Don MacLaughlin

Not to be confused with Don McLaughlin.

Don MacLaughlin
Born	(1906-11-24)November 24, 1906 Webster, Iowa, U.S.
Died	May 28, 1986(1986-05-28) (aged 79) Goshen, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Spouse	Mary Prugh
Children	3

William Donald MacLaughlin (November 24, 1906 – May 28, 1986) was an American actor. The son of a doctor,^[1] MacLaughlin was born November 24, 1906, in Webster, Iowa. He studied speech and English at Iowa Wesleyan University, Northwestern University, and the University of Arizona.^[2]

Early years

MacLaughlin's family contained "a long line of ministers", and he planned to study for the ministry when he entered college.^[3]

Television

MacLaughlin originated the role of lawyer Chris Hughes on As the World Turns in 1956, and played the role until his death in 1986. Contract negotiations kept him (and his on-screen wife Helen Wagner) off the soap for most of the early 1980s, but the show finally welcomed the two back in a big storyline with heavy uses of past clips from the show. In the story, Chris and his wife Nancy were celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary. In real life, As the World Turns was celebrating its thirtieth anniversary on the air. ^{[citation needed]}

MacLaughlin was also a member of the Gang Busters.^[4]

Radio

Prior to TV, MacLaughlin was active on radio, beginning in 1933.^[5] He starred as the title character on radio's David Harding, Counterspy in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1945, he joined the cast of The Romance of Helen Trent, in the role of Dwight Swanson, "a rancher who becomes interested in Helen Trent."^[5] MacLaughlin's other roles on radio included those listed in the table below.

Program	Role
As the Twig Is Bent	Kit Collins[6]
Chaplain Jim	Chaplain Jim[6]: 54
The Road of Life	Dr. Jim Brent[6]: 285
Tennessee Jed	Tennessee Jed Sloan[6]: 328
The Zane Grey Theater	Tex Throne[6]: 364

He was also in the cast of Buck Private and His Girl.^[6]: 54

Stage

MacLaughlin appeared in a 1948 Broadway production of Thornton Wilder's play, The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden^[7][8] and in Virginia Reel (1947)^[9] and The Fifth Column (1940).^[10]

Personal life

MacLaughlin married Mary Prugh, a newspaperwoman. They had three children.^[2]

Death

After a brief illness, Maclaughlin died on May 28, 1986, at his daughter's home in Goshen, Connecticut,^[11] and is buried in Dover, Vermont.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. "'As World Turns' Marks 20th Year". The Bee. Virginia, Danville. March 29, 1976. p. 26. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Biography: Don MacLaughlin". The Daily Standard. Missouri, Sikeston. June 24, 1972. p. 13. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Don MacLaughlin Makes Convincing Chaplain Jim". The Capital Times. Wisconsin, Madison. July 5, 1942. p. 12. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Sterling, Christopher H. (2004). Encyclopedia of Radio (PDF). New York City, New York: Fitzroy Dearborn. pp. 644–645. ISBN 1-57958-249-4. Retrieved May 29, 2016.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
5. "New Stars Join WHP "Romance of Helen Trent" Cast". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. February 17, 1945. p. 15. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 70.
7. Don MacLaughlin profile, IBNDB.com; accessed October 16, 2014.
8. Francis, Bob (March 27, 1948). "Broadway Openings" (PDF). Billboard. p. 45. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
9. "Don MacLaughlin". Playbill Vault. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
10. Burr, Eugene (March 16, 1940). "New Plays on Broadway" (PDF). Billboard. p. 16. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
11. "Soap actor Don MacLaughlin dies". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. Associated Press. June 3, 1986. p. 2. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

• Don MacLaughlin at IMDb
• Don MacLaughlin at the Internet Broadway Database
• Don MacLaughlin at Find a Grave