Richard Denning |
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Real Name: Denninger, Louis Albert Heindrich
Height: 6' 1"
Born: 27 March 1914, Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
Deceased: 11 October 1998, San Diego, California, USA. (natural causes)
Married to: 'Patricia Leffingwell' (1985 - 11 October 1998) (his death) 'Evelyn Ankers' (6 September 1942 - 29 August 1985) (her death) |
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Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, Louis Albert Denninger, Jr., was the son of a garment manufacturer who relocated and set up show in Los Angeles when Louis was 18 months old. After finishing school, Denninger enrolled at Woodbury Business College and majored in foreign trade and accounting, graduating with a master's in business administration. But Denninger, who never liked accounting, started becoming involved in little theater groups as a hobby; on a whim, he competed in a radio contest called "Do You Want to Be an Actor?", winning a screen test at Warner Brothers. Warners wasn't interested in him, but by now he had his heart set on a movie career. Denninger was soon signed by Paramount, who insisted on changing his name (to "Richard Denning") because his real name, Denninger, sounded too much like gunman John Dillinger's. After 12 years of playing the Governor of Hawaii on TV's "Hawaii Five-O," Denning retired; five years later, his actress-wife Evelyn Ankers died at their home (cancer). "I'm very grateful for a career that wasn't spectacular, but always made a living or filled in in-between," Denning says of his acting days. "I have wonderful memories of it, but I don't really miss it." Tom Weaver <Tom Weavr@aol.com> Trivia:
He had a daughter with his first wife, Evalyn Ankers.
After graduating from Woodbury College in Montpelier, Vermont, Denning
joined his father in the garment business and worked his way up from
office boy to vice president.
During World War II, Denning enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in a
submarine.
Has one daughter.
His character's name on CBS Radio's "My Favorite Husband" was changed
from George Cugat to George Cooper later in 1948.
Denning portrayed George Cooper, the husband of 'Lucille Ball' , on CBS Radio's
"My Favorite Husband" (1948-1951). The series was such a success that
CBS executives offered Ball a TV deal with Denning, but she refused,
insisting on husband 'Desi Arnaz' as her TV husband. |
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