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Gavin MacLeod
Gavin McLeod
Gavin McCleod of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Love Boat" TV series, appears in two episodes as Stu Heffernan.
Vital statistics
Birthname Allan George See
Born: February 28, 1931
Died: May 29, 2021(2021-05-29) (aged 90)
Occupation Actor, TV personality
Best known for: roles as Murray Slaughter on CBS-TV sitcom series The Mary Tyler Moore Show and

Captain Merrill Stubing on ABD-TV's The Love Boat

Family and Personal
Character information
Appeared on: The King of Queens
Appears as: Stu Heffernan

Veteran actor Gavin MacLeod (born February 28, 1931-died May 29, 2021) appears in two The King of Queens episodes as Stu Heffernan, Danny Heffernan's well-meaning, but sometimes meddlesome father, Joe Heffernan's brother, and Doug's uncle. Gavin first appears in the episode "S'no Job" (Season 3, Episode 23, 2001) and then "Hero Worship" (Season 4, Episode #18, 2002). Gavin is famous for his roles as both Murray on CBS-TV's The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and Captain Merrill Stubing on ABC-TV's The Love Boat.

Early years[]

Gavin was born Allan George See in Mount Kisco, New York, the older of two children, born to Margaret (née Shea) See (1906-2004), who was a middle school dropout, who in turn worked for Reader's Digest.[1] He grew up in Pleasantville, New York and studied acting at Ithaca College, graduating in 1952. His father, George See (1906-1945), a gas station attendant, was a Chippewa (Ojibwa) Indian. After serving in the United States Air Force, he moved to New York City and worked at Radio City Music Hall while looking for acting work. At about this time he changed his name, drawing "Gavin" from a cerebral palsy victim in a TV drama, and "MacLeod" from his Ithaca drama coach, Beatrice MacLeod.

Career[]

Gavin's first movie appearance was a small, uncredited role in The True Story of Lynn Stuart in 1958. Soon thereafter, he landed a credited role in I Want to Live!, a 1958 prison drama starring Susan Hayward. He was soon noticed by [[Blake Edwards, who in 1958 cast him as a neurotic harried navy yeoman in Operation Petticoat with Cary Grant and Tony Curtis. Operation Petticoat proved to be a breakout role for MacLeod, and he was soon cast in another Edwards comedy, High Time, with Bing Crosby.

Gavin also appeared as the villain on TV shows of the late 1950s and early 1960s, including Edwards's private-eye series, Peter Gunn. He played the role of a drug pusher, "Big Chicken," in two episodes of the first season of Hawaii Five-O. His first regular TV role came in 1962 as Joseph "Happy" Haines on McHale's Navy; leaving after two seasons to appear in The Sand Pebbles.[2]

MacLeod's role as Murray Slaughter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show won him lasting fame, and two Golden Globe nominations, followed by another three nominations for his The Love Boat work.

Conversion to Christianity[]

During the mid-1980s, Gavin and his then ex-wife Patti became Evangelical Christians and remarried.[3]

During his time as the Captain on The Love Boat MacLeod "very selfishly" (his words) divorced his wife Patti. She then spent the next three years seeking help from psychiatrists on both the west and the east coasts. Then one day, his wife received a telephone call from Patti Palmer, first wife of Jerry Lewis. Patti Palmer then invited her to a Christian prayer group with a number of famous actresses in it. Gavin said, "From that day, I started to think about her. Something told me to call Patti. I called Patti. I went back to see her the following Monday and things haven't been the same since." MacLeod asked her what had happened. She then explained everything to him including that she had given her life to Christ.[4]

Following his conversion and remarriage, he and his wife wrote about struggles with divorce and alcoholism in Back On Course: The Remarkable Story of a Divorce That Ended in Remarriage. The MacLeods have been hosts on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) for 14 years, primarily hosting a show about marriage called Back on Course.[5] Gavin MacLeod appeared in Rich Christiano's Time Changer, a movie about time travel and how the morals of society have moved away from the Bible. He also has the lead role in Christiano's film The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry.

Appearances[]

On Sunday, 20 September 2009, MacLeod spoke at The "Rock Church," in Anaheim, California. He discussed his conversion to Christianity, as well as his role in The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry (2009).

In April 2010, the entire cast of The Love Boat attended the TV Land Awards with the exception of himself, because he had a back operation after he hurt a couple of discs. Co-star Ted Lange called him and received word his beloved TV friend was doing well.[6]

Other work[]

MacLeod served as the previous honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades, California, before Ray Leonard. He has been a representative for Princess Cruises for 23 years and is an Master of Ceremonies for them, especially when new ships are launched. He is also an MC for a travel agent show. In December 2008, he conducted the Colorado Symphony in Denver. With the help of a New York writer, he is working on an autobiography. In December 2010, MacLeod is scheduled to appear as a guest narrator with the Florida Orchestra and Master Chorale of Tampa Bay for three concerts.

On 28 February 2011, Gavin celebrated his 80th birthday aboard The Golden Princess on Princess Cruises in Los Angeles, California. The entire Love Boat cast, along with his friends and family, wished him a Happy Birthday, and presented him with a 5 ft. long, 3D replica in cake of the original “Love Boat,” representing The Pacific Princess.[7]

Gavin appeared on the special for Betty White's 90th birthday on January 16, 2012.

Personal life[]

MacLeod married his second wife, Patti Kendig, in 1974. Both were previously divorced. The couple divorced in 1982, but remarried in 1985. During the mid-1980s, they became evangelical Protestants and credited their faith for bringing them back together.[8]

During his time as the Captain on The Love Boat, MacLeod divorced Patti. She then spent the next three years seeking help from psychiatrists on both the West and the East coasts. His wife eventually received a telephone call from Patti Lewis, first wife of Jerry Lewis, inviting her to a Christian prayer group that contained a number of famous actresses who started to pray for Gavin. MacLeod later said, "From that day, I started to think about her. Something told me to call Patti. I called Patti. I went back to see her the following Monday and things haven't been the same since." MacLeod asked her what had happened. She then explained everything to him, including that she had given her life to Jesus Christ.[9]

On September 20, 2009, MacLeod discussed his conversion to Christianity at The Rock Church in Anaheim, California, with further guest appearances in 2012.[10]

Death[]

MacLeod died at his home in Palm Desert, California, on May 29, 2021, aged 90, after a period of ill health. No cause was given. He died on the same day as B.J. Thomas. [11][12]


References[]

External links[]

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