Laurence Haddon, Actor Known for Landmark Role in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Dozens of Other Series
The prolific Haddon was a familiar face on TV from 1960 to 1996.
Laurence Haddon, an actor known for numerous recurring and guest-starring appearances on television series, including a landmark role as a gay man on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, died May 10, 2013, in Los Angeles, He was 90.
According to news reports, the cause was Lewy body disease, a form of dementia.
Born in Philadelphia in 1922, Haddon attended Syracuse University and served in the Merchant Marine officer during World War II.
His acting career began in New York during the early years of television. He also worked in theater throughout his career, both in new York and in Los Angeles, where he often appeared at the Melrose theater.
His feature films included Hands of a Stranger, Fantastic Voyage and The Graduate.
His most notable TV role came in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, the syndicated soap opera parody produced by Norman Lear, in which he played one of the first non-stereotypical gay men in a U.S. television series. In a 1976 episode, his character is seen kissing another man whom neighbors thought was his brothers; later the couple consider marriage.
Other memorable television credits included regular roles on Dallas, Lou Grant and Knots Landing, as well as appearances in Dr. Kildare, Dennis the Menace, Death Valley Days, My Three Sons, Sanford and Son, Mannix, Good Times, The Rockford Files, Barnaby Jones, Vega$, Hill Street Blues, T.J. Hooker and Designing Women and the the miniseries The Winds of War and the made-for-TV movie The Execution of Private Slovik.
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