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Don Adams
Age: 82 (passed away Sep. 25th, 2005)
Height: 5' 8 1/2"
Birth Place: New York City, New York, USA
Born: Apr. 13th, 1923
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Don Adams' Main TV Roles
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at
IMDB
BIOGRAPHY: Of Irish-Hungarian heritage, New York-born Don Adams had a sister, Gloria, and a brother, Dick Yarmy. He served in the U.S. Marines in World War II and contracted malaria during the fighting on Guadalcanal island. After the war he began a career as a stand-up comic. He married singer Adelaide Adams and adopted her last name as his stage surname. They had seven children: Carolyn, Christine, Catherine, Cecily Adams, Stacey Adams (I), Sean, Beige. His television career began when he won the "Ted Mack & the Original Amateur Hour" (1948) talent contest. His most famous role, of course, is as bumbling, incompetent, clueless yet endearing secret agent Maxwell Smart in the classic sitcom/spy spoof "Get Smart" (1965), although he also had a career as a television director and a Broadway and theatrical dramatic actor.
TRIVIA:
- When the pilot of _"Get Smart" (1965)_ (qv) was shooting for CBS, the producers wanted 'Tom Poston' (qv) for the role of Maxwell Smart, but when they sold it to NBC, Adams was already under contract with the network, hence, he was immediately cast in the role.
- Instead of taking a large paycheck per episode ($12,500 per week) of _"Get Smart" (1965)_ (qv), Adams decided to take a smaller salary and 33% share. It paid off in spades--the show has been running in syndication for decades.
- Father-in-law of 'Jim Beaver (I)' (qv).
- His Agent 86 catchphrase, "Would you believe...?", became the slogan for commercials for the White Castle hamburger chain in 1992, in which he also acted.
- Did not like the (badly timed) laugh track in _"Get Smart" (1965)_ (qv).
- Had stopped performing in the postwar years and became a commercial artist because he had trouble finding stand-up work. In 1954, on a fluke, he auditioned and became a winner on 'Arthur Godfrey' (qv)'s _"Talent Scouts" (1948)_ (qv). This led to TV appearances with 'Steve Allen (I)' (qv) and 'Ed Sullivan (I)' (qv), among others, and stardom.
- Dropped out from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1941 (which was his senior year).
- One of his duties while serving in the Marine Corps was a drill instructor.
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