Troy Donahue
Known for Acting · 99 credits
- Born
- 1936-01-27
- Died
- 2001-09-02
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, U.S.
- Also known as
- Merle Johnson Jr. · Трой Донахʼю
Biography
Troy Donahue (born Merle Johnson Jr., January 27, 1936 – September 2, 2001) was an American film and television actor and singer. He was a popular sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s.
His father was Merle Johnson, the manager of the motion-picture department of General Motors. His mother, Edith Johnson, was a retired stage actress. Donahue attended a New York military academy, where he met Francis Ford Coppola. When Donahue was 18, he moved to New York and got a job as a messenger in a film company founded by his father. He was fired, he says, because he was too young to join the union. He attended Columbia University and studied journalism. He trained briefly with Ezra Stone, and then moved to Hollywood.
The big break of Donahue's career came when he was cast opposite Sandra Dee in A Summer Place, made by Warner Bros. in 1959. The director was Delmer Daves. Warner signed him to a long-term contract. They put him to work guest-starring in episodes of their Western TV series, such as Colt .45 (1959), Maverick (1959), Sugarfoot (1959), The Alaskans (1960), and Lawman (1960).
In 1968, Donahue signed a long-term contract with Universal Studios for films and TV. This lasted a year and saw him get four roles: guest shots on Ironside (1968), The Name of the Game (1968), and The Virginian (1969), and an appearance in the TV movie The Lonely Profession (1969).
Donahue declared bankruptcy in 1968 and eventually lost his home. In 1969, Donahue moved from Los Angeles to New York City. By this time, Donahue's drug addiction and alcoholism had ruined him financially. In May 1982, he joined Alcoholics Anonymous, which he credited for helping him achieve and maintain sobriety.
Known For
TV Shows (27)
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
The Love Boat
1977
as Mr. Clark
Golden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Nominee / Self - Winner
Ironside
1967
as Father Dugan
Maverick
1957
as Dan Jamison
Rawhide
1959
as Buzz Travis
Laverne & Shirley
1976
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
The Name of the Game
1968
as Norman Hoak
Hawaiian Eye
1959
77 Sunset Strip
1958
as Sandy Winfield II
Matt Houston
1982
Vega$
1978
The Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self
Sugarfoot
1957
as Ken Savage
Surfside 6
1960
as Sandy Winfield II
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
1977
Monsters
1988
as Dr. Thomas Becker
CHiPs
1977
Bronco
1958
Ellery Queen
1975
as Gilbert Mallory
The Patty Duke Show
1963
The Alaskans
1959
Bourbon Street Beat
1959
as Man on Phone (voice)
Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television
1977
as Merle Johnson
The Eddie Capra Mysteries
1978
Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story
1991
as Rob Kamen
Movies (72)
The Godfather Part II
1974
as Merle Johnson
Cry-Baby
1990
as Hatchet's Father
A Summer Place
1959
as Johnny Hunter
The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959
2016
as Merle Johnson
Imitation of Life
1959
as Frankie
Terminal Force
1989
as Slim
Mondo Hollywood
1967
Live Fast, Die Young
1958
as Artie Sanders / Artie Smith
Cockfighter
1974
as Randall Mansfield
Double Trouble
1992
as Leonard
Malibu
1983
as Clint Redman
Grandview, U.S.A.
1984
as Donny Vinton
Merchants of Venus
1998
as FBI Agent
Monster on the Campus
1958
as Jimmy Flanders
The Tarnished Angels
1957
as Frank Burnham
The Crowded Sky
1960
as McVey
This Happy Feeling
1958
as Tony Manza
Man Afraid
1957
as Reporter (uncredited)
Man of a Thousand Faces
1957
as Assistant Director (uncredited)
The Drifting Classroom
1987
as Taggart
Omega Cop
1990
as Slim
Wild Heritage
1958
as Jesse Bascomb
Dr. Alien
1989
as Dr. Ackerman
Tin Man
1983
as Lester
Parrish
1961
as Parrish McLean
Rome Adventure
1962
as Don Porter
Bimbo Movie Bash
1997
as Dr. Ackerman (archive footage)
The Pamela Principle
1992
as Troy
Deadly Prey
1987
as Don Michaelson
A Distant Trumpet
1964
as 2nd Lt. Matthew 'Matt' Hazard
Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon
1967
as Gaylord Sullivan
Cyclone
1987
as Bob Jenkins
Seizure
1974
as Mark Frost
Lover, Come Back to Me
1983
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976
as Self (archive footage)
My Blood Runs Cold
1965
as Ben Gunther
Susan Slade
1961
as Hoyt Brecker
Legion
1998
as Flemming
Bad Blood
1988
as Jack Barnes
The Chilling
1989
as Dr. Miller
Palm Springs Weekend
1963
as Jim Munroe
The Monolith Monsters
1957
as Hank Jackson
Low Blow
1986
as John Templeton
Click: The Calendar Girl Killer
1990
as Alan
Shock 'Em Dead
1991
as Record Exec
Split Second to an Epitaph
1968
as Father Dugan
Summer Love
1958
as Sax Lewis
The Perfect Furlough
1958
as Sgt. Nickles
Sexpot
1990
as Phillip
Deadly Diamonds
1991
as Matt Plimpton
The Lonely Profession
1969
as Julian Thatcher
Hot Times at Montclair High
1989
as Mr. Nichols
The Boys Behind the Desk
2000
Voice in the Mirror
1958
as Paul Cunningham
Assault of the Party Nerds
1989
as Sid Witherspoon
The Legend of Frank Woods
1977
as Sheriff John Baxom
Come Spy with Me
1967
as Jill Parsons
Nudity Required
1990
as Jack
South Seas
1974
as Steve
Hard Rock Nightmare
1988
as Uncle Gary
Showdown
1993
as Police Captain
Hollywood Cop
1987
as Lt Maxwell
Blood Nasty
1989
as Barry Hefna
The Platinum Triangle
1989
as Harold Farber
Deadly Spygames
1989
as Python
Outrage
1977
as Daniel
Sounds of Silence
1989
as Larry Haughton
Hawkeye
1988
as Mayor
Fight to Win
1987
as Rosenberg
American Rampage
1989
as Police Psychiatrist
The Phantom Gunslinger
1970
as Bill
Sweet Savior
1971
as Moon
About Troy Donahue
Troy Donahue (born Merle Johnson Jr., January 27, 1936 – September 2, 2001) was an American film and television actor and singer. He was a popular sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s. His father was Merle Johnson, the manager of the motion-picture department of General Motors. His mother, Edith Johnson, was a retired stage actress. Donahue attended a New York military academy, where he met Francis Ford Coppola. When Donahue was 18, he moved to New York and got a job as a messenger in a film company founded by his father. He was fired, he says, b… With 99 credits spanning from 1944 to 2016, Troy Donahue has appeared in 72 films and 27 TV shows.
Fans searching for Troy Donahue movies, Troy Donahue filmography, or the latest projects starring Troy Donahue can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Troy Donahue Movies
- The Godfather Part II (1974) — as Merle Johnson
- Cry-Baby (1990) — as Hatchet's Father
- A Summer Place (1959) — as Johnny Hunter
- The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959 (2016) — as Merle Johnson
- Imitation of Life (1959) — as Frankie
Where to Watch Troy Donahue Films
Most Troy Donahue 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 Troy Donahue, check our movies catalogue and browse page.