Don Porter

Known for ActingBorn 1912-09-24Died 1997-02-11Miami, Oklahoma, USA

Donald "Don" Porter (September 24, 1912 –February 11, 1997) was an American actor who appeared in a number of films since the 1940s, including Top Sergeant and Eagle Squadron. On television, he portrayed the widowed father of 15-year-old Frances "Gidget" Lawrence (Sally Field) in the 1965 ABC sitcom Gidget. Besides his work in film and television, Porter was active on stage, as he acted in more than 200 plays, including The Front Page, Plaza Suite, and Any Wednesday. He appeared in various films in the 1940s before landing the role of Peter Sands, the boss of Susan Camille MacNamara (Ann Sothern), on the 1950s sitcom Private Secretary. A retooled version of the series appeared later, titled The Ann Sothern Show. It featured many of the same actors, including Porter as hotel manager James Devery in the venue of a fashionable New York City hotel. He later guest starred on episodes of Green Acres, Love, American Style, The Mod Squad, Barnaby Jones, The Six Million Dollar Man, Hawaii Five-O, Three's Company (on which he played Jack Tripper's uncle), and Switch.Read more

Movies & web series

Murder or Mercy

How to Fly the B-26 Airplane

Mystery of the White Room

The Last Song

Vacation Playhouse

Danger Woman

Wild Beauty

Three's Company

The Paper Chase

Judd, for the Defense

Ellery Queen

The Six Million Dollar Man

Matlock

Hawaii Five-O

Green Acres

The Bionic Woman

Vega$

Archer

Barnaby Jones

The Legend of Lizzie Borden

Hotel

Desk Set

The President's Mistress

Dallas

The Rookies

Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone

Switch

Reconnaissance Pilot

Eagle Squadron

The Morning After

Gidget

Here's Lucy

Who Done It?

Because You're Mine

The Ghosts of Buxley Hall

The Candidate

Tropic of Desire

Our Miss Brooks

Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A.

The Love Boat

Resisting Enemy Interrogation

Youngblood Hawke

Bachelor in Paradise

The Norliss Tapes

Top Sergeant

Madame Spy

711 Ocean Drive

Buck Privates Come Home