Beebo and I were watching Hawaii Five-O last night (as is our wont), and in the middle of one scene, I had to pause the DVD and say "Hey, it's that guy!". It was an episode titled "Highest Castle, Deepest Grave", ostensibly guest-starring Herbert Lom and Frances Nguyen, but the actor who caught my attention was Don G. Doolittle, playing a district attorney. I recognized him almost immediately as the scientist (the one with the beard in the photos) from one of our favorite movies, Creation of the Humanoids. You can watch it here, or read about it here.I got curious about Don's career, since I'd seen him in two very different vehicles, so I looked him up in IMDB. It turns out, I've seen three of his four credited roles--the third was the movie Hawaii, which I watched on cable a couple of weeks ago. Sadly, I did not spot him there, and since the movie was three hours long, I'm not going to watch it again for his small cameo. He also appears (uncredited) in an Ernie Kovacs comedy called Wake Me When It's Over, from 1960.
It's easy to guess a little about him--he did a little acting and then moved to Hawaii, ending up in the small pool of available professional actors there. But what did he do for a living the rest of the time? Run a shop? Work in a hotel? Bum around on the beach?
Update: Gee, I think this might be him, too: "The narrator, Don Doolittle, was a 1940's radio announcer." Captain Bill is definitely played by D.D.! (I listened)
Update Two: What the hell??? He lives in western Washington State now. How weird! Hope you're doing well, Don!
Yeah, I'm curious!! What was Don's dayjob? If only there was a way to find out. I love his weird voice and strange smushed face.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I was wondering if perhaps he played Confucius on the vinyl recording of "The Flintstones and Jose Jiminez in the Time Machine."
ReplyDeleteOh, no reason. Just a wild guess.
That's amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I posted a comment on that blog and said we are DD fans.
Just think how hard it would be to find all this out before the internets! Those really were the dark ages, information-wise.
ReplyDeleteHey! Thanks for the link! And for the comment Bb! He was quite dapper, and very, very friendly!
ReplyDeleteWe were only able to talk for a couple minutes, but he told us about how he worked with Julie Andrews and how much he loved working in the entertainment industry!
I wish I could have spent more time talking to him....
Thanks! Your blog provided the last piece of the puzzle for us! I really never expected to find out so much...
ReplyDeleteHow cool!! He looks very dapper in that photo. :) :)
ReplyDelete4/12/12. Sadly Don Doolittle passed away this morning of natural causes. He spent his last years is Washington state.
ReplyDeleteDid Don have any relatives? Did he donate any of his memorabilia to a library, museum or archive?
ReplyDeleteI knew and worked with Don in the early 1970's at KABC Radio in Los Angeles. He was a long time staff anouncer for the station and did tons of voice over work and voice work for animation. He was the greatest guy you'd ever meet.
ReplyDeleteThat's so funny, that he was a radio announcer -- I always thought he reminded me a little of Richard Sanders, aka Les Nessman on WKRP IN CINCINNATI.
ReplyDeleteI can totally see that!
ReplyDeleteAs a follow up to info about Dons death, in his later years Don began to lose his eyesight and lived on a fixed income. He was estranged from his family. He had a close friend who was a young man Don had mentored in VO. Don bequeathed his personal effects to this young man, but after his death a "nephew" informed everyone there were no recordings or articles to be found. Another interesting fact is Don, Daws, Butler and Stan Freiburg were once close friends. Don shared his Feary O'Leary with them and during a discussion in Daws garage, the story line was stolen and became Beanie and Cecil. There was a lawsuit which was written up in Variety, but I can't remember the outcome.
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ReplyDeletevery interesting character, his face then reminds me of Joe Regalbuto's face in the 80s: http://www.series-80.net/acteurs/joe_regalbuto/acteur_joe-regalbuto_2_1141998498.jpg
ReplyDeleteI, too, have a fond spot for this actor, from Humanoids. In fact I just watched his 90 seconds on hawaii five oh. Ah, in a nearby timeline he got more quirky sci fi work eh?
ReplyDeleteIt's a treat to read above from some commenters who knew him.
/dvb