Gavin MacLeod

3/5

Biography

Gavin MacLeod was raised in Pleasantville, New York, the son of a gas station owner who was part Chippewa Indian , in his role as the ingratiating Captain Stubing. On the down side, "Love Boat" marred his chances to be considered for more challenging work, and his inability to cope with success led to alcoholism and divorce from second wife Patti. However, he later turned his life around, remarried his wife, and wrote a biography called "Back on Course." Today he appears occasionally on the summer stock/dinner theater stage and as a guest performer on TV.

  • Primary profession
  • Actor·soundtrack
  • Country
  • United States
  • Nationality
  • American
  • Gender
  • Male
  • Birth date
  • 28 February 1931
  • Place of birth
  • New York City
  • Death age
  • 90
  • Education
  • Ithaca College
  • Member of
  • Vermont Voltage·Cincinnati Kings·Dayton Dutch Lions WFC

Movies

TV

Books

Trivia

His "The Love Boat" captain exposure led to a long-running gig promoting the Princess Cruises.

His autobiography "Back on Course, the Remarkable Story of a Divorce That Ended in Remarriage" details his problems with alcohol and subsequent recovery and remarriage to second wife Patti MacLeod.

Was a close friend (30 years) of actor Ted Knight long before they appeared together on "Mary Tyler Moore" .

Met first wife Joan at Radio City Music Hall when he was an usher and she was a Rockette. They had four children before they divorced after 18 years of marriage.

Took his stage name from his college drama coach Beatrice Macleod, and from an affecting TV drama in which a cerebral palsy victim was named "Gavin".

Stepfather of Stephanie Steele. He also has two other stepchildren, Andrew and Tommy, with his wife Patti.

January 19, 2004: featured on "Late Show with David Letterman" in their segment "Is It Potatoes or Gavin MacLeod?". It was, in fact, Gavin MacLeod.

Graduate of Ithaca College in upstate New York.

Holds an Honorary Doctorate from his Alma Mater Ithaca College.

Best known by the public for his starring roles as Murray Slaughter on "Mary Tyler Moore" and as Capt. Merrill Stubing on "The Love Boat" .

Remained good friends with Ted Lange during and after "The Love Boat" .

Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades, California.

The oldest of two children.

Graduated from Pleasantville High School in Pleasantville, New York, in 1947, and received a scholarship to Ithaca College.

Before he was a successful actor, he did everything from janitor to lawn mowing.

While he was playing football at Pleasantville High School, he received word from his family, about his father, who had died in 1945, from cancer. After his fathers death, his quit the football team, and went back to acting.

Started acting when he was in Kindergarten.

Has been going bald since he was 18, at that time, he wore toupees.

His ancestry includes Irish, part Chippewa-Indian, Swedish and English.

His father, George See, dropped out of grade school in the fifth grade, looking for work as a gas station attendant. His mother Margaret See, also dropped out of middle school in the seventh grade. She went on to work for Readers Digest.

Was Aaron Spelling s first choice to audition for the lead role as Capt. Merrill Stubing on "The Love Boat" , who accepted the role after the cancellation of "Mary Tyler Moore" .

Former child actor Robert Blake once said MacLeod was his favorite actor to date.

Before he was an actor, he served in the Air Force, where he wrote, produced and directed the plays.

When he was just a little boy, he used to go to the movie theaters, where he paid 7 cents, being fascinated by character actors, which led to MacLeod playing character parts in various shows.

Alcohol ran in his family, stretching to his elder ancestors, before himself.

His mother, Margaret See, died on January 4, 2004, she lived to be 97.

Friends with: Shirley Jones , Florence Henderson , Charlotte Rae , Marla Gibbs , Gordon Jump , Bernie Kopell , Dick Van Patten , Betty White , Mary Tyler Moore , Edward Asner , John Forsythe , Jane Wyman , Esther Williams , Bill Bixby , Andy Griffith , Michele Lee , Arlene Dahl , Rhonda Fleming , Betsy Palmer , Marion Ross , Robert Reed , Robert Urich , Carol Channing , Robert Guillaume , Harry Morgan , Ernest Borgnine , Tim Conway , Bob Hope , Frank Sinatra , Sammy Davis Jr. , Dean Martin , Audra Lindley , Ted Knight , Don Adams , Aaron Spelling , Raymond Burr , Robert Stack , Pat Robertson , Connie Stevens , Beverly Garland and Richard Dawson.

Is one of the three actors to have appeared in every episode of "The Love Boat" .

Before he was cast opposite Jack Lord in "Hawaii Five-O" , he worked with Lord opposite Betsy Palmer in The True Story of Lynn Stuart .

Had a back operation in 2010.

Had quit his role on "McHales Navy" , due to his battle with alcoholism in 1964. It was suggested by his family and best friend Robert Blake that he to go to an alcohol clinic, where he was getting help. Right around the same time, he also left to do The Sand Pebbles .

MacLeod was said to be an idol of future actor Ted Lange , who would watch every episode of "Mary Tyler Moore" before he co-starred with him on "The Love Boat" .

Met Bernie Kopell on the set of "Mary Tyler Moore" , before he co-starred with MacLeod on "The Love Boat" .

His "The Love Boat" co-star, Jill Whelan , invited him and Bernie Kopell , to her wedding in 2004.

Has made $20,000-plus for each "The Love Boat" episode.

Father of Keith, Julie, David and Meghan.

Is a lacto-vegetarian.

Enjoys public speaking, traveling, playing tennis, watching movies, golfing, sailing, reading the Bible, praying, cruising, reading and dancing.

Starred in the pilot of 3 shows that didnt sell.

Got the lead role on "The Love Boat" with the encouragement of Aaron Spelling.

Used to be a spokesperson for Princess Cruises in the 1980s.

Had met Mary Tyler Moore on an episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" , years before he worked with her on "Mary Tyler Moore" , as her newswriter.

Used to be the spokesperson of ELKS - National Foundation Drug Awareness Council in 1984.

Is the only "The Love Boat" actor not to have guest-starred on "Fantasy Island" .

His favorite "The Love Boat" episodes are: The Love Boat Follies, with Van Johnson , Carol Channing and Cab Calloway , the one where Jill Whelan s character came aboard and the ones where he was working with Marion Ross.

Had attended the funeral of Robert Urich in 2002. MacLeod reprised his role alongside Urich on "Love Boat: The Next Wave" .

Met Marion Ross on the stage play of Operation Petticoat, years later, she would work with him on "The Love Boat" , in the recurring role of MacLeods wife.

Had purchased his first house, right at the same time Ted Knight purchased his, in the same area.

His father encouraged him to be an accountant.

Has a younger brother.

Attended Betty White s 90th Birthday Party in 2012.

Had celebrated his 80th Birthday, aboard The Golden Princess on Princess Cruises in Los Angeles, California on 28 February 2011. The entire "The 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.

Had lost his father to cancer when he was age 14.

After his birth, his mother no longer worked for Readers Digest.

Even after he quit his role on "McHales Navy" , MacLeod remained close friends with Ernest Borgnine for over 45 years, until Borgnines death in 2012.

He and Bernie Kopell were both invited by ex- "The Love Boat" co-star, Ted Lange , to see Langes 20th directorial play, George Washingtons Boy..

Acting mentor and friend of Ted Lange.

Though he was born in Mt. Kisco, New York, he and his family were raised in Pleasantille, just 35 mi. north of New York City.

Began working since he was age 13.

His mother, Margaret See, underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor in 1985.

Attended the 90th birthday party of longtime friend Carol Channing , on 21 February 2011.

On "The Love Boat" , he played the Captain of a cruise ship, in real-life, he is the Ambassador of Pacific Princess Cruises.

Is a fan of both shows: "Blue Bloods" and "The Good Wife" .

His idols when he was very young were Lana Turner and Ginger Rogers.

Was nominated in 1980 as one of the 10 Most Watchable Men in the World..

Appeared on the front cover of TV Guide 4 times.

Neighbor of Nancy Sinatra.

Used to live in Desi Arnaz s house.

Since the late 1970s, he resides in Rancho Mirage, California.

Was honored as Humanitarian of the Year by the Gift of Life Foundation in 1992.

Met Joyce Bulifant on the set of "McHales Navy" . They would later play husband and wife on the 1970s sitcom "Mary Tyler Moore" .

Was initially slated to audition for the role of Lou Grant on "Mary Tyler Moore" but decided to read for the part of Murray instead.

He has played the same character (Captain Merrill Stubing) in three different series: "The Love Boat" , "Charlies Angels" and "Love Boat: The Next Wave" .

Began his show "The Love Boat" at age 46.

Began working at age 13.

Long lives run in his family.

Created a wonderful relationship with Ted Lange on "The Love Boat" .

His "The Love Boat" co-star, Ted Lange , lives not too far away from him, in Torrance, California.

He is most widely known to be a social butterfly.

His ex- "The Love Boat" co-star, Ted Lange and Loretta Swit , were both present at Gavins first Barnes & Noble book signing in New York City. This signing was the largest such event held at that particular location in three years. He continued his book tour throughout 2014.

Quotes

I felt more love on their soundstage than I have anywhere since The,"Mary Tyler Moore" (1970) Show.

[on starring in a Christian movie]: The film is about forgiveness.

Forgiveness is one of the greatest tools God has given us.

[When he was coping with his then, 78-year-old mother, who was on the,verge of having risky surgery for her brain tumor]: I woke up in my bed,in Beverly Hills - at that time, I thought a big house would make me,happy - and I just prayed to Jesus that if he gave my mom more time, I,would turn my life over to him.

[In 2008]: It was bringing a lot of joy to people. Letting them know,they had choices so they could have happy endings. We travelled all,over the world first class and we had great wonderful fun scripts to,work with. It was really a great gig.

[In 2009]: I thought about Patti and wanted to know how she was doing.

[on getting used to another TV series other than,"Mary Tyler Moore" (1970) ]: Oh boy, here goes another beauty.

Now, people will pay to see me in the theater.

Sometimes you don’t get a second chance. You need to take a chance when you have the opportunity. Always.

Mary [Tyler Moore] was absolutely brilliant. . . She is a fabulous actress. She can do anything.

If I can do it, anybody can do it. Willpower is strong! I believe that. You just have to have faith in yourself—and God—and make sure you know where your priorities stand. .

Comments