Don MacLaughlin

Don MacLaughlin
Born(1906-11-24)November 24, 1906
DiedMay 28, 1986(1986-05-28) (aged 79)
OccupationActor
SpouseMary Prugh
Children3

William Donald MacLaughlin (November 24, 1906 – May 28, 1986) was an American actor. He began acting in 1933 on radio, and he originated the role of Chris Hughes on the soap opera As the World Turns.

Early years

William Donald MacLaughlin was born on November 24, 1906, in Webster, Iowa, and his father was a doctor. MacLaughlin's family contained "a long line of ministers", and he planned to study for the ministry when he entered college. He studied speech and English at Iowa Wesleyan University, Northwestern University, and the University of Arizona.

Career

Prior to TV, MacLaughlin was active on radio, beginning in 1933. He starred as the main character on Counterspy in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1945, he joined the cast of The Romance of Helen Trent, in the role of Dwight Swanson, "a rancher who becomes interested in Helen Trent." MacLaughlin was also a member of the Gang Busters, and he was in the cast of Buck Private and His Girl.: 54 

On the stage, MacLaughlin appeared in The Fifth Column (1940), Virginia Reel (1947), and the 1948 Broadway production of The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden.

MacLaughlin entered television in 1956, originating the role of lawyer Chris Hughes on As the World Turns and played the role until his death in 1986. Contract negotiations kept him (and his on-screen wife Helen Wagner) off the soap for most of the early 1980s, but the show finally welcomed the two back in a big storyline with heavy use of past clips from the show. In the story, Chris and his wife Nancy were celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary. In real life, As the World Turns was celebrating its thirtieth anniversary on the air. [citation needed]

Personal life

MacLaughlin married Mary Prugh, a newspaperwoman. They had three children.

Death

After a brief illness, MacLaughlin died on May 28, 1986, at his daughter's home in Goshen, Connecticut, and is buried in Dover, Vermont.[citation needed]

Filmography

Radio

Original air date Program Role
1942–1946 Chaplain Jim Chaplain Jim: 54 
1942–1957 Counterspy David Harding
1945 The Romance of Helen Trent Dwight Swanson
1945–1947 Tennessee Jed Tennessee Jed Sloan: 328 
As the Twig Is Bent Kit Collins
1954–1955 The Road of Life Dr. Jim Brent: 285 
The Zane Grey Theater Tex Throne: 364 
Buck Private Floyd Munson

Television

Year Program Role
1956–1986 As the World Turns Chris Hughes

Stage

Year Program Role
1940 The Fifth Column
1947 Virginia Reel
1948 The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden Elmer

References

  1. ↑ "'As World Turns' Marks 20th Year". The Bee. Virginia, Danville. March 29, 1976. p. 26. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ↑ "Don MacLaughlin Makes Convincing Chaplain Jim". The Capital Times. Wisconsin, Madison. July 5, 1942. p. 12. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "Biography: Don MacLaughlin". The Daily Standard. Missouri, Sikeston. June 24, 1972. p. 13. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. 1 2 "New Stars Join WHP "Romance of Helen Trent" Cast". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. February 17, 1945. p. 15. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ↑ Sterling, Christopher H. (2004). Encyclopedia of Radio (PDF). New York City, New York: Fitzroy Dearborn. pp. 644–645. ISBN 1-57958-249-4. Retrieved May 29, 2016.[dead link]
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 70.
  7. ↑ Burr, Eugene (March 16, 1940). "New Plays on Broadway" (PDF). Billboard. p. 16. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Don MacLaughlin". Playbill Vault. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  9. ↑ Don MacLaughlin profile, IBNDB.com; accessed October 16, 2014.
  10. ↑ Francis, Bob (March 27, 1948). "Broadway Openings" (PDF). Billboard. p. 45. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Soap actor Don MacLaughlin dies". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. Associated Press. June 3, 1986. p. 2. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon