King Donovan

Francis King Donovan (January 25, 1918 – June 30, 1987) was an American film, stage, and television actor, as well as a film and television director.

Early years King Donovan was born in Manhattan on January 25, 1918. His parents were vaudevillians who traveled nationwide in the United States, His acting debut occurred in his teenage years at the Butler Davenport Theater. In 1968, he toured with his wife Imogene Coca in a productions of You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running and Once upon a Mattress.

Television Notable television roles include Jake Clampett (a deadbeat who mooches off the Clampetts) for two episodes of CBS's The Beverly Hillbillies, Blanche Morton's (Bea Benaderet's) brother Roger Baker on eight episodes of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, and Harvey Helm in a 17-episode stint on NBC's The Bob Cummings Show. Donovan also appeared in six episodes as Chris Norman of It's a Great Life. About this time, he also guest starred on Ray Bolger's ABC sitcom, Where's Raymond? and the NBC sitcom, The People's Choice, with Jackie Cooper. He also guest starred on the crime drama, Richard Diamond, Private Detective. In 1956 he appeared as Joe Baker on the TV western Cheyenne in the episode titled "Mustang Trail." He also played in a 1960 episode of Shotgun Slade. He played a petty thief Name Baxter who stole from an orphanage. He portrayed Marty in "Academy Award," a 1957 episode of the CBS situation comedy Mr. Adams and Eve. He played Mark Dawson in the 1959 Maverick episode "Maverick Springs". He was also in Wanted: Dead or Alive in the 1959 episode "Bad Gun" as the gun dealer Sheridan Appleby. In the 1963 episode "The Clampetts Go Hollywood", King Donovan portrays Jake Clampett.

He played Twirly Boggs in the 1960 TV series Bonanza, season 1 episode 19 'The Gunmen'. Donovan guest starred as Paddy Britt in the 1959 episode "The Boy from Pittsburgh" of the NBC western series, Riverboat.

In 1963, he played the part of Poke Tolliver in the episode "Incident of the Buryin' Man" on CBS's Rawhide. Between 1965 and 1967, Donovan had a recurring role as neighbor Herb, whose mission in life seemed to be getting from his house through the study window of professor Jim Nash in less than a full minute, on the situation comedy Please Don't Eat the Daisies.

Directing work In 1963 Donovan directed the film Promises! Promises!, which received attention as the first Hollywood sound film to feature a mainstream film star (Jayne Mansfield) nude. Later the same year Donovan directed two episodes of Grindl, which starred his wife Imogene Coca, and two more the next year.

Personal life and death

Previously married and the father of three children, on October 17, 1960. They remained married until his death from cancer on June 30, 1987, aged 69, in the Connecticut Hospice in Branford, Connecticut.

Filmography + As an actor Title Year Role Notes Open Secret 1948 Fawnes, Bigot Gang Member film debut Man from Texas 1948 Sam (mortgage officer) Uncredited Shockproof 1949 Joe Wilson first time Donovan played a character with a first and last nameUncredited Alias Nick Beal 1949 Peter Wolfe Donovan's highest billed role (7th) at the time I Was a Male War Bride 1949 Minor Role Scenes deleted All the King's Men 1949 Reporter Won the Academy Award for Best PictureUncredited The Pilgrimage Play 1949 Salathiel Side Street 1950 Det. Gottschalk Uncredited One Way Street 1950 Grieder Cargo to Capetown 1950 Sparky Jackson stars John Ireland, the star of Donovan's debut filmUncredited Mystery Street 1950 Reporter at Beach House Uncredited A Lady Without Passport 1950 Surgeon Uncredited Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye 1950 Driver Uncredited Right Cross 1950 Fifth Reporter Uncredited The Sun Sets at Dawn 1950 Reporter, National News Service Storm Warning 1951 Ambulance Driver starred future president Ronald ReaganUncredited The Enforcer 1951 Sgt. Whitlow The Great Missouri Raid 1951 Witness Uncredited Three Guys Named Mike 1951 Willy Uncredited The Redhead and the Cowboy 1951 Munroe The Scarf 1951 Piano Player Uncredited Little Big Horn 1951 Pvt. James Corbo The Prince Who Was a Thief 1951 Merat Uncredited Take Care of My Little Girl 1951 Cab Driver Uncredited His Kind of Woman 1951 Reporter Uncredited Angels in the Outfield 1951 Mack McGee First Donovan film to be remade. First time Donovan appeared in a film trailer. Behave Yourself! 1951 Lingerie Shop Manager Uncredited Come Fill the Cup 1951 Kip Zunches Uncredited The Unknown Man 1951 News Photographer on Courthouse Steps Uncredited Something to Live For 1952 Stage Manager Uncredited Singin' in the Rain 1952 Rod Although his role is uncredited it is recognizable. Film voted best musical of the century and fifth best film of the century by AFI.Uncredited Glory Alley 1952 Telephone Technician Uncredited Sally and Saint Anne 1952 Hymie Callahan The Merry Widow 1952 Nitki The Mississippi Gambler 1953 Spud Uncredited The Magnetic Monster 1953 Dr. Dan Forbes The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms 1953 Dr. Ingersoll Hannah Lee 1953 Sheriff's Deputy Uncredited The Kid from Left Field 1953 Bartender Uncredited The Caddy 1953 Drunk Uncredited Half a Hero 1953 Sam Radwell City of Bad Men 1953 Hotel Clerk Uncredited Three Sailors and a Girl 1953 Sailor Uncredited Easy to Love 1953 Ben Forever Female 1953 Playwright Tumbleweed 1953 Wrangler Riders to the Stars 1954 James O'Herli Broken Lance 1954 Clerk Uncredited Private Hell 36 1954 Evney Serovitch Uncredited The Bamboo Prison 1954 Pop The Seven Little Foys 1955 Harrison Uncredited Not as a Stranger 1955 Mr. Slocum Uncredited Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1956 Jack Belicec The Birds and the Bees 1956 Waiter The Iron Sheriff 1957 Leveret Cowboy 1958 Joe Capper - Trail Hand The Defiant Ones 1958 Solly The Perfect Furlough 1958 Maj. Collins The Hanging Tree 1959 Wonder The Thrill of It All 1963 TV Executive Uncredited It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World 1963 Airport Official Uncredited Nothing Lasts Forever 1984 Lunartini Husband (final film role)

Donovan filmed scenes for an undetermined role in the 1949 film I Was a Male War Bride, but his scenes were deleted.

+ As director Title Date Notes Promises! Promises! 1963 First sound film to feature a mainstream film star (Jayne Mansfield) nude. Only film Donovan ever directed. Grindl 1963–1964 Series starred Donovan's wife, Imogene Coca. 4 episodes That Girl 1968 1 episode