Wikipedia

Stephen Dunne (actor)

Francis Michael Dunne (January 13, 1918[1][better source needed]– September 2, 1977) was an American actor, radio personality and disc jockey. He was active in television and films from 1945 to 1973, and was also credited as Steve Dunn, Michael Dunne, Stephan Dunne, and Steve Dunne.

Stephen Dunne
Dunne in the 1945 film Doll Face
Born
Francis Michael Dunne

(1918-01-13)January 13, 1918
Northampton, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedSeptember 2, 1977(1977-09-02) (aged 59)
Other namesStephen Dunn, Steve Dunn, Steve Dunne
Occupation(s)Actor, radio personality, disc jockey
Years active1936–1977
SpouseVivian Belliveau (m. 1940)
Children2

Early years

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Dunne was born in Northampton, Massachusetts. He majored in drama and journalism during his two-and-a-half years at the University of Alabama.[when?] While there, he worked at a local radio station and "found himself in love with the business."[2]

Radio

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Dunne worked as an announcer at a radio station in Worcester, Massachusetts,[when?] and then went to New York, where he worked as both an announcer and a newscaster.[when?][2] He went on to star as private eye Sam Spade in The Adventures of Sam Spade from 1950-51.[3] He played Lucky Larson in Deadline Mystery (1947),[3]: 95 , the title character Dr. Daniel Danfield in Danger, Dr. Danfield (1946–47),[4] and he was the announcer for The Jack Kirkwood Show (1943–46).[3]: 170 

Television

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In 1950, Dunne starred in Love and Kisses on KTSL-TV in Los Angeles.[5] On network television, Dunne starred in the comedy Professional Father (1955).[6]: 858  He was the announcer for The Bob Crosby Show (1958)[6] and The Liberace Show (1958-1959).[6]: 598 

In the 1960-61 season, he and Mark Roberts played private detective brothers in the syndicated television series The Brothers Brannagan.[7] He was also the host of the game shows Truth or Consequences (nighttime version, 1957),[8] You're On Your Own (1956-1957)[6]: 1210  and Double Exposure (1961).[6]: 280 

Dunne appeared in several television shows, including Professional Father, The Millionaire, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Petticoat Junction, Batman (episodes 47 and 48), Nanny and the Professor, Mannix, The Beverly Hillbillies, Dragnet 1967, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, and The Brady Bunch.

Later years and death

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In 1968, Dunne became director of sales for Hollywood Video Center, a division of Western Video Industries.[9]

Dunne died on September 2, 1977, aged 59.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Dunne married Vivian Belliveau in 1940. They had a son, Stephen, and a daughter, Margaret.[2]

 
With Carmen Miranda in Doll Face

Partial filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "Happy Birthday, Steve Dunne! - Radio Classics".
  2. ^ a b c "Radio-Television". Altoona Tribune. Pennsylvania, Altoona. January 9, 1951. p. 11. Retrieved December 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ a b c Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows (pg. 15). McFarland & Company, Inc.; ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4
  4. ^ Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  5. ^ "Production" (PDF). Billboard. April 24, 1950. p. 48. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland & Company, Inc.; ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7, pg. 119.
  7. ^ Erickson, Hal (1989). Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years, 1947-1987. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 0-7864-1198-8, pp. 107-08.
  8. ^ "Truth or Consequences" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 23, 1957. p. 18. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  9. ^ "(untitled brief)" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 6, 1968. p. 87. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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