Dwayne Bernard Hickman[1] (May 18, 1934 – January 9, 2022) was an American actor and television executive, producer and director, who worked as an executive at CBS and had also briefly recorded as a vocalist. Hickman portrayed Chuck MacDonald, Bob Collins' girl-crazy teenaged nephew, in the 1950s The Bob Cummings Show and the title character in the 1960s sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. He was the younger brother of actor Darryl Hickman, with whom he appeared on screen. After retirement, he devoted his time to creating personalized paintings.[2]
Early life
Born in Los Angeles,[3] on May 18, 1934,[4] Hickman was the younger brother of child actor Darryl Hickman and the older brother of Deidre Hickman.[1] His father, Milton, sold insurance and his mother, Katherine Louise (née Ostertag), was a housewife. His maternal grandfather, Louis Henry Ostertag, was a U.S. Navy seaman on Commodore George Dewey's flagship, the cruiser USS Olympia (C-6), and present at the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, for which he was awarded the Dewey Medal by Act of Congress.[citation needed]
Hickman focused on his studies for a few more years, then returned to acting with appearances in Public Defender, The Loretta Young Show, Lux Video Theatre, and Waterfront. In 1955, Dwayne appeared in another Lone Ranger episode, titled "Sunstroke Mesa".
The Bob Cummings Show
Hickman gained wide notice as Chuck on The Bob Cummings Show from 1955 to 1959. At the time, he was studying at Loyola Marymount. Hickman was one of the early stars to have a breakout character in the series.
Hickman considered Cummings a childhood television hero and had said that Cummings taught him everything he knew about acting. He worked with and was friends with Cummings throughout five seasons.[9]
Hickman with co-stars Bob Denver and Danielle De Metz in a 1960 publicity shot for The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
In 1958, Hickman was cast as the lead of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, which aired from 1959 to 1963. At the show's debut, the Dobie character was a teenager in high school, and Hickman was then 25 years old.
He played Dobie for four years (with fellow former Loyola student Bob Denver as his sidekick Maynard G. Krebs).
During the series' run, Hickman did the voice for Aladdin in 1001 Arabian Nights (1959). On June 23, 1960, Hickman appeared on The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Post–Dobie Gillis
When Dobie Gillis ended, Hickman found himself stereotyped as a "youngster" when he was too old for such roles.
Hickman appeared in the episode "Run Sheep Run" on Combat! as a soldier who froze during an attack by a German machine gun nest.[10]
He had a supporting part in the 1967 comedy Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!. He starred in the 1967 pilot for We'll Take Manhattan and the 1968 pilot for Missy's Men, but neither was picked up for broadcast.
Hickman also appeared as a guest panelist on Match Game in 1975.
Hickman found his future in entertainment behind the scenes, becoming involved in production roles. From 1977 to 1988, Hickman served as a programming executive at CBS. He took time out for a cameo in the TV movie High School U.S.A. (1983).
Hickman reprised his role of Dobie in the TV movie Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis (1988). His autobiography is titled Forever Dobie.[11] That year, he guest-starred on Win, Lose or Draw.
Hickman was married three times. His first two marriages, to Carol Christensen and Joanne Papile, ended in divorce. He and his third wife, Joan Roberts, were married for 39 years until his death. He had two sons, one from his first marriage and one from his third.[12]
Hickman died from complications of Parkinson's disease in Los Angeles on January 9, 2022, at the age of 87.[12][13]
References
^ abHickman, Dwayne; Hickman, Joan Roberts (1994). Forever Dobie: The Many Lives of Dwayne Hickman. New York City: Birch Lane Press / Carol Publishing Group. p. 2. ISBN978-1559722520.
^Hickman, Dwayne; Hickman, Joan Roberts (1994). Forever Dobie: The Many Lives of Dwayne Hickman. New York City: Birch Lane Press / Carol Publishing Group. pp. 40–41. ISBN978-1559722520.
