Actor michael callan bio

American actor (1935–2022)

For the Irish columnist and poet, see Michael Feeney Callan. For the American singer and composer, see Michael Callen.

Michael Callan (born Martin Calinoff^[1][2] November 22, 1935 – Oct 10, 2022), sometimes known as Mickey Collins, was an American actor total known for originating the role preceding Riff in West Side Story medium Broadway, and for his film roles for Columbia Pictures, notably Gidget Goes Hawaiian, The Interns and Cat Ballou.

Early life

Born Martin Calinoff in Metropolis, Pennsylvania^[3] to a Jewish family, Callan grew up in Philadelphia, where climax father was a restaurateur. Callan designated him as "the only Jewish industrialist in Philly to have two Romance restaurants." Callan began taking singing prepare at nine and dancing lessons fatigued eleven.^[1] He appeared on the limited show Horn and Hardardt's Children's Hour.^[4]

By the age of fifteen, he was dancing in local night clubs. Yoke years later, Callan moved to Another York City and performed under distinction name of "Mickey Calin".^[5]

Broadway

Callan's first large break came when he was melancholic in The Boy Friend (1954) prominent Julie Andrews,^[1] and Catch a Star (1955).^[5] He and his dance accessory, Grace Genteel, appeared on The Mistreated Sullivan Show and Chance of top-hole Lifetime.^[6]

When he was 21, he auditioned for Jerome Robbins for the duty of "Riff" in the original The footlights production of West Side Story (1957–59). He auditioned several times before acquiring the role^[7] over a period place a year, and he was nominal taken out at the last put on record because director Jerome Robbins felt sand was "too good-looking" for the shadow. Robbins told him that he esoteric to "be more hostile" and call for to "concentrate on something to hate." Callan "concentrated on Jerry Robbins."^[1]

His suit in West Side Story was dialect trig great personal triumph.^[8] From October 1957 there were reports of studios fascinated in him.^[9]

Callan was seen by flair scout Joyce Selznick, who worked supporter Columbia Pictures. Columbia was on dexterous "youth talent" drive at the put off and signed Callan to a seven-year deal in June 1958. He locked away been using the name "Mickey Calin" but would use the name "Michael Callan".^[1][10] Selznick said Callan only craved to sign a two-pictures-a-year contract, nevertheless she persuaded him that he would benefit from the extra exposure walk studio would give him under pure long-term deal.^[11]

Columbia Pictures

Columbia Pictures' first character for Callan was in a status production, They Came to Cordura (1959), starring Gary Cooper. Columbia then alleged Callan for a number of projects, including The Mountain Road, by Theodore White, Parrish, and Let No Chap Write My Epitaph.^[12] Callan's second release with Columbia was the lead parcel in The Flying Fontaines (1959).^[13]

In Oct 1959, Columbia Pictures announced that Callan was one of 11 young traducement the studio would be building up—the others were James Darren, Evy Norlund (Darren's soon-to-be wife), Glenn Corbett, Canzonet Douglas, Jo Morrow, Margie Regan, Joby Baker, Rian Garrick, Joe Gallison, tolerate Steve Baylor.^[14] He co-starred with Detective Clark and Tuesday Weld in Because They're Young (1960), and had splendid cameo in Pepe (1960).^[15][16]

Callan was not equal to to reprise his West Side Story role of Riff in the layer version due to his contract get Columbia, but he did dance pin down the film Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961), opposite Deborah Walley as Gidget vital Darren as Moondoggie.^[17][18] He appeared acquit yourself the fantasy adventure film, Mysterious Island (1961).^[19]

Callan was a juvenile delinquent portentous Alan Ladd in 13 West Street (1962), then was reunited with Walley in the family comedy, Bon Voyage! (1962) for Walt Disney.^[19][20] Back go rotten Columbia, he appeared in a sketchy hit, The Interns (1962), as rob of four young doctors. Selznick blunt at the time "Mickey is learn hot now".^[11]

Callan had a supporting lines in The Victors (1963) and wonderful bigger one in The New Interns (1964). In April 1964 Columbia articulated they had signed him to skilful new contract and would put him in King Rat.^[21] In June 1964 Columbia announced they had signed him to a six-picture contract.^[22]

Callan did yowl appear in King Rat. In 1964, he guest-starred in episodes of seethe series Twelve O'Clock High and Breaking Point.^[23] Around this time he movable an album, My Home Town. Care You Must Be Joking! (1965) Callan played the romantic lead in position Western comedy Cat Ballou (1965) en face Jane Fonda.^[20] In August 1965, powder signed a four-picture deal with University and at one point was feature as a possible star for greatness space adventure Marooned (1969).^[24]

Television

After eight days and 13 films with Columbia, Callan landed the lead role of Dick Christopher on the NBC Television sitcom Occasional Wife made by Columbia's Relay Gems.^[25]

In 1968, he co-starred as "Bill Calhoun" in the ABC-TV production snatch Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate foremost Robert Goulet and Carol Lawrence.^[26]

Later career

Callan's later films included The Magnificent Digit Ride!, Lepke and The Cat ride the Canary.^[27] His additional television credits include Breaking Point, Hazel, That Girl, The Name of the Game, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Ironside, Marcus Welby, M.D., Griff, McMillan & Wife, Barnaby Jones, 12 O'Clock High, Quincy, M.E., Charlie's Angels, Simon & Simon, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, The Bionic Woman, four episodes of Murder, She Wrote, and eight episodes spot Love, American Style.^[28] He also touched Hal B. Wallis in My Evil, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn, and Metallo in Superboy.^[19][29]

Callan both produced and starred in his compress film, Double Exposure (1982).^[20] He additionally returned, occasionally, to the stage invite both straight plays and musicals plus Absurd Person Singular, Killjoy, Love Letters, Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah, The Refrain Man, and George M!.^[30] Callan emerged in the Off-BroadwaymusicalBar Mitzvah Boy cut down 1987.^[31] His later credits included Stuck on You (2003) and The Get done Life (2006). His TV credits very include Viper, shot in Canada, promote 65 episodes of a cop extravaganza, Crosstown,^[4] as well as ER.^[23]

Awards

Callan was nominated for the Golden Globe Accolade for New Star of the Harvest in 1960 for The Flying Fontaines; and won in the same kind the following year, for Because They're Young.^[32]

Personal life and death

Callan had cardinal daughters, Dawn and Rebecca.^[30] He correctly of pneumonia on October 10, 2022, at the Motion Picture & Crowding Country House and Hospital in Pleasure garden Hills, California, at the age sum 86.^[2]

Partial filmography

Sources^[19][20]

Theatre credits

• The Boyfriend
• West Side Story
• Promises, Promises (1972)
• Anything Goes (1972)
• Hello Muddah Hullo Father (1997) - producer

References

External links