Richard Denning

Richard Denning (born Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr.; March 27, 1914 – October 11, 1998) was an American actor who starred in science fiction films of the 1950s, including Unknown Island, Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Target Earth (1954), Day the World Ended (1955), Creature with the Atom Brain (1955), and The Black Scorpion (1957). Denning also appeared in the film An Affair to Remember (1957) with Cary Grant and on radio with Lucille Ball in My Favorite Husband (1948–1951), the forerunner of I Love Lucy. He's more well-known as Governor Paul Jameson in late 1968-1980 police procedural TV series Hawaii Five-O.

Early years Denning was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. After attending Manual Arts High School, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Woodbury Business College in Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father's garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served on submarines. The radio stint, however, led to a role on CBS television's series adaptation of Mr. and Mrs. North.

On television, he starred as the title character in the 1950 syndicated adventure series Ding Howe and the Flying Tigers. He was cast as Dr. Greg Graham in the 1959 series, The Flying Doctor. He also starred as the title character in the detective series Michael Shayne (1960–1961) and shared title billing with Barbara Britton in the detective series Mr. and Mrs. North (1952–1954).

In 1964-1965, Denning played Steve Scott in the comedy series Karen. In later life, he had a recurring role as the fictitious governor of Hawaii, Paul Jameson, in the CBS television crime drama series, Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980), starring Jack Lord.

He appeared three times on the ABC religion anthology series Crossroads, as Dr. Ira Langston in "Chinese Checkers" (1955) and as the Reverend George Bolton in "The Bowery Bishop" and as the Reverend Lloyd E. Williams in "The Pure White Orchid" (both 1956).

In other activity on radio, Denning played Uncle Jack in It's a Crime, Mr. Collins (1956-1957) on the Mutual Broadcasting System. He also was the second actor to play Jerry North in the radio version of Mr. and Mrs. North.

Denning later appeared in several 'B' crime drama films before starring in science fiction and horror films. In 1957, he began the first of a series of television appearances, usually as a supporting character, though he did star briefly in two television dramas, The Flying Doctor (1959), and Michael Shayne (1960–61).

In 1968, Denning completed his last film, a comedy titled I Sailed to Tahiti with an All Girl Crew. Semi-retired and living on the island of Maui with his wife, Denning was contacted by producer Leonard Freeman, who offered him the supporting role as the governor of Hawaii in the TV detective series, Hawaii Five-O. In order to persuade Denning to sign on in the recurring role, Freeman guaranteed Denning five-hour days and a four-day work week.

Recognition Denning has a star at 6932 Hollywood Boulevard in the Television section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was dedicated on February 8, 1960.

Personal life and death

In 1942, Denning married 1940s horror film queen Evelyn Ankers (co-star of The Wolf Man, Ghost of Frankenstein and Son of Dracula), who retired from films at the age of 32 after they were married. He and Ankers had a daughter, Diana Denning (later Dwyer). After Ankers's death from cancer in 1985, he married Patricia Leffingwell. Denning died at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido on October 11, 1998, from complications of emphysema. Denning and Ankers are buried at Makawao Veterans' Cemetery in Makawao, Hawaii.

Filmography + Film and television Year Title Role Notes 1937 Hold 'em Navy Midshipman Jepson 1937 Night Club Scandal Vera's Naval Fiancé (scenes deleted) 1937Wells Fargo Minor Role Uncredited 1938 Captain Reid 1938 Officer, S.S. Gigantic Uncredited 1938 Her Jungle Love Pilot Uncredited 1938 College Swing Student Uncredited 1938 You and Me Salesman 1938 Cpl. Parker Uncredited 1938 Give Me a Sailor Sailor Uncredited 1938 Campus Confessions Buck Hogan 1938 King of Alcatraz Harry Vay 1938 Touchdown, Army Cadet Uncredited 1938 The Arkansas Traveler Bit Role Uncredited 1938 Illegal Traffic Silk Patterson 1938 Say It in French Elevator Passenger Uncredited 1939 Ambush Police Garage Mechanic 1939 Persons in Hiding Powder, Henchman 1939 King of Chinatown Protective Association Henchman 1939 I'm from Missouri Plane Pilot Uncredited 1939 Sudden Money Johnny Jordan 1939 Hotel Imperial Uncredited 1939 Union Pacific Reporter Uncredited 1939 Some Like It Hot Mr. Weems 1939 Undercover Doctor Frank Oliver 1939 The Gracie Allen Murder Case Fred 1939 Grand Jury Secrets Murph 1939 Million Dollar Legs Hunk Jordan 1939 The Star Maker Assistant Dance Director 1939 Television Spy Dick Randolph 1939 Disputed Passage Student Uncredited 1939 Our Neighbors – The Carters Pilot Uncredited 1939 Geronimo Lt. Larned Uncredited 1939 Call Boy Uncredited 1940 Emergency Squad Dan Barton 1940 Parole Fixer Bruce Eaton 1940 Dennis Crane 1940 Seventeen Jack 1940 Those Were the Days! Briggs 1940 Queen of the Mob Charlie Webster 1940 Golden Gloves Bill Crane 1940 Northwest Mounted Police Const. Thornton 1940 Love Thy Neighbor Joe 1941 Adam Had Four Sons Jack Stoddard (older) 1941 West Point Widow Lt. Rhody Graves 1942Beyond the Blue Horizon Jackra the Magnificent 1942 Taylor Henry 1942 Quiet Please, Murder Hal McByrne 1942 Ice-Capades Revue Jeff Stewart 1944 Golden Gloves 1946 Black Beauty Bill Dixon 1946 The Fabulous Suzanne Rex 1947 Seven Were Saved Captain Allen Danton 1948 Caged Fury Blaney Lewis 1948 Lady at Midnight Peter Wiggins 1948 Unknown Island John Fairbanks 1948 Disaster Bill Wyatt 1950 No Man of Her Own Hugh Harkness 1950 Harbor of Missing Men Jim 'Brooklyn' Gannon 1950 Double Deal Buzz Doyle 1951 TV series, episode: "The Hot Welcome" 1951 Flame of Stamboul Larry Wilson 1951 Insurance Investigator Tom Davison 1951 Secrets of Beauty Dr. John Waldron 1951 Week-End with Father Don Adams 1952 Okinawa Lt. Phillips 1952 Scarlet Angel Malcolm Bradley 1952 - 1953Mr. and Mrs. NorthJerry NorthTV series on CBS, 56 episodes total; later with NBC 1952 Cavalcade of America TV series episode: "The Man Who Took a Chance" 1952 Hangman's Knot Lee Kemper 1953 Target Hong Kong Mike Lassiter 1953 Ford Television Theatre Dr. James Baker TV series, episode: "The Doctor's Downfall" 1953 Chief Investigator Paul Reagan 1953 Dave Markson 1954 Jivaro Jerry Russell 1954 Ford Television Theatre George Beagle TV series, episode: "The Legal Beagles" 1954 Creature from the Black Lagoon Dr. Mark Williams 1954 Battle of Rogue River Stacey Wyatt 1954 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars TV series, episode: "Tapu" 1954 Mr. and Mrs. North Jerry North TV series on NBC, 56 episodes total (both networks) 1954 Target Earth Frank Brooks 1955 TV Reader's Digest Don Wilkerson TV series, episode: "I'll Pick More Daisies" 1955 Ford Television Theatre Tim Barker TV series, episode: "All That Glitters" 1955 Air Strike Cmdr. Stanley Blair 1955 The Magnificent Matador Mark Russell 1955 Creature with the Atom Brain Dr. Chet Walker 1955 'Dakota' Jack Gaines 1955 Frank Daniel 1955 Rick 1956 Cheyenne Capt. Quinlan TV series, episode: "Decision" 1956 Celebrity Playhouse William Broder TV series, episode: "Bachelor Husband" 1956 Steve Ward 1956 Girls in Prison Rev. Fulton 1956 Crossroads Dr. Ira Langston TV series, episode: "Chinese Checkers" 1956 Crossroads Rev. George Bolton TV series, episode: "The Bowery Bishop" 1956 Crossroads Reverend Lloyd E. Williams TV series, episode: "The Pure White Orchid" 1956 Assignment Redhead Major Gregory Keen 1956 Ford Television Theatre Barney Maddock TV series, episode: "Double Trouble 1956 Ford Television Theatre Davy Jones TV series, episode: "On the Beach" 1957 Naked Paradise Duke Bradley 1957 Ford Television Theatre Charlie Frye TV series, episode: "The Idea Man" 1957 Dr. Bruce Merritt 1957 Kenneth Bradley 1957 Hank Scott 1957 General Electric Theater Dr. Mark Andrews TV series, episode: "Eyes of a Stranger" 1958 General Electric Theater Jim Kendall TV series, episode: "Letters from Cairo" 1958 Al Reynolds 1958 Studio One Jack Marshall TV series, episode: "The Laughing Willow" 1958 Desert Hell Sgt. Major Pierre Benet 1959 The Flying Doctor Dr. Greg Graham TV series, 39 episodes 1960 No Greater Love 1960–1961 Michael Shayne Michael Shayne TV series, 32 episodes 1963 Going My Way Larry TV series, episode: "Don't Forget to Say Goodbye" 1963 Twice-Told Tales Jonathan Maulle 1964–1965 Karen Steve Scott TV series, 27 episodes 1966 Alice Through the Looking Glass Alice's Father 1968 I Sailed to Tahiti With an All Girl Crew Commodore 1968 I Spy Delaney TV series, episode: "This Guy Smith" 1968–1980 Hawaii Five-O Governor Paul Jameson TV series, 69 episodes 1974 McCloud Edgar Hamilton TV series, episode: "A Cowboy in Paradise" 1980 Charles Van Heuran (final film role)