Richard Denning
Active - 1937 - 1971 | Born - Mar 27, 1914 in Poughkeepsie, NY | Died - Oct 11, 1998 in Escondido, CA | Genres - Drama, Crime, Mystery, Action, Adventure | Height: 6' 0"
The son of a Poughkeepsie garment manufacturer, Richard Denning majored in foreign trade and accounting at Woodbury College with the intent of taking over his father's business. Coming to Hollywood after winning a minor-league radio talent contest, Denning was signed to a Paramount stock-player contract in 1937. He made his debut in Hold Em Navy. Handsome and virile, Denning wasn't given much of an opportunity to display anything beyond his physical attributes in his first film appearances.
He continued as a competent if colorless leading man into the postwar years where one of his best known roles was the human lead in The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). Denning was seen to better advantage on television as the star of the popular comedy/mystery series Mr. and Mrs. North (1952-54); he later played the title roles in the weekly The Flying Doctor (1959) and Michael Shayne, Private Detective (1960).
He also co-starred on radio with Lucille Ball in My Favorite Husband, the late-1940s precursor to I Love Lucy While living in semi-retirement in Hawaii with his wife, actress Evelyn Ankers, Denning made sporadic appearances as the governor of that state on the long-running TV police drama Hawaii 5-0. Richard Denning has spent the last three decades serving as a lay minister in the Lutheran church.
Available Films:
Active - 1937 - 1971 | Born - Mar 27, 1914 in Poughkeepsie, NY | Died - Oct 11, 1998 in Escondido, CA | Genres - Drama, Crime, Mystery, Action, Adventure | Height: 6' 0"
The son of a Poughkeepsie garment manufacturer, Richard Denning majored in foreign trade and accounting at Woodbury College with the intent of taking over his father's business. Coming to Hollywood after winning a minor-league radio talent contest, Denning was signed to a Paramount stock-player contract in 1937. He made his debut in Hold Em Navy. Handsome and virile, Denning wasn't given much of an opportunity to display anything beyond his physical attributes in his first film appearances.
He continued as a competent if colorless leading man into the postwar years where one of his best known roles was the human lead in The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). Denning was seen to better advantage on television as the star of the popular comedy/mystery series Mr. and Mrs. North (1952-54); he later played the title roles in the weekly The Flying Doctor (1959) and Michael Shayne, Private Detective (1960).
He also co-starred on radio with Lucille Ball in My Favorite Husband, the late-1940s precursor to I Love Lucy While living in semi-retirement in Hawaii with his wife, actress Evelyn Ankers, Denning made sporadic appearances as the governor of that state on the long-running TV police drama Hawaii 5-0. Richard Denning has spent the last three decades serving as a lay minister in the Lutheran church.
Available Films:
Trivia:
During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on a submarine as Yeoman 1st Class.
Denning portrayed George Cooper, the husband of Lucille Ball, on CBS Radio's "My Favorite Husband" (1948-1951). The series was such a success that CBS executives offered Ball a TV deal with Denning, but she refused, insisting on husband Desi Arnaz as her TV husband.
[in 1991 interview] "I'm very grateful for a career that wasn't spectacular, but always made a living or filled in in-between. I have wonderful memories of it, but I don't miss it."
"I never really had any trouble getting along with anybody that I worked with and I think that makes a difference. I enjoyed everything I've ever done and when I look back I really have no regrets. It was a wonderful business."
During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on a submarine as Yeoman 1st Class.
Denning portrayed George Cooper, the husband of Lucille Ball, on CBS Radio's "My Favorite Husband" (1948-1951). The series was such a success that CBS executives offered Ball a TV deal with Denning, but she refused, insisting on husband Desi Arnaz as her TV husband.
[in 1991 interview] "I'm very grateful for a career that wasn't spectacular, but always made a living or filled in in-between. I have wonderful memories of it, but I don't miss it."
"I never really had any trouble getting along with anybody that I worked with and I think that makes a difference. I enjoyed everything I've ever done and when I look back I really have no regrets. It was a wonderful business."
