Don Porter

Donald "Don" Porter (September 24, 1912 –February 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.

Don Porter is known for work in acting across film and television. New Release currently presents 28 verified screen credits connected to this profile.

Selected work includes White Line Fever (1975), Live a Little, Love a Little (1968), Because You're Mine (1952), Danger Woman (1946), Dallas (1978), The Love Boat (1977), Hawaii Five-O (1969), Love, American Style (1969). The recorded credits span 1946 to 1986, including 4 movies and 24 TV shows.

The filmography below lists available titles, release years and known roles. This profile is updated as additional verified information becomes available.