Don Chastain

Don Chastain
Born	(1935-09-02)September 2, 1935 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	August 9, 2002(2002-08-09) (aged 66) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations	Actor singer screenwriter
Spouse	Jill Diamond
Children	1

Don Chastain (September 2, 1935 – August 9, 2002) was an American actor, singer, and screenwriter. He worked in television in Los Angeles and New York and toured the United States and Canada.

Early years

Chastain was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.^[1]

Acting

Chastain's Broadway credits include Parade (1998), 42nd Street (1980), It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (1965), and No Strings (1961).^[2]

He played Jim Thompson in the TV comedy The Debbie Reynolds Show (1969–1970)^[3] and Scott Thomas in the TV comedy Hello, Larry (1979–1981).^[3]: 450

He penned the screenplay for The Mafu Cage (1978) and wrote several episodes of As the World Turns (1992–1995).

In 1960, Chastain appeared as Gerald Wiley in the episode "Trial by Rope" of the TV series Colt .45. The guest cast also included Pamela Duncan as Dora Lacey, and Lurene Tuttle as Lottie Strong.^{[citation needed]} Other series in which Chastain appeared as a guest star include The Real McCoys, Rhoda, Maude, The Rockford Files, All My Children, Hawaii Five-O, The West Wing, Gunsmoke, Scrubs, and The Big Valley.

He appeared in the role of Lizard in the 1970 film of C.C. and Company.

One of Chastain's final roles on TV was as a “suspect” On the television reality competition show “Murder in Small Town X” in 2001 as character Hayden DeBeck. He was featured for 6 episodes before being “killed” by the show's fictional killer.

Music

Chastain was a jazz singer and lyricist who served in the United States Army.

Personal life

Don Chastain died August 9, 2002, of cancer in Los Angeles. He was 66. He is survived by his wife Jill and their son Colin.

Broadway performances

• No Strings (1962–1963)
• It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (1966)
• 42nd Street (1980–1989)
• Dance a Little Closer (1983)
• Parade (1998–1999)

References

1. "Don Chastain Continues To Move Up". The Gastonia Gazette. North Carolina, Gastonia. January 26, 1970. p. 11. Retrieved February 27, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "("Don Chastain" search results)". Playbill Vault. Playbill. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
3. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 247. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.

External links

• http://www.chastaincentral.com/content/don.html Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
• Don Chastain at IMDb
• Don Chastain at the Internet Broadway Database
• Don Chastain at the Internet Off-Broadway Database