Stephen Dunne (actor)

Francis Michael Dunne (January 13, 1918 [1]– September 2, 1977) was an American actor, radio personality and disc jockey. He was active on television and in films from 1945–73, 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)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesStephen Dunn, Steve Dunn, Steve Dunne
OccupationActor
Years active1936–1977
Spouse(s)Vivian Belliveau
Children2

Early years

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

Radio

Dunne worked as an announcer at a radio station in Worcester, Massachusetts, and then went to New York, where he worked as both an announcer and a newscaster.[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

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, Petticoat Junction, Batman (episodes 47 and 48), Dragnet 1967, Nanny and the Professor, and The Brady Bunch.

Later years

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.

Personal life

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

Partial filmography
With Carmen Miranda in Doll Face

References
  1. "Happy Birthday, Steve Dunne! - Radio Classics".
  2. "Radio-Television". Altoona Tribune. Pennsylvania, Altoona. January 9, 1951. p. 11. Retrieved December 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 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. 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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