About
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...
Known for
The Love BoatSeries • 1977
DallasSeries • 1978
Hawaii Five-OSeries • 1969
Love, American StyleSeries • 1969
Three's CompanySeries • 1977
MatlockSeries • 1986
The Six Million Dollar ManSeries • 1974
HotelSeries • 1982
Green AcresSeries • 1965
The F.B.I.Series • 1965
Barnaby JonesSeries • 1973
The RookiesSeries • 1972
Here's LucySeries • 1968
SwitchSeries • 1975
Vega$Series • 1978
The Bionic WomanSeries • 1976
The Mod SquadSeries • 1968
Ellery QueenSeries • 1975
Judd, for the DefenseSeries • 1967
The Paper ChaseSeries • 1978
GidgetSeries • 1965
Buck Privates Come HomeMovie • 1947
The RacketMovie • 1951
The CandidateMovie • 1972