
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 âFebruary 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

Matlock
1986
as Erskine Tate

The Six Million Dollar Man
1974
as Dr. Stanley Bacon

Hotel
1982
as Jonathan Corry

Green Acres
1965

The F.B.I.
1965
as Mason Hammond

Barnaby Jones
1973
as Jeremy Markham

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

Ellery Queen
1975

Judd, for the Defense
1967

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

Mame
1974
as Mr. Upson

The Savage
1952
as Running Dog

The Candidate
1972
as Senator Crocker Jarmon

Night Monster
1942
as Dick Baldwin

Our Miss Brooks
1956
as Lawrence Nolan

Desk Set
1957
as Don the Elevator Operator (uncredited)

Eagle Squadron
1942
as Ramsey

Cuban Pete
1946
as Roberts

711 Ocean Drive
1950
as Larry Mason

White Line Fever
1975
as Cutler

Live a Little, Love a Little
1968
as Mike Lansdown

The Racket
1951
as R. G. Connolly

Buck Privates Come Home
1947
as Capt. Christie

The Turning Point
1952
as Joe Silbray

She-Wolf of London
1946
as Barry Lanfield

My Friend Irma Goes West
1950
as Mr. Brent

The Last Song
1980
as Philip Brockhurst

Resisting Enemy Interrogation
1944
as Lt. Frank L. Williams, Jr. - American Co-pilot

Gidget Goes to Rome
1963
as Russell Lawrence

Youngblood Hawke
1964
as Ferdie Lax

Cripple Creek
1952
as Denver Jones

Because You're Mine
1952
as Captain Burton Nordell Loring

Who Done It?
1942
as 'Murder at Midnight' program manager

Keep 'Em Slugging
1943
as Jerry

The Ghosts of Buxley Hall
1980
as Judge Oliver Haynes

The President's Mistress
1978
as Craig

Bachelor in Paradise
1961
as Thomas W. Jynson

The Murder That Wouldn't Die
1980
as Gen. Rocky Jensen

Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone
1950
as Myron Brynk

A Woman for All Men
1975
as Barney

Happy Anniversary and Goodbye
1974
as Ed Murphy

Madame Spy
1942
as David Bannister

The Morning After
1974
as Rudy King

Mystery of the White Room
1939
as Dr. Donald Fox

The Legend of Lizzie Borden
1975
as George Robinson

Reconnaissance Pilot
1943
as Camera Instructor

The Norliss Tapes
1973
as Sanford T. Evans

Last Hours Before Morning
1975
as Mr. Pace

Eyes of the Underworld
1942
as Edward Jason
Interview with Pontius Pilate
1980
as Theodore Michael

The Fallbrook Story
1952
as Narrator

Top Sergeant
1942
as Al Bennett

Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A.
1977
as Caufield

Wild Beauty
1946
as Dr. Dave Morrow

Danger Woman
1946
as Professor Claude Ruppert

How to Fly the B-26 Airplane
1944
as Captain Dick

Murder or Mercy
1974
as Henry Balin
About Don Porter
Donald "Don" Porter (September 24, 1912 âFebruary 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 CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Don Porter Movies
- Tropic of Desire (1979) â as Commodore Phillips
- 40 Carats (1973) â as Mr. Latham
- Mame (1974) â as Mr. Upson
- The Savage (1952) â as Running Dog
- The Candidate (1972) â as Senator Crocker Jarmon
Where to Watch Don Porter Films
Most Don Porter movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo 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.