Gavin MacLeod

Gavin MacLeod (born February 28, 1931) is an American actor and Christian activist and author, whose career spans six decades. He has also appeared as a guest on several talk, variety, and religious programs.

Gavin MacLeod
MacLeod in a publicity photo for The Mary Tyler Moore Show (July 1970)
Born	Allan George See February 28, 1931 Mount Kisco, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	Ithaca College (BFA)
Occupation	Actor, Christian activist, author
Years active	1955–present
Known for	Murray Slaughter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show Captain Merrill Stubing on The Love Boat
Spouse(s)	Joan Rootvik ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1972)​ Patti Kendig ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1982)​ ​ ​ (m. after 1985)​
Children	4
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Years	1952-1954
Rank	Airman
Website	www.gavinmacleod.com

MacLeod's career began in films in 1957. In 1965, he played opposite Peter Mann in The Sword of Ali Baba. He went on to play opposite Anthony Franciosa in A Man Called Gannon (1968), opposite Christopher George in The Thousand Plane Raid, and opposite Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, and Carroll O'Connor in Kelly's Heroes (1970).

MacLeod achieved continuing television success co-starring opposite Ernest Borgnine on McHale's Navy (1962–1964) as Joseph "Happy" Haines, and on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977) as Murray Slaughter. He is best known for his starring role on ABC's The Love Boat (1977–1986), in which he was cast as ship's Captain Merrill Stubing.

Early life

MacLeod was born Allan George See in Mount Kisco, New York, the elder of two children. His mother, Margaret (née Shea) See (1906–2004), a middle school dropout, worked for Reader's Digest. His father, George See (1906–1945), an electrician, was part Chippewa (Ojibwa).[1] He grew up in Pleasantville, New York, and studied acting at Ithaca College, from which he graduated in 1952 with a bachelor's degree in fine arts.

After serving in the United States Air Force,[2] he moved to New York City and worked at Radio City Music Hall while looking for acting work. At about this time he changed his name, drawing "Gavin" from a physically disabled victim in a television drama, and "MacLeod" from his Ithaca drama coach, Beatrice MacLeod.[3] MacLeod said in a 2013 interview with Parade about his stage name, he "felt as if my name was getting in the way of my success." Allan, he wrote, "just wasn’t strong enough," and See was "too confusing."[4]

Career

MacLeod made his television debut in 1957 on The Walter Winchell File at the age of 26. His first movie appearance was a small, uncredited role in The True Story of Lynn Stuart in 1958. Soon thereafter, he landed a credited role in I Want to Live!, a 1958 prison drama starring Susan Hayward. He was soon noticed by Blake Edwards, who in 1958 cast him in the pilot episode of his NBC series Peter Gunn, two guest roles on the Edwards CBS series Mr. Lucky in 1959, and as a nervous harried navy yeoman in Operation Petticoat, with Cary Grant and Tony Curtis. Operation Petticoat proved to be a breakout role for MacLeod, and he was soon cast in two other Edwards comedies, High Time, with Bing Crosby and The Party with Peter Sellers.

Between 1957 and 1961, MacLeod made several television appearances. He was cast as the devious Dandy Martin in the 1960 episode, "Yankee Confederate", of the syndicated anthology series, Death Valley Days, hosted by Stanley Andrews and starring alongside Tod Andrews and Elaine Devry.[5]

In December 1961, he landed a guest role on The Dick Van Dyke Show as Mel's cousin Maxwell Cooley, a wholesale jeweler. This was his first time working with Mary Tyler Moore. MacLeod had three guest appearances on Perry Mason: in 1961 he played Lawrence Comminger in "The Case of the Grumbling Grandfather", and in 1965 he played Mortimer Hershey in "The Case of the Grinning Gorilla", and Dan Platte in "The Case of the Runaway Racer". He played the role of a drug pusher, "Big Chicken", in two episodes of the first season of Hawaii Five-O. Other guest roles include The Untouchables, Dr. Kildare, Rawhide, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., The Man from U.N.C.L.E., My Favorite Martian, Hogan's Heroes, Combat!, The Big Valley, The Andy Griffith Show, It Takes a Thief, The Flying Nun, The King of Queens, and That '70s Show.

MacLeod with Betty White on set of The Mary Tyler Moore Show in August 1975

His first regular television role began in 1962 as Joseph "Happy" Haines on McHale's Navy; he left this role after two seasons to appear in the motion picture, The Sand Pebbles with Steve McQueen.[6] Between the years of 1965 – 69, MacLeod appeared in many weekly episodes in multiple roles on the TV series Hogan's Heroes including Major Zolle (season 1, episode 19), General Metzger (season 3, episode 27) Major Kiegel (season 4, episode 1) and General von Rauscher (season 4, episode 23).[7] Each role was usually a stern and discerning officer of the Schutzstaffel (SS), Luftwaffe or Geheime Staatspolizei (Gestapo) which are vastly different from the lovable characters he portrayed in his subsequent TV roles.

MacLeod's breakout role as Murray Slaughter on CBS' The Mary Tyler Moore Show won him lasting fame and two Golden Globe nominations. His starring role as Captain Stubing on The Love Boat, his next TV series was broadcast in 90 countries worldwide, between 1977 and 1986 (9 seasons). His work on that show earned him three Golden Globe nominations. Co-starring with him was a familiar actor and best friend Bernie Kopell as Dr. Adam Bricker and Ted Lange as bartender Isaac Washington. Lange said in a 2017 interview with The Wiseguyz Show of MacLeod that "Oh yeah, sure, Gavin was wonderful. Gavin lives down here in Palm Springs and we're still tight, all of us, Gavin and Bernie and Jill; we still see each other. Fred lives in a different state, we're still close, we're still good friends."[8]

MacLeod became the global ambassador for Princess Cruises in 1986. He has played a role in ceremonies launching many of the line's new ships.[9] In 1997, MacLeod joined the Love Boat cast on The Oprah Winfrey Show. After The Love Boat, MacLeod toured with Michael Learned of The Waltons in Love Letters. He made several appearances in musicals such as Gigi and Copacabana between 1997 and 2003.[10][11] In December 2008, he appeared with the Colorado Symphony in Denver.[12]

MacLeod and his wife have been hosts on the Trinity Broadcasting Network for 17 years, primarily hosting a show about marriage called Back on Course.[13] MacLeod appeared in Rich Christiano's Time Changer, a movie about time travel and how the morals of society have moved away from the Bible. He also plays the lead role in Christiano's 2009 film The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry.

Recent activity

In April 2010, the entire cast of The Love Boat attended the TV Land Awards with the exception of MacLeod, due to a back operation to repair a couple of injured discs. Former co-star and long-term friend Ted Lange contacted him and received word MacLeod was doing well.[14] In December, MacLeod appeared as a guest narrator with the Florida Orchestra and Master Chorale of Tampa Bay for three concerts.

MacLeod served as the honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades for five years, until Sugar Ray Leonard succeeded him in 2011.[15] On February 28, 2011, MacLeod celebrated his 80th birthday aboard Golden Princess on Princess Cruises in Los Angeles, California. His friends and family, wished him a Happy Birthday, and presented him with a 5 ft. long, 3D replica in cake of Pacific Princess, the original "Love Boat".[16]

MacLeod appeared on the special for Betty White's 90th birthday on January 17, 2012. He reunited with White to film "Safety Old School Style", an in-flight safety video for Air New Zealand in 2013.[17] By January 2013, the video had been viewed two million times on YouTube. In October 2013, MacLeod appeared on Today to begin the promotional tour for his new book This Is Your Captain Speaking: My Fantastic Voyage Through Hollywood, Faith & Life. This appearance included a special set change to honor MacLeod's appearance on the show. In addition to television appearances, his book tour continued in New York, Los Angeles, and Central Florida. Loretta Swit and Ted Lange were both present at MacLeod's first Barnes & Noble book signing in New York City. This signing was the largest such event held at that particular location in three years. He continued his book tour throughout 2014.

MacLeod in June 2006

On November 5, 2013, MacLeod joined his Love Boat castmates live on the CBS daytime show The Talk. A full one-hour episode was dedicated to the cast reunion. The Talk co-hosts dressed in costumes to commemorate their special guests' arrivals. Spanish-American actress Charo also appeared on the reunion show. Charo guest-starred in eight episodes of The Love Boat. Jack Jones performed the Love Boat theme song, which he introduced in 1977.[18]

In December 2013, MacLeod appeared on The 700 Club to discuss his life and career.

On February 1, 2014, MacLeod was honored with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in downtown Palm Springs, California.

In January 2015, MacLeod appeared in the Rose Parade along with several members of the original cast of The Love Boat.[19]

In 2017, MacLeod starred in the play Happy Hour at the Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre (CVRep) in Rancho Mirage, California. He received a best acting award for his work on the project.

Writing

In 1987, following MacLeod's conversion and remarriage, he and his wife, Patti, wrote about struggles with divorce and alcoholism in Back On Course: The Remarkable Story of a Divorce That Ended in Remarriage.

In 2013, MacLeod released his memoir,[20] This Is Your Captain Speaking: My Fantastic Voyage Through Hollywood, Faith & Life. The book recalls his upbringing in upstate New York during the Great Depression, as well as his life after more than fifty years in Hollywood. He said, "...all my living has been based on what other people have written...I hope it can help others, how I overcame and never gave up. There are so many lessons in life."[21] In the book, MacLeod recounts his stories as a young actor trying to make a name for himself in Hollywood, the lifelong friends he has made, his bout with alcoholism and divorce and his journey through faith and Christianity.

Personal life

MacLeod married his current wife Patti in 1974. Both were previously divorced. The couple divorced in 1982, but remarried in 1985. During the mid-1980s, they became Evangelical Protestants and credit their faith for bringing them back together.[22]

During his time as the Captain on The Love Boat, MacLeod "very selfishly" (his words) divorced Patti. She then spent the next three years seeking help from psychiatrists on both the West and the East coasts. Then one day, his wife received a telephone call from Patti Lewis, first wife of Jerry Lewis, inviting her to a Christian prayer group which contained a number of famous actresses who started to pray for Gavin. MacLeod later said, "From that day, I started to think about her. Something told me to call Patti. I called Patti. I went back to see her the following Monday and things haven't been the same since." MacLeod asked her what had happened. She then explained everything to him including that she had given her life to Jesus Christ.[23]

On September 20, 2009, MacLeod discussed his conversion to Christianity at The Rock Church in Anaheim, California with further guest appearances in 2012.[24]

Filmography

Film

MacLeod with Joyce Bulifant and Michael Higa on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in May 1975

Year	Title	Role
1958	I Want to Live!	The Lieutenant
1959	Compulsion	Padua – Horn's Assistant
1959	Pork Chop Hill	Private Saxon
1959	Operation Petticoat	Seaman Ernest Hunkle, USN
1959	The Gene Krupa Story	Ted Krupa (uncredited)
1960	Twelve Hours to Kill	Johnny
1960	High Time	Professor Thayer
1961	The Crimebusters	Harry Deiner
1962	War Hunt	Pvt. Crotty
1964	McHale's Navy	Seaman Joseph Haines
1965	The Sword of Ali Baba	Hulagu Khan
1965	McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force	Seaman Joseph Haines
1965	Deathwatch	Emil
1966	Baby Makes Three	Dr. Charles Norwood
1966	The Sand Pebbles	Crosley
1968	A Man Called Gannon	Lou
1968	The Party	C.S. Divot
1969	The Thousand Plane Raid	Sgt. Kruger
1969	The Comic	1st Director
1969	The Intruders	Warden
1970	Kelly's Heroes	Moriarty, Oddball's bow machine-gunner and mechanic
2002	Time Changer	Dr. Norris Anderson
2009	The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry	Jonathan Sperry

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1957	The Walter Winchell File	Crook	Episode: "Act of Folly"
1958	U.S. Marshal	Buck	Episode: "The Arraignment"
1958	The Walter Winchell File	Stone Ballston	Episode: "The Walkout"
1958–60	Peter Gunn	George Fallon / Mitch Borden	2 episodes
1959–60	Mr. Lucky	Salesman / Bugsy McKenna	2 episodes
1959	Men Into Space	Dave Parsons	"Lost Missile"
1959–62	The Untouchables	Three-Fingered Jack White / William 'Porker' Davis / Whitey Metz	3 episodes
1960–68	Death Valley Days	Phil Arnold / Dandy Martin	2 episodes
1961	Dr. Kildare	Lorenzo Lawson	Episode: "Winter Harvest"
1961	Straightaway		Episode: "The Heist"
1961	The Dick Van Dyke Show	Maxwell Cooley	Episode: "Empress Carlotta's Necklace"
1961	The Investigators	Frankie Giff	Episode: "Style of Living"
1961–65	Perry Mason	Dan Platte / Mortimer Hershey / Lawrence Comminger	3 episodes
1962–64	McHale's Navy	Seaman Joseph "Happy" Hanes	73 episodes
1964	The Munsters	Paul Newmar	Episode: "The Sleeping Cutie"
1965	Rawhide	Rian Powers	Episode: "The Meeting"
1965	Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.	Fred Fay	Episode: "Dance, Marine, Dance"
1965	The Andy Griffith Show	Bryan Bender / Gilbert Jamel	2 episodes
1965	The Man from U.N.C.L.E.	Cleveland	Episode: "The Hong Kong Shilling Affair"
1965–66	My Favorite Martian	Alvin Wannamaker	2 episodes
1966–69	Hogan's Heroes	Gen. von Rauscher / Maj. Kiegel / Gen. Metzger / Maj. Zolle	4 episodes
1967	Combat!	British Cpl. Tommy Behan	Episode: "The Masquers"
1966	The Rat Patrol	Sgt. Gribs	Episode: "The Fatal Chase Raid"
1967	The Road West	Nick Marteen	Episode: "The Eighty-Seven Dollar Bride"
1967–69	The Big Valley	Clute / O'Leary / Mace	3 episodes
1968–70	It Takes a Thief	Gen. Contell / Seymour / Maj. Kazan	3 episodes
1968	Death Valley Days	prospector Phil Arnold	Episode: "The Great Diamond Mines"
1969	The Flying Nun	Harold Harmon	Episode: "A Star Is Reborn"
1968–69	Hawaii Five-O	Big Chicken	2 episodes
1970–77	The Mary Tyler Moore Show	Murray Slaughter	168 episodes
1974	Only with Married Men	Jordan Robbins	Movie
1974	Tattletales	Himself	Games Show/One Week (5 episodes) with wife Patti
1977	Ransom for Alice!	Yankee Sullivan	Movie
1977–87	The Love Boat	Captain Merrill Stubing	250 episodes
1980	Murder Can Hurt You	Nojack	Movie
1980	Scruples	Curt Arvey	Miniseries
1985	Hotel	Martin 'Merrick' Brenner	Episode: "Fallen Idols"
1986	The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible	Daniel	Episode: "Daniel and the Lion's Den"
1987	Student Exchange	Vice Principal Durfner	Movie
1990	Murder, She Wrote	Art Sommers	Episode: "The Big Show of 1965"
1991	The General Motors Playwrights Theater	Michael Holmes	Episode: "The Last Act Is a Solo"
1993	CBS Schoolbreak Special	Robert Carter	Episode: "If I Die Before I Wake"
1994	Burke's Law	Jerry Marz	Episode: "Who Killed the Host at the Roast?"
1998	Love Boat: The Next Wave	Captain Merrill Stubing	Episode: "Reunion"
2000	Oz	Cardinal Frances Abgott	Episode: "Works of Mercy"
2001–02	The King of Queens	Uncle Stu	2 episodes
2002–03	JAG	Raymond Harrick	Episode: "Standards of Conduct"
2003	Touched by an Angel	Calvin	Episode: "The Show Must Not Go On"
2006	That '70s Show	Smitty	2 episodes
2009	The Suite Life on Deck	Mr. Barker	2 episodes
2011	Pound Puppies	Captain Gumble (voice)	Episode: "Bone Voyage"

References

1. Kessler, Judy (February 27, 1978). "Gavin Mac Leod, Love Boat (and Jump Rope) Skipper, Graduates from Mtm with a Hit". People. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
2. "MacLeod, Gavin 1930- (Gavin Mac Leod, Gavin McLeod, O. D. Warbux)". Encyclopedia.com. 2004. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
3. MacLeod, Gavin (October 29, 2013). This is Your Captain Speaking: My Fantastic Voyage Through Hollywood, Faith & Life. Thomas Nelson. p. 32. ISBN 978-0849965289.
4. "The Love Boat Captain Gavin MacLeod Reveals Struggle With Alcohol Abuse". Parade. October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
5. "Yankee Confederate on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
6. "Gavin MacLeod – The Interview". Flamingnose. October 13, 2009. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
7. "Gavin MacLeod". IMDb. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
8. "Wiseguyz interview Ted Lange". The Wiseguyz Show. March 15, 2017. 1:10:00 minutes in. DDV Radio. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
9. "Princess Cruises Honors Love Boat Captain Gavin MacLeod for 30 Years Serving as Global Ambassador" (Press release). Princess Cruises. July 6, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
10. Lefkowitz, David (January 15, 1998). "MacLeod & Montevecchi, Together Again at TUTS' Gigi". Playbill.
11. Ehren, Christine; Lefkowitz, David (December 15, 2000). "Though Skipper MacLeod Has Left, Copacabana Tour Plays On". Playbill.
12. "Cleo Parker Robinson Dance steps in for the holidays". The Denver Post. December 10, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
13. Banks, Adelle M. (October 23, 2013). "Gavin McLeod, 'Love Boat' Captain, Now An 'Ambassador For Christ'". HuffPost. Religion News Service.
14. Harris, Will (April 23, 2010). "A chat with Ted Lange…? You got it!". Premium Hollywood. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
15. Cotal, Sharon (June 17, 2011). "Pacific Palisades Welcomes New Honorary Mayor". Pacific Palisades Patch. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
16. "Princess Cruises Celebrates Gavin MacLeod's 80th Birthday" (Press release). Princess Cruises. March 2, 2011.
17. Safety Old School Style. United States: Air New Zealand. 9 October 2013.
18. Takeda, Allison (November 5, 2013). "Love Boat Reunion! See Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, and Other Cast Members Together Again After 27 Years". Us Weekly. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
19. Irwin, Richard (December 27, 2014). "Rose Parade 2015: 'Love Boat' cast reunites for Princess Cruise float". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
20. King, Susan (November 8, 2013). "Gavin MacLeod captains a memoir". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
21. Sortal, Nick (November 11, 2013). "In town to promote Princess Cruises, Gavin MacLeod talks 'Love Boat' and new book". Sun-Sentinel. Deerfield Beach, Florida. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
22. Tucker, Ernest (February 27, 1987). "'Chapter Two' ends happily for MacLeods". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved 2018-08-31 – via HighBeam Research.
23. Presenter: Bob Rogers (October 27, 2008). "Interview on The Bob Rogers Show". The Bob Rogers Show. 10:29 AEDT minutes in. 2CH.
24. Sanchez, Steve (4 June 2012). "The One Minute Gospel: Gavin McLeod (From the Love Boat!)". Stonethepreacher.com. Retrieved 31 March 2019.

External links

• Official Goodreads Page
• Gavin MacLeod at IMDb
• Gavin MacLeod at the Internet Broadway Database
• Works by or about Gavin MacLeod in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Gavin MacLeod at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
• TBN page