Ted Donaldson, younger actor in ‘Father Is aware of Greatest’ and ‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’, dies aged 89
Ted Donaldson, who performed Bud Anderson within the authentic radio model Father is aware of finest and as Neely Nolan within the fashionable household drama A tree grows in Brooklynthe primary function movie directed by Elijah Kazan, died. He was 89.
Donaldson died Wednesday of problems from a fall at his Echo Park condo in January, his pal Thomas Bruno stated The Hollywood Reporter.
Extra from The Hollywood Reporter
In his large display screen debut, Donaldson portrayed a boy who makes his pet caterpillar, Curly, dance when he performs the harmonica within the comedy fantasy Sure Sir, That is My Child As soon as Upon a time (1944), foremost position Cary Grant and Janet Blair.
He additionally starred as Danny Mitchell in eight Columbia Photos B-Motion pictures centered round a German shepherd named Rusty. The primary, Adventures of Rusty (1945) featured Ace the Marvel Canine.
An solely baby, Donaldson was born on August 20, 1933 in Brooklyn. His father was singer-songwriter Will Donaldson (he co-wrote “Do Wacka Do,” a success with Roger Miller years later). After his mom Jo died when he was just some months outdated, his father married organist/composer Muriel Pollock.
Donaldson attended the Skilled Kids’s College in New York and did a magic gig, and he joined the unique Broadway manufacturing of life with father as son Harlan in 1941. Additionally that 12 months he performed Tiny Tim reverse Edmund Gwenn as Scrooge in a week-long radio model of A Christmas tune.
In 1943, Donaldson was again on the Broadway aspect Gregory PeckStella Adler and Geraldine Fitzgerald because the youthful model of Kenneth Tobey’s character in sons and troopersDirected by Max Reinhardt.
His efficiency led him to audition for the position of Arthur “Pinky” Thompson with Columbia CEO Harry Cohn As soon as Upon a timeprimarily based on the radio play My consumer Curly.
Grant took a liking to the boy, supervised his becoming of a brand new blue Serge swimsuit to a Hollywood consumer, after which attended together with his spouse Betsy Drake, Donaldson’s 1949 highschool commencement ceremony on the Beverly Hills Resort. The celebrity actor affectionately referred to as him “Teddy,” Donaldson remind in a 2018 interview.
After taking part in an orphan Mr. Winkle goes to conflict (1944) starring Edward G. Robinson and Ruth Warrick, Donaldson landed the position of Cornelius “Neely” Nolan in Fox’s movie A tree grows in Brooklyn (1945), primarily based on Betty Smith’s fashionable 1943 novel.
Set in Williamsburg within the early twentieth century, the movie additionally starred Dorothy McGuire and James Dunn (in an Oscar-winning collection) as his mother and father, Katie and Johnny Nolan, and Peggy Ann Garner (a youth Oscar recipient) as his older sister , Francie.
From 1949 to 1954 Donaldson performed James “Bud” Anderson Jr. reverse Robert Younger on NBC Radio Father is aware of finest. He was supplied a suggestion to proceed with Younger within the TV adaptation on CBS, however turned it down.
“I did not wish to be typed,” he stated within the 2002 ebook Rising up on the set. “I did not wish to be a 21-year-old taking part in a 15- or 16-year-old. I needed to do different issues.” Nonetheless, he would later remorse the choice. (Billy Grey portrayed Bud on the TV present for six seasons.)
After Adventures of RustyDonaldson got here again for The Return of Rusty (1946), For the love of Rusty (1947), Rusty’s son (1947), My canine Rusty (1948), Rusty leads the way in which (1948), Rusty saves a life (1949) and eventually Rusty’s birthday (1949).
Younger Donaldson had a knack for animals – he additionally labored with a donkey persona baby (1946) and with a horse in it The pink stallion (1947).
His large display screen resume was additionally included A man, a woman and a buddy (1945), Christopher Blake’s resolution (1948), The Inexperienced Promise (1949) and Name from a stranger (1952). His final onscreen credit got here within the TV reveals Matinee Theater 1955-56 & The silent service in 1958.
A real gentleman, Donaldson later taught performing lessons and labored for years in a bookstore on Hollywood Boulevard. As soon as, whereas delivering a ebook to a buyer’s residence, he was “over the moon and a little bit embarrassed” to seek out actress Alexis Smith on the opposite aspect of the door, Bruno stated. The 2 had labored collectively Christopher Blake’s resolution.
“She introduced him into her home and sat him down and made him really feel welcome,” he stated.
Donaldson has guest-starred at a number of TCM Traditional Movie Festivals—together with 2016, as a restored model of A tree grows in Brooklyn wowed audiences – and regarded ahead to returning to the Hollywood occasion subsequent month.
He by no means married and had no survivors. Bruno and his spouse Heidi based one GoFundMe page assist with funeral bills.
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