Tim Hovey

Tim Hovey (June 19, 1945 – September 9, 1989) was an American child actor during the 1950s. He later became a musician, road manager and an audio engineer for rock bands.

Acting career Born in Los Angeles, California, Hovey was discovered by a talent agent who saw his photo in the window of a photography shop. In 1955, he made his acting debut in an episode of Lassie. Later that year, he made his film debut as Tiger Flaherty opposite Charlton Heston in The Private War of Major Benson.

From 1955 to 1959, Hovey worked steadily in films and television, often playing characters younger than his real age due to his small stature.

Hovey's final onscreen appearance was in an episode of the anthology series Schlitz Playhouse of the Stars, in 1959. Despite receiving an offer to appear in a Broadway play produced and directed by Otto Preminger, Hovey chose to retire from acting. From 1971 to 1977, Hovey served as the chief audio engineer for the Grateful Dead and Kingfish, the side project of Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir. He is credited as co-writer of "Important Exportin' Man" (with Dave Torbert), on the album The Adventures of Panama Red, by the New Riders of the Purple Sage. Hovey's suicide, along with the suicides of fellow former child actors Trent Lehman and Rusty Hamer, prompted Paul Petersen to form the child actor advocacy group A Minor Consideration.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1955 Lassie Malcolm 2 episodesCredited as Timothy Hovey 1955 The Private War of Major Benson Cadet Thomas "Tiger" Flaherty 1955 The Colgate Comedy Hour Cadet Flaherty Episode #5.38 1955 Queen Bee Ted Phillips 1956 The Toy Tiger Timmie Harkinson 1956 Lux Video Theatre Austin Episode: "The Gay Sisters" 1956 Everything but the Truth Willie Taylor 1956 The Family Nobody Wanted Donny Playhouse 90 episode 1957 Man Afraid Michael Collins 1957 Slim Carter Leo Gallaher 1957 The Lux Show with Rosemary Clooney Himself Episode #1.11 1958 General Electric Theatre Frank Morgan Episode: "Kid at the Stick" 1958 Kraft Television Theatre Jeff Hillyer Episode: "Material Witness" 1958 Money, Women and Guns Davy Kingman 1958 Cimarron City Avery Wickham Episode: "Cimarron Holiday" 1959 Schlitz Playhouse of the Stars Timmy Parker Episode: "Ivy League"