TV Stars Dimmed

Three actors, who each played a big part of my TV watching in the 1960s and later, died recently.

-- Don Grady, of 'My Three Sons' (1960-1972), played Robbie Douglas, the quiet, middle son, later the confident, eldest son, when the eldest went 'away to college.'

He was often portrayed with oil-smudged face and clothing, as his hobby was tinkering with gasoline engines. I don't ever remember if the car engine ever actually worked!
Aside: 'Father' Fred McMurray had negotiated an interesting clause in his contract: all scenes including his character -- for the ENTIRE SEASON -- had to be shot first!

-- Andy Griffith, starred as lead character, Sheriff Andy Taylor in: 'The Andy Griffith Show' (1960 - 1968).

(Photo: 'Andy Griffith Show'.) The widowed sheriff and sage of Mayberry had plenty or strong supporting characters -- who really were 'characters! -- including Deputy Barny
Fife, Don Knotts, and son, Opie, Ronny Howard. The show remains as one of only two TV shows to end its final season at #1. (The other was 'I Love Lucy.')
He had earlier developed and starred in the TV and Broadway play / movie: 'No Time for Sergeants,' about a well-mannered 'Southern boy' enlisting in the service. The show is considered the direct inspiration for later TV comedy, 'Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.', which starred Jim Nabors, (All together now: GALL-eee!), an 'A.G. Show' alumnus.
He returned to TV, playing urbanized country lawyer / defence attorney Ben 'Matlock' (1986-1995).
He was also a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2005.

-- Ernest Borgnine, won Best Actor Oscar for the movie, 'Marty' 1955; and rose to fame by weekly TV in 'McHale's Navy,' (1962-1966) a World War II sitcom.

(photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Borgnine)
The insubordinate crew of PT-73 helped the show become an overnight success during its first season, landing in the Top 30 in 1963. Borgnine HAD served for ten years, 1935 - 1945, in the U.S. Navy.
To contemporary children's audiences, he was also known for his role as 'Mermaid Man' in the animated television series, 'Spongebob Squarepants.'

These three, from a variety of backgrounds, became gifted, versatile actors, who practiced their craft / art in vastly different roles in a variety of media.
They will be missed.