Sunday, January 9, 2022

Legendary TV Actor, Artist, Director Dead At 87

He was a huge TV phenomenon and his show was must-viewing for the teen generation of the times.

But he was also a child star, a movie star and later a television executive, director of TV shows and accomplished artist. No question about it -- he lived a rich, full and successful life. He was Dwayne Hickman star of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis which ran on CBS from 1959 to 1963. Hickman made his acting debut at age six as an extra in John Ford’s Oscar-winning film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath. He went on to appear in a number of movie and TV projects, before his breakout role in The Bob Cummings Show.

In the 1970s, the multi-talented Hickman served as a CBS network executive during the era of breakthrough sitcoms like Maude, M*A*S*H and Designing Women. He then went as a TV director on series such as Designing Women, Head of the Class and Sister, Sister.

Beyond acting and directing, Hickman also showed talent as an oil painter. He came to be known for house scenes and landscapes that have been featured in galleries and collections across the country. He died this morning of complications from Parkinson's.

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