV guest appearances-- you have seen Dabbs Greer everywhere, usually as a cast member, not starring in the lead role. A truly wonderful, diversified actor, Dabbs would play the Preacher, Deputy, Sheriff, Corporal, Lieutenant, Commander, Doctor, Reporter, Bartender, Clerk, Taxi Driver, Bus Driver, Detective, Sergeant, Captain, Fireman, etc., with equal expertise. Dabbs first appeared on TV in the Golden Age of Television-- he was the worker, dangling from a dirigible, who was rescued in mid-air by Superman in the pilot episode of "The Adventures of Superman" September 1952. Dabbs Greer is best remembered for being in those wonderful, lovable 1950s sci-fi movies like "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956) -- "It ! The Terror from Beyond Space" (1958) -- "The Giant Claw" (1957) and "The Vampire" (1957). On television, Dabbs appeared in some of the classic TV shows-- he had 3 appearances on "The Untouchables" and 2 on "The Twilight Zone." Dabbs was also a recurring character on both the "Gunsmoke" and "Little House on the Prairie" TV series.moreless -
Oliver McGowan
Kramer
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Ray Walker
Lou
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David White
Guest Star
American stage actor who appeared frequently on television and occasionally but impressively in films. A Marine Corps veteran of the Second World War, he worked on Broadway and on tour in stage productions after the war. In the late 1950s, he became an increasingly familiar face on American television, following a strong performance in the film 'Sweet Smell of Success (1957)', in which he played the smarmy fellow who gets a dalliance with the unwilling 'Barbara Nichols' in exchange for a favor to Tony Curtis's Sidney Falco. Cads and pompous politicians became White's strong suit, but he achieved his greatest fame as the unctious Larry Tate on the hit TV series "Bewitched" (1964). He continued to work in the theatre, particularly as a member of acclaimed Theatre West company in Los Angeles and at the Mark Taper Forum there. In December, 1988, White's 33-year-old son Jonathan was killed in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, UK. White, who had been widowed soon after Jonathan's birth, was embittered and enraged by this new tragedy. He became reclusive for a time, but was returning to some social activity and theatre work when he died of a massive heart attack in 1990, just a few days prior to the second anniversary of his son's death. He was survived by his daughter.moreless -
Charles Tannen
Martin
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Burt Mustin
Old Man
Though he didn't start acting until he was in his 60's, he would still have many memorable roles throughout his career. For years he would play minor roles, but then finally would have recurring roles in shows like Leave It to Beaver, The Andy Griffith Show, Bonanza, Adam-12, and All in the Family.moreless -
John Daly
Mr. Ebert
John Daly began his career as a WWII correspondent in Italy covering General Patton and other military icons. In the 1950s, Daly worked at ABC-TV as the Vice President of News, Events and Public Relations where he earned three Peabody Awards. His most famous role was that of host on the long-running CBS primetime panel show, What's My Line?
Vintage 1951 Article - John Daly
From TV TIMES (St. Paul, Minnesota, 13 October 1951)
Daly becomes a weekly habit...PROGRAM MAKES FUN OF WORK
John Daly, moderator of CBS-TV's guess your occupation show, "What's My Line?" Wednesday, WTCN-TV 4, 10:00 p.m., began his radio career, not as an actor or emcee, but first as a relief announcer, then as a special events reporter and news analyst. In the past 12 years he has covered more spot news than most newspapermen have the opportunity to witness in a lifetime.
It was in 1937 that Daly, two years after leaving Boston College, landed a job as a relief announcer at a Washington station. He enjoyed this first experience on the air so much that he decided to make radio his career. Three weeks later, with an impressive audition to his credit, he moved to CBS as an announcer, soon landing an assignment in special events.
Friend of FDR's
Daly became presidential announcer for Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938. He has two cherished autographs of the late president, one inscribed to John Charles Daly and the other to "Charley Daly from his friend, Franklin D. Roosevelt." the latter is a picture Daly took of FDR himself. Daly was once known as Charley, to avoid confusion with his brother also named John but with the middle name Grant. Daly is John Charles.
Other news assignments followed: Capitol news from Washington, The major political conventions in 1940, the tour with Wendell Wilkie, assignment to London in 1942, Algiers, Sicily, Italy, the Middle East, The conventions of 1944 and 1948, the Nuremberg trials, Task Force frigid in Alaska and the Aleutians, the Berlin Airlift and a South American survey.
His Historic Pen
Daly had a clear beat on the fall of Cassino and the surrender of the Italian Fleet at Malta. His PX-purchased fountain pen became historic when he lent it to Capt. Harry Butcher, naval aide to Gen. Eisenhower, who used it in the signing of the German surrender in May, 1945. Daly never got the pen back.
Having gone through Sicily and Italy without a scratch, Daly was called back to cover the 1944 conventions in Chicago where he was conked repeatedly by the state standards held by demonstrating delegates. His more recent news assignments for CBS include the Texas City Disaster, the Greenville lynch trial and the Cleveland air races.
Daly the Thespian
Daly became an actor and a newspaperman simultaneously in 1949, when he drew the part of Walter Burns, famous managing editor of "The Front Page", a rowdy and rollicking Ben Hecht-Charles MacArthur play, when it was adapted for CBS-TV. The closest he had come to acting before was in his role as newsman in the dramatic historical series, CBS's "You Are There", where he played a reporter summarizing and analyzing history as news, and interviewing historical figures.
"What's My Line?" has proved for Daly a thoroughly enjoyable change of pace from his duties as a newsman. He points out, however, that often things get a little hard to handle because the panel members are so volatile and colorful that it sometimes becomes difficult to trim their extemporaneous chatter and get them to concentrate on spotting the contestant's occupation.
Father of Three
John was born Feb. 20, 1914, at Johannesburg, South Africa. His father was an American mining engineer, a graduate of M.I.T. His mother was English. He attended the Marists Brothers College in Johannesburg until he was ten. When his family moved to the United States, he went to Tilton Academy and Junior College in New Hampshire, and then Boston College.
Daly is six feet tall, has brown eyes and brown hair and weighs about 165. Away from the studios, he enjoys reading and plays some golf and tennis. His library contains a large number of books on contemporary history, world politics and the Civil War. He and his wife live in suburban Rye, N.Y. They have three children, John Neal, 13, John Charles IV, and Helen Grant "Buntsy", 5.
The End.
(Author unknown, the 1951 article is unsigned.)
Why are there no John Charles Daly biographies or autobiographies?
To today's average reader, the name "John Daly" brings to mind images of the professional golfer. Yet, to fans of the c game show What's My Line?, this name conjures up images of the erudite moderator. These quiz show fans are often in search of more information about the elder John Daly, but nothing seems to exist. Why is that?
John Daly spent seventeen years working with Random House publisher Bennett Cerf, spent most of his career at two major networks, and wrote dozens of books. He certainly had the opportunity to publish his memoirs if he wanted to. Maybe he just didn't think his life story would be worth writing about. Journalists prefer to write and talk about other people, not themselves. Daly spent the last twenty years of his life out of the public eye. Perhaps he liked it that way.
It would be sad if he had indeed written down his memoirs, but never got around to publishing them. We will probably never know. So far, none of Daly six children have written any biographies of their father.
From what little has been written about John Daly, it appears he was a private person. He apparently "went his own way," even when he was at the height of his fame. It could be that his children and grandchildren really don't know that much about his career and life.
So, what do we know about John Charles Daly?
For the most part, our knowledge comes from what we can glean from his writings on various legal and political topics, and his appearances on television and radio.
Other authors have occasionally written about him. In Mike Wallace's book from about 10 years ago, there is some revealing information about how he and Daly were basically arch-rivals, and Wallace is very critical of Daly in his references to him. Their dispute stems from Daly's days at ABC, where Daly and Wallace employed differing of reporting.
There is also David Halberstam's 1979 book, "The Powers That Be." In this book, he writes of Daly's days at CBS in the FDR administration, and how he basically "stuck it" to reporters from the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, etc., because he thought that reporters from the radio networks deserved the SECOND car behind the president, not a car farther back. The wire services had the first car, and Daly supposedly made a fuss, saying that CBS and NBC had more of an audience than the AP and UPI, and therefore probably deserved the FIRST car, but he didn't push it that far.
Apparently, a lot of the other reporters disliked Daly for this, and also because they thought he was a prima donna who "was off practicing Shakespeare" when they were playing poker, according to a Chicago Tribune reporter.
Halberstam does mention that Daly eventually made his bones, so to speak, as a reporter by covering WWII in Europe. There are photos of Daly with Edward R. Murrow and others in Europe, wearing their military correspondent uniforms.
Another bit of information we know about Daly comes from Gil Fates' 1978 What's My Line? book. Fates writes that Daly and the panel were not a family unit, and Fates would certainly be one to know. At times, Daly had difficulties with the panel members. In particular, one tiff with Dorothy Kilgallen resulted in Daly's not speaking to her for six months, outside of the mechanics of running the show.
As we know from John's published obituary, he was born in South Africa because his father was a scientist working there. Supposedly, his ship coming over had quite a bit of difficulty and nearly didn't make it.
He supposedly got into broadcasting, for which he had no apparent formal training, because he was told he had a nice voice and should try out for radio. Before he started covering the White House for CBS, FDR supposedly only was familiar with NBC radio, and didn't even know CBS existed. Daly supposedly made a fuss there, too, and more or less forced the White House to include CBS in FDR's broadcasts. He later became professionally close to FDR, but he also apparently was quite conservative for his day, even though he was married to the daughter of Earl Warren, considered by many to be a liberal icon.
He went to lead the Voice of America after WML went off the air and lasted there a very short time. It is now unknown why his tenure there was so short.
We do need to be careful in analyzing a person from their appearances on television shows that were made 50 years ago. Like most people in his circle, Daly apparently was a complicated guy, hosting one show at CBS and working in the news department at ABC at the same time.
And, unfortunately, most of the people who knew Daly well are either dead, very old, biased (such as Mike Wallace) or may not have known the man well.
In summing things up, Daly was a man who had numerous contacts in publishing and media, and therefore could have published his memoirs any time he wanted to. Yet, no such books were ever written. It is a mystery to this day. Possibly, he may have simply not wanted to put his life in print.
Bill Savage, December 2004moreless -
Virginia Christine
Grace
Virginia has a long career as a character actress on the screen, but she will always be best remembered as the "Folger Coffee Woman". Virginia was born in the small Iowa town of Stanton, which later converted its water tower to resemble a coffee pot in honor of its most famous citizen. When her family moved to Los Angeles, Virginia work in radio while attending the University of California, Los Angeles. She was trained for a theatrical career by actor/director Fritz Feld, whom she married in 1940. In 1942, she signed a contract with Warner Bros., and started appearing in various films. Her first film was, _Edge of Darkness (1942)_ , in which she played a Norwegian peasant girl called Miss Olson. Over the years she appeared in prestigious films such as High Noon (1952) and Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) - to horror in Mummy's Curse, The (1944) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). She was a favorite of Stanley Kramer, appearing in a number of his films. But her greatest fame came in the 1960's when she started her 21-year stint as the matronly Mrs. Olson, who always had comforting words for young married couples while pouring Folgers Coffee in the TV ads.moreless -
Susan Oliver
Milly
Susan Oliver published a book about her life in 1983 titled, "Odyessy, A Daring Transatlantic Journey." This book was more than a history of her successful acting and directing carreer, or about her accomplishments as an aviatrix. It was about the struggle to over come a broken heart, and how she grew as a person. Through this experience Susan came to have faith and power through a spirtiual rebirth. With this rebirth, Susan regained a joy and peace, as she said, "in the darkest days of my life." She found a faith and a power to over come the "storms and dangers" both inside and outside of us in the journey of life, and the ability to navigate life with profound happiness. This was what she wrote about, and this was what Susan was most proud and more than that, it is what she wanted to pass on to others.moreless -
Mary Webster
Jill
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Categories
Comedy
Themes
Feel Good Comedy, For The Nostalgic, Sarcastic Characters, Suburban Life, The Middle Class
