Gavin MacLeod

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Birthday:

28 February 1931, Mount Kisco, New York, USA

Birth Name:

Allan George See

Height:

180 cm

Gavin MacLeod was raised in Pleasantville, New York, the son of a gas station owner who was part Chippewa Indian (Ojibwa). He followed his 1952 graduation from Ithaca College with military service, then moved to New York City and worked for a while as an usher and elevator operator at Radio City Music Hall. A solid break on Broadway in "A Hatful of Rain" in 1956, led him to move to Los Angeles to attempt film and TV. For awhile he earned a minor reputation as a second-string heavy in crime stories.His career more or less flowed and ebbed with these minor dramatic roles until 1972, when his typecast as a shady, dangerous character was shattered forever. As Murray Slaughter, the balding, beaming, gleamy-toothed newswriter on Mary Tyler Moore (1970) wisecracking, humble and un-hip to a fault, Gavin (and Murray) became friendly household names in the 70s. From then on, he could only be envisaged as a loveable schmuck and nice guy.This image was later cast in stone with the enduring success of another TV series, The Love Boat (1977), in his role as the ingratiating Captain Stubing. On the down side, "Love Boat" marred his chances to be considered for more challenging work, and his inability to cope with success led to alcoholism and divorce from second wife Patti. However, he later turned his life around, remarried his wife, and wrote a biography called "Back on Course." Today he appears occasionally on the summer stock/dinner theater stage and as a guest performer on TV. Show less «

No matter where I go, I'm Murray to some people and captain to other people. Mostly the captain.

I've worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Gregory Peck, Mary Tyler Moore. But the biggest honor I ha...Show more »

I've worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Gregory Peck, Mary Tyler Moore. But the biggest honor I have ever had was to play the role of Jonathan Sperry in this simple but special film. Show less «

[on the death of John Ritter in 2003]: No, are you kidding? You can see what he's done --- he's commits to whatever he's doing; and that's t...Show more »

[on the death of John Ritter in 2003]: No, are you kidding? You can see what he's done --- he's commits to whatever he's doing; and that's the kind of a guy he was, and that's the kind of an actor he was, kind of a father and a man he was. It's such a sad, sad, sad thing. He was so inventive and so full of life. Made me struck down like that. You can imagine what he would have continued to do if he'd not died. So, his kids will do it. Show less «

[on working with Dylan Sprouse and his twin brother, Cole Sprouse, while teasing both of them on a cruise]: The 16-year-old Dylan and his tw...Show more »

[on working with Dylan Sprouse and his twin brother, Cole Sprouse, while teasing both of them on a cruise]: The 16-year-old Dylan and his twin, Cole, are really wonderful young actors. Some people have it instinctively, and some have to go to school. You can't just put anyone in front of a camera and say, 'Go!' but these two, well, there's a reason for the success of that program. I felt more love on their soundstage than I have anywhere since The Mary Tyler Moore (1970) Show. Show less «

[on starring in a Christian movie]: The film is about forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the greatest tools God has given us.

[The popularity of The Love Boat (1977) television show turned the Pacific Princess, the show's cast and cruising into household names overn...Show more »

[The popularity of The Love Boat (1977) television show turned the Pacific Princess, the show's cast and cruising into household names overnight]: What I enjoyed most about 'The Love Boat' was interacting with the variety of guest stars we had on the show each week. The producers did a fantastic job of appealing to a wide audience range by combining legendary stars like Lana Turner, Cesar Romero and Ethel Merman, with current celebrities of the day like Andy Warhol, Melissa Gilbert and Michael J. Fox, as well as future stars Vanessa Williams and Kirstie Alley in each episode. Show less «

[on his bestest and dearest friend, the late Ted Knight]: He and his wife were both dear friends and I talked to him about the Lord a lot.

[on his happy life]: My life is full. I still represent The Love Boat, cruising and, I think, happy endings. Cruising is a part of our socie...Show more »

[on his happy life]: My life is full. I still represent The Love Boat, cruising and, I think, happy endings. Cruising is a part of our society now. It's a part of life, and I think it's because of our show. Show less «

[When he was coping with his then, 78-year-old mother, who was on the verge of having risky surgery for her brain tumor]: I woke up in my be...Show more »

[When he was coping with his then, 78-year-old mother, who was on the verge of having risky surgery for her brain tumor]: I woke up in my bed in Beverly Hills - at that time, I thought a big house would make me happy - and I just prayed to Jesus that if he gave my mom more time, I would turn my life over to him. Show less «

[In 2008]: It was bringing a lot of joy to people. Letting them know they had choices so they could have happy endings. We travelled all ove...Show more »

[In 2008]: It was bringing a lot of joy to people. Letting them know they had choices so they could have happy endings. We travelled all over the world first class and we had great wonderful fun scripts to work with. It was really a great gig. Show less «

[In 2009]: I thought about Patti and wanted to know how she was doing.

[on being typecasted as Murray Slaughter]: It was tough for him in that newsroom with Ted Baxter getting all the glory and this poor guy doi...Show more »

[on being typecasted as Murray Slaughter]: It was tough for him in that newsroom with Ted Baxter getting all the glory and this poor guy doing all the work. Murray worried so much he worried his hair off! Show less «

[on his remarriage to Patti MacLeod in 1985]: This is so meaningful to me that I really wanted it to be small. But when we decided, or God d...Show more »

[on his remarriage to Patti MacLeod in 1985]: This is so meaningful to me that I really wanted it to be small. But when we decided, or God decided, a week ago Friday to do this ... we just said 'OK' to the idea of sharing the wedding with convention-goers. Show less «

I never looked for my own show. I just wanted to work as an actor. Some of the things I was offered I would carry as the star. But the premi...Show more »

I never looked for my own show. I just wanted to work as an actor. Some of the things I was offered I would carry as the star. But the premises were so negative. One reason I love The Love Boat (1977) is because of the happy endings. I don't care if it reflects life or not, I love happy endings. Life's so heavy these days that people want to escape. Show less «

[In 1978]: I was a happy, carefree guy before I began playing Murray. I never worried about anything. But after a couple of years on Mary's ...Show more »

[In 1978]: I was a happy, carefree guy before I began playing Murray. I never worried about anything. But after a couple of years on Mary's show, I was really a different personality. Show less «

[In 1977]: I've always wanted to sing 'I Got Love,' to Miss Piggy.

[on getting used to another TV series other than Mary Tyler Moore (1970)]: Oh boy, here goes another beauty.

[In 2010]: There's always one guy there who says, 'Hey, Big Chicken, how's things?'

[In 1985]: It's great. I tried to do a soft shoe with Ginger Rogers. How many people get to do that? That's right in my book of memories. I'...Show more »

[In 1985]: It's great. I tried to do a soft shoe with Ginger Rogers. How many people get to do that? That's right in my book of memories. I've played with some of the great old stars, I've have romances. If I had one wish, it's that this could happen to every actor. Show less «

I think when life gets heavy, people look for an escape. We're an escape. We have happy endings. You don't see many of those around. I think...Show more »

I think when life gets heavy, people look for an escape. We're an escape. We have happy endings. You don't see many of those around. I think it gives people a vicarious adventure. We're also very much like a travelogue. Show less «

Hair fascinates me because I don't have it.

[Of his best friend Betty White, who celebrated her 60-year career in 2008]: There's something about Betty White, no matter what role she pl...Show more »

[Of his best friend Betty White, who celebrated her 60-year career in 2008]: There's something about Betty White, no matter what role she plays, you're intrigued. Show less «

[on the death of his best friend Ted Knight in 1986]: We were planning to do a play together. He had been told that he was very sick, but th...Show more »

[on the death of his best friend Ted Knight in 1986]: We were planning to do a play together. He had been told that he was very sick, but that other people had recover and he planned on doing just that. Show less «

[In 1979]: You get rid of one set of passengers and three hours later, you've got a new set. You've got to greet so many people and attend s...Show more »

[In 1979]: You get rid of one set of passengers and three hours later, you've got a new set. You've got to greet so many people and attend so many parties and dinners and cater to so many wealthy people. I'm sure some of the passengers can be very annoying. Show less «

[In 1981]: I called Ted a delightful Polish ham. Look at him when he gets into his car to leave the studio. There's Teddy combing his hair i...Show more »

[In 1981]: I called Ted a delightful Polish ham. Look at him when he gets into his car to leave the studio. There's Teddy combing his hair in the mirror before he starts the motor. Who knows how many fans will spot him and wave on the freeway? Show less «

[Who was very excited about the The Love Boat (1977)'s fifth season]: The original concept of the show was that we would utilize the talents...Show more »

[Who was very excited about the The Love Boat (1977)'s fifth season]: The original concept of the show was that we would utilize the talents of older stars. I don't refer to them as former stars, as far as the acting profession is concerned. Show less «

[As to how he was discussing about The Love Boat (1977), which was one of the long-running prime-time TV series of all time]: This has been ...Show more »

[As to how he was discussing about The Love Boat (1977), which was one of the long-running prime-time TV series of all time]: This has been a nice run. I'm grateful to the show. Nine years of steady work, seeing the world. It's awesome when you see the unemployment among actors. Show less «

[on his popularity while playing the forty-five/fifty-something "Merrill Stubing" on The Love Boat (1977)]: It's made me a commodity. Now, p...Show more »

[on his popularity while playing the forty-five/fifty-something "Merrill Stubing" on The Love Boat (1977)]: It's made me a commodity. Now, people will pay to see me in the theater. Show less «

[on his early career in acting] I played "heavy" because I was a young man with a bald head, so what else could casting agents do with someo...Show more »

[on his early career in acting] I played "heavy" because I was a young man with a bald head, so what else could casting agents do with someone like that? I finally played leading men when I bought my first hairpiece. Eventually, with age, I grew into my look without hair. Some of the 'heavies' I played like the ones on The Untouchables (1959), "Big Chicken" on Hawaii Five-O (1968) were delicious roles. They were great fun and I enjoyed every minute of those roles. Show less «

[on Blake Edwards] Blake Edwards was instrumental in getting my career cooking. From the first Ivy League heavy in the Peter Gunn (1958) pil...Show more »

[on Blake Edwards] Blake Edwards was instrumental in getting my career cooking. From the first Ivy League heavy in the Peter Gunn (1958) pilot, Peter Gunn: The Kill (1958), to the naive Yeomen in Operation Petticoat (1959), and then on the films High Time (1960), The Party (1968) and TV's Mr. Lucky (1959). A fun and brilliant director to work with! Show less «

[on the death of Mary Tyler Moore]: A line from our theme song was 'Love is all around', and that's what it was for 5 days a week for seven ...Show more »

[on the death of Mary Tyler Moore]: A line from our theme song was 'Love is all around', and that's what it was for 5 days a week for seven years straight on the Mary Tyler Moore set. It was all because of Mary! She was professional; she was extremely creative with a terrific sense of humor and a gifted actress. She set a pace for all of us to follow. So I consider those seven years working with this very special person as a gift from God. It goes with out saying what a wonderful loving and caring person she was to everyone who worked on the show. Mary was America's sweetheart and she was mine also. I was the luckiest guy in the world just sitting next to her and looking at her beautiful face...and legs! One of my favorite shows was when Murray turned 40 years old and woke up thinking he was in love with Mary...but 'Chuckles Bites The Dust' remains one of the classic comedy episodes of all time. Today, 'sadness is all around' for all of us and I will miss Mary...deeply. Show less «