Don Porter
Known for Acting · 74 credits
- Born
- 1912-09-24
- Died
- 1997-02-11
- Place of birth
- Miami, Oklahoma, USA
- Also known as
- Donald Porter · Donald Cecil Porter
Biography
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.
Known For
TV Shows (25)
Dallas
1978
as Matt Devlin
The Love Boat
1977
as Slade Summerhill
Hawaii Five-O
1968
as Jonathan Cavel / Alex Kelsey
Love, American Style
1969
The Six Million Dollar Man
1974
as Dr. Stanley Bacon
Hotel
1982
as Jonathan Corry
Matlock
1986
as Erskine Tate
The F.B.I.
1965
as Mason Hammond
Barnaby Jones
1973
as Jeremy Markham
Green Acres
1965
Three's Company
1977
The Rookies
1972
Here's Lucy
1968
as Ken Richards
Vega$
1978
Switch
1975
as Paul Lorimer / Salvensen
The Bionic Woman
1976
The Mod Squad
1968
Judd, for the Defense
1967
Ellery Queen
1975
The Paper Chase
1978
Gidget
1965
as Professor Russell Lawrence
Vacation Playhouse
1963
as Battersea, The Housekeeper
City of Angels
1976
Private Secretary
1953
Archer
1975
Movies (49)
Tropic of Desire
1979
as Commodore Phillips
40 Carats
1973
as Mr. Latham
Eagle Squadron
1942
as Ramsey
Mame
1974
as Mr. Upson
Night Monster
1942
as Dick Baldwin
The Savage
1952
as Running Dog
Desk Set
1957
as Don the Elevator Operator (uncredited)
The Candidate
1972
as Senator Crocker Jarmon
Cuban Pete
1946
as Roberts
The Racket
1951
as R. G. Connolly
White Line Fever
1975
as Cutler
Resisting Enemy Interrogation
1944
as Lt. Frank L. Williams, Jr. - American Co-pilot
711 Ocean Drive
1950
as Larry Mason
The Last Song
1980
as Philip Brockhurst
The Turning Point
1952
as Joe Silbray
Who Done It?
1942
as 'Murder at Midnight' program manager
Buck Privates Come Home
1947
as Capt. Christie
Bachelor in Paradise
1961
as Thomas W. Jynson
Live a Little, Love a Little
1968
as Mike Lansdown
The Murder That Wouldn't Die
1980
as Gen. Rocky Jensen
She-Wolf of London
1946
as Barry Lanfield
Keep 'Em Slugging
1943
as Jerry
Youngblood Hawke
1964
as Ferdie Lax
The Norliss Tapes
1973
as Sanford T. Evans
A Woman for All Men
1975
as Barney
My Friend Irma Goes West
1950
as Mr. Brent
Last Hours Before Morning
1975
as Mr. Pace
Gidget Goes to Rome
1963
as Russell Lawrence
The President's Mistress
1978
as Craig
Cripple Creek
1952
as Denver Jones
Because You're Mine
1952
as Captain Burton Nordell Loring
The Ghosts of Buxley Hall
1980
as Judge Oliver Haynes
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
1950
as Myron Brynk
Madame Spy
1942
as David Bannister
Our Miss Brooks
1956
as Lawrence Nolan
The Legend of Lizzie Borden
1975
as George Robinson
Happy Anniversary and Goodbye
1974
as Ed Murphy
Mystery of the White Room
1939
as Dr. Donald Fox
The Morning After
1974
as Rudy King
Interview with Pontius Pilate
1980
as Theodore Michael
Eyes of the Underworld
1942
as Edward Jason
Top Sergeant
1942
as Al Bennett
Wild Beauty
1946
as Dr. Dave Morrow
Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A.
1977
as Caufield
How to Fly the B-26 Airplane
1944
as Captain Dick
Murder or Mercy
1974
as Henry Balin
Danger Woman
1946
as Professor Claude Ruppert
The Fallbrook Story
1952
as Narrator
Reconnaissance Pilot
1943
as Camera Instructor
About Don Porter
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 Sa… With 74 credits spanning from 1939 to 1986, Don Porter has appeared in 49 films and 25 TV shows.
Fans searching for Don Porter movies, Don Porter filmography, or the latest projects starring Don Porter can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Don Porter Movies
- Tropic of Desire (1979) — as Commodore Phillips
- 40 Carats (1973) — as Mr. Latham
- Eagle Squadron (1942) — as Ramsey
- Mame (1974) — as Mr. Upson
- Night Monster (1942) — as Dick Baldwin
Where to Watch Don Porter Films
Most Don Porter movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Don Porter, check our movies catalogue and browse page.