Johnny Stearns
Johnny Stearns | |
---|---|
Born | Billerica, Massachusetts, U.S. | October 13, 1916
Died | December 1, 2001 | (aged 85)
Occupation(s) | Actor, director, producer |
Years active | 1947–2001 |
Known for | Mary Kay and Johnny |
Spouse | |
Children | 3 |
John Stearns (October 13, 1916 – December 1, 2001) was an American actor, producer and director, active from the 1940s until the 2000s.[1] He also performed in several Broadway plays.
Stearns was best known for co-starring with his wife
Biography
Early life
Stearns was born on October 13, 1916, in Billerica, Massachusetts to father Frederick Stearns and mother Edith Louise Bond (February 14, 1884–November 16, 1961). His mother was the founder of the Peterborough Players, a summer theater troupe in Peterborough, New Hampshire in which he was a member.[3] Stearns had two older sisters; Isabell and Sally.
Stage
Stearns' career began as a stage performer at the age of 14 at the Mariarden Theater in Peterborough, NH.[3]
Soon after his engagement at Mariarden ended, he went to
Television
In 1947, Stearns and his wife
After Mary Kay, Stearns went on to produce the Steve Allen version of The Tonight Show which ran on NBC from 1954–1957 and Arthur Murray's Dance Party in the 1950s. Starting in 1961, he began hosting and producing Agriculture USA, a public affairs program. It aired on NBC until 1990 when it began airing in syndication. He made his last appearance on the program's last episode in 2001 just days before he died.[4]
Personal life and death
Stearns married actress Mary Kay Jones in 1946. They had three children together and were married for 55 years until Stearns died. Stearns died on December 1, 2001, in Newport Beach, California at the Hoag Memorial Hospital from complications of a fall at the age of 85.[7]
Filmography
Actor
- Boomerang!(1947) (Reverend Gardiner; uncredited)
- Kiss of Death (1947) (Harris; uncredited)
- Mary Kay and Johnny (1947–1950) (Himself; all 300 episodes)
Producer
- Tonight Starring Steve Allen (1954–1957)
- Make Me Laugh (original 1958 version)
- 32nd Academy Awards (1960)
- Agriculture USA (1961–2001)
Director
- Make Me Laugh (original 1958 version)
Stage work
- Night Music (1930)
- One Touch of Venus (1943)
- On the Town (1944)
- Are You With It?(1945)
References
- IMDb
- ^ "Johnny Stearns Biography". TV.com. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ a b "Obituary in Variety". Variety. December 11, 2001. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ a b "Johnny Stearns, 85 TV pioneer starred in early sitcom". Los Angeles Times. December 10, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ "Johnny Stearns Theatre Credits". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ "Early to Bed". www.snopes.com. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ "Johnny Stearns, 85, Half of Star Sitcom Duo". The New York Times. December 9, 2001. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
External links
- Johnny Stearns at IMDb