Gordon was born Donald Walter Guadagno in Los Angeles on November 13, 1926. He sold newspapers at the age of eight to help support his family during the Great Depression. He enlisted in the Navy at the age of fifteen after the attack on Pearl Harbor, convincing his mother to say he was eighteen. He won eleven battle stars.[3]
Gordon entered drama school after the war and changed his name. As recounted after his death in The New York Times, Gordon was standing outside the drama school at Sunset Boulevard and Gordon Street, when "a classmate told him that he would never make it in show business with the surname Guadagno. The student then pointed to the street sign and said, 'Your name should be Don Gordon.'"[3]
Career
Gordon's television successes began with a starring role in the 1960–1961 syndicated series The Blue Angels, based on the elite precision flight demonstration pilots of the United States NavyBlue Angels.[4] In 1962, Gordon was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his role as Joey Tassili on CBS's legal drama, The Defenders,[5] starring E.G. Marshall. During 1977–1978, he co-starred in the television show Lucan,[4]: 632 and he played Harry in the CBS drama The Contender (1980).[4]: 207
Later career
Gordon's last credited film work was the 2005 documentary, Steve McQueen – The Essence of Cool. Gordon was interviewed along with several others who had worked with McQueen, with whom he was a close friend and colleague.
Personal life
On February 18, 1948, Gordon (aged 21) married actress Helen Westcott (aged 20) in Oxnard, California.[6] They divorced in 1953.[1][7] He married actress Bek Nelson on December 31, 1959, in Los Angeles. They adopted a daughter, Gabrielle, in 1966, and they divorced on May 23, 1979.[8]
Gordon died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center[2] in Los Angeles on April 24, 2017, aged 90, survived by his wife, Denise, and his daughter, Gabrielle, from a previous marriage. He was diagnosed with cancer shortly before his death.[9][3]
^ ab"Don Gordon Dead: Character Actor, Steve McQueen Friend Was 90 | Holly…". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 26 July 2017.
^ abBarnes, Mike (May 5, 2017). "Don Gordon, Top-Notch Character Actor and Pal of Steve McQueen, Dies at 90". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 26 July 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
^ abcDon Gordon, Steve McQueen’s Sidekick Onscreen and in Life, Dies at 90 The New York Times, May 7, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
^ abcTerrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 116. ISBN978-0-7864-6477-7.
^. EMMYS. Television Academy. Archived from the original on July 26, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
^"Marriages". Billboard. March 20, 1948. p. 48. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
^Wagner, Laura (Fall 2016). "Helen Westcott: "A Very Gifted Actress"". Films of the Golden Age (86): 74–76.
^Aaker, Everett (2017). Television Western Players, 1960–1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. p. 318. ISBN9781476628561. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
^"Don Gordon, Top-Notch Character Actor and Pal of Steve McQueen, Dies at 90". The Hollywood Reporter. 5 May 2017.
gordon, actor, other, people, with, same, name, donald, gordon, disambiguation, gordon, born, donald, walter, guadagno, november, 1926, april, 2017, american, film, television, actor, most, notable, film, roles, were, those, which, appeared, alongside, friend,. For other people with the same name see Donald Gordon disambiguation Don Gordon born Donald Walter Guadagno November 13 1926 April 24 2017 2 was an American film and television actor His most notable film roles were those in which he appeared alongside his friend Steve McQueen Bullitt 1968 Papillon 1973 and The Towering Inferno 1974 citation needed Between the first and the last of those films he appeared in The Gamblers 1970 WUSA 1970 Cannon for Cordoba 1970 The Last Movie 1971 Z P G 1972 Fuzz 1972 Slaughter 1972 The Mack 1973 The Education of Sonny Carson 1974 and Omen III The Final Conflict 1981 as the ill fated assistant to protagonist Damien Thorn Don GordonBornDonald Walter Guadagno 1926 11 13 November 13 1926Los Angeles California U S DiedApril 24 2017 2017 04 24 aged 90 Los Angeles California U S Resting placeWestwood Village Memorial Park CemeteryOccupation s Film television actorYears active1949 1993SpousesHelen Westcott 1928 1998 m 1948 div 1953 wbr Nita Talbot m 1954 div 1958 wbr Bek Nelson 1927 2015 m 1959 div 1979 wbr Denise Farr m 1979 wbr Children1 1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Later career 4 Personal life 5 Selected filmography 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditGordon was born Donald Walter Guadagno in Los Angeles on November 13 1926 He sold newspapers at the age of eight to help support his family during the Great Depression He enlisted in the Navy at the age of fifteen after the attack on Pearl Harbor convincing his mother to say he was eighteen He won eleven battle stars 3 Gordon entered drama school after the war and changed his name As recounted after his death in The New York Times Gordon was standing outside the drama school at Sunset Boulevard and Gordon Street when a classmate told him that he would never make it in show business with the surname Guadagno The student then pointed to the street sign and said Your name should be Don Gordon 3 Career EditGordon s television successes began with a starring role in the 1960 1961 syndicated series The Blue Angels based on the elite precision flight demonstration pilots of the United States Navy Blue Angels 4 In 1962 Gordon was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his role as Joey Tassili on CBS s legal drama The Defenders 5 starring E G Marshall During 1977 1978 he co starred in the television show Lucan 4 632 and he played Harry in the CBS drama The Contender 1980 4 207 Later career EditGordon s last credited film work was the 2005 documentary Steve McQueen The Essence of Cool Gordon was interviewed along with several others who had worked with McQueen with whom he was a close friend and colleague Personal life EditOn February 18 1948 Gordon aged 21 married actress Helen Westcott aged 20 in Oxnard California 6 They divorced in 1953 1 7 He married actress Bek Nelson on December 31 1959 in Los Angeles They adopted a daughter Gabrielle in 1966 and they divorced on May 23 1979 8 Gordon died at Cedars Sinai Medical Center 2 in Los Angeles on April 24 2017 aged 90 survived by his wife Denise and his daughter Gabrielle from a previous marriage He was diagnosed with cancer shortly before his death 9 3 Selected filmography EditTwelve O Clock High 1949 First Patient in Base Hospital uncredited Halls of Montezuma 1951 Marine uncredited Let s Go Navy 1951 Sailor uncredited Force of Arms 1951 Sgt Webber uncredited It s a Big Country An American Anthology 1951 Mervin uncredited Girls in the Night 1953 Irv Kellener Law and Order 1953 Bart Durling uncredited The Beast from 20 000 Fathoms 1953 Soldier uncredited Revolt at Fort Laramie 1956 Jean Salignac The Benny Goodman Story 1956 Tough Boy in Gang uncredited The Walter Winchell File The Bargain 1958 Deek Cry Tough 1959 Incho The Twilight Zone Season 5 Episode 16 No 136 overall 1964 Salvador Ross The Outer Limits Season 1 Episode 19 The Invisibles 1964 Agent Luis B Spain Combat Season 4 Episode 8 Crossfire 1965 Pvt Stevens The Lollipop Cover 1965 Nick Bartaloni 12 O Clock High Season 3 Episode 9 The Fighter Pilot 1966 Lt Dominic DeJohn The Invaders Season 2 Episode 6 The Trial 1967 Charlie Gilman Bullitt 1968 Delgetti The Gamblers 1970 Rooney WUSA 1970 Bogdanovich Cannon for Cordoba 1971 Jackson Harkness The Last Movie 1971 Neville Robey Z P G 1972 George Borden Fuzz 1972 Anthony La Bresca Slaughter 1972 Harry The Mack 1973 Hank The Return of Charlie Chan 1973 Lambert Papillon 1973 Julot The Education of Sonny Carson 1974 Pigliani Columbo Season 4 Episode 2 Negative Reaction 1974 Alvin Deschler The Towering Inferno 1974 Kappy Out of the Blue 1980 Charlie Omen III The Final Conflict 1981 Harvey Dean assistant of the Antichrist Damien Thorn The Beast Within 1982 Judge Curwin Knight Rider 1982 Police Lt Dickerson The Dukes of Hazzard 1983 Frank Scanlon Knight Rider 1985 Randy Cavanaugh Lethal Weapon 1987 Cop 2 Code Name Vengeance 1987 Harry Applegate Skin Deep 1989 Curt The Exorcist III 1990 Ryan The Borrower 1991 Charles Krieger Portals Los Angeles California Film TelevisionReferences Edit a b Don Gordon Dead Character Actor Steve McQueen Friend Was 90 Holly The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on 26 July 2017 a b Barnes Mike May 5 2017 Don Gordon Top Notch Character Actor and Pal of Steve McQueen Dies at 90 The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on 26 July 2017 Retrieved 26 July 2017 a b c Don Gordon Steve McQueen s Sidekick Onscreen and in Life Dies at 90 The New York Times May 7 2017 Retrieved May 14 2017 a b c Terrace Vincent 2011 Encyclopedia of Television Shows 1925 through 2010 2nd ed Jefferson N C McFarland amp Company Inc Publishers p 116 ISBN 978 0 7864 6477 7 Don Gordon search results EMMYS Television Academy Archived from the original on July 26 2017 Retrieved July 26 2017 Marriages Billboard March 20 1948 p 48 Retrieved July 26 2017 Wagner Laura Fall 2016 Helen Westcott A Very Gifted Actress Films of the Golden Age 86 74 76 Aaker Everett 2017 Television Western Players 1960 1975 A Biographical Dictionary McFarland p 318 ISBN 9781476628561 Retrieved 26 July 2017 Don Gordon Top Notch Character Actor and Pal of Steve McQueen Dies at 90 The Hollywood Reporter 5 May 2017 External links EditDon Gordon at IMDb RIP Don Gordon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don Gordon actor amp oldid 1134125922, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
