Michael Witney

Michael Witney (born Whitney Michael Moore Armstrong; November 21, 1931 – November 30, 1983) was an American film and television actor.

Career In 1963–64, Witney's first screen-acting role was a recurring part as the first wagon master, Buck Coulter, in the first 14 episodes of the ABC Western television series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters.

In 1975, Witney was cast as Frank Ward in 10 of the 11 episodes of the BBC television series, Oil Strike North, a drama about the Triumph Oil Company and its attempt to extract petroleum from the North Sea. On December 30, 1965, Witney made a brief appearance as a sailor named Johnny who helped Zsa Zsa Gabor, who guest-starred in the #15 episode of the second season of Gilligan's Island entitled, "Erica Tiffany Smith to the Rescue". He also appeared in NBC's Star Trek episode "A Private Little War", playing Tyree, a friend of Kirk from years earlier and current leader of a band of Hill People. His last screen appearances were from 1978–1981 in different roles in three episodes of ABC's Charlie's Angels.

Personal life Witney married Donna (JoJo) Collette Bailey in 1956 in Helena, Montana. They divorced in 1976. He married the British model Twiggy in 1977; they had a daughter, Carly. Witney died in New York on November 30, 1983, nine days after his 52nd birthday. He died of a heart attack in a McDonald's where he had taken Carly to celebrate her fourth birthday.

Before his move to Los Angeles to pursue acting, Witney was a minor league pitcher for the Hornell Dodgers and the Great Falls Electrics.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes1967 The Way West Johnnie Mack 1970 Darling Lili Lt. Youngblood Carson 1971 Doc Ike Clanton 1971 Head On Steve 1972 The Catcher Noah 1974 W Ben Lewis 1980 There Goes the Bride Bill Shorter