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Troy Donahue
Troy Donahue

Troy Donahue

Actor
65 years (Jan 27, 1936 – Sep 2, 2001)New York City, New York, U.S.
Troy Donahue is a screen veteran of the old school with credits spread across cinema, television and everything between. Drama has been the most frequent territory. The filmography runs to some 78 credits between film and television. 'The Godfather Part II' sits at the front of the filmography, where he plays Merle Johnson. 'Cry-Baby' is a second title with real reach. The first credits arrived long before the title most people know.
Troy Donahue is a screen veteran of the old school with credits spread across cinema, television and everything between. Drama has been the most frequent territory. The filmography runs to some 78 credits between film and television. 'The Godfather Part II' sits at the front of the filmography, where he plays Merle Johnson. 'Cry-Baby' is a second title with real reach. The first credits arrived long before the title most people know.
64 Movies
Latest Trailers
Legion
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Legion
Full Filmography
Legion
Flemming
★ 3.8
1998
Merchants of Venus
FBI Agent
★ 6.3
1998
Showdown
Police Captain
★ 5.2
1993
The Pamela Principle
Troy
★ 4.5
1992
The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980
Merle Johnson
★ 8.9
1992
Double Trouble
Leonard
★ 4.7
1992
★ 7.0
1991Season 1
Deadly Diamonds
Matt Plimpton
★ 2.5
1991
Shock 'Em Dead
Record Exec
★ 4.1
1991
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Troy Donahue still alive?
Troy Donahue passed away on September 2, 2001 at age 65.
What are the most famous roles of Troy Donahue?
Troy Donahue is best known for roles in The Godfather Part II, Cry-Baby, Imitation of Life.
How many movies has Troy Donahue been in?
Over a 44-year career (since 1957), Troy Donahue has appeared in 64 movies and 14 TV shows.
What was Troy Donahue's first movie?
The career of Troy Donahue began with Man Afraid (1957).
What is Troy Donahue's most recent movie or series?
Troy Donahue's most recent release is The Boys Behind the Desk, which premiered on January 1, 2000.
What TV shows has Troy Donahue appeared in?
On television, Troy Donahue has appeared in The Love Boat, CHiPs, Fantasy Island, Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television.
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Troy Donahue
Troy Donahue
1936-01-27 · New York City, New York, U.S.

Troy Donahue (born Merle Johnson Jr., January 27, 1936 – September 2, 2001) was an American film and television actor and singer. He was a popular sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s.

His father was Merle Johnson, the manager of the motion-picture department of General Motors. His mother, Edith Johnson, was a retired stage actress. Donahue attended a New York military academy, where he met Francis Ford Coppola. When Donahue was 18, he moved to New York and got a job as a messenger in a film company founded by his father. He was fired, he says, because he was too young to join the union. He attended Columbia University and studied journalism. He trained briefly with Ezra Stone, and then moved to Hollywood.

The big break of Donahue's career came when he was cast opposite Sandra Dee in A Summer Place, made by Warner Bros. in 1959. The director was Delmer Daves. Warner signed him to a long-term contract. They put him to work guest-starring in episodes of their Western TV series, such as Colt .45 (1959), Maverick (1959), Sugarfoot (1959), The Alaskans (1960), and Lawman (1960).

In 1968, Donahue signed a long-term contract with Universal Studios for films and TV. This lasted a year and saw him get four roles: guest shots on Ironside (1968), The Name of the Game (1968), and The Virginian (1969), and an appearance in the TV movie The Lonely Profession (1969).

Donahue declared bankruptcy in 1968 and eventually lost his home. In 1969, Donahue moved from Los Angeles to New York City. By this time, Donahue's drug addiction and alcoholism had ruined him financially. In May 1982, he joined Alcoholics Anonymous, which he credited for helping him achieve and maintain sobriety.

Donahue continued to act in films throughout the 1980s and into the late 1990s. Donahue's final film role was in the 2000 comedy film The Boys Behind the Desk, directed by Sally Kirkland.

On August 30, 2001, Donahue suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica. He died three days later, on September 2, at the age of 65.

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