This week, two members of Hollywood’s second generation, each successes in their own right, passed away.
TIM CONSIDINE’s death was announced on Friday. He was an early TV sensation for a being a kid and teen star in the 1950s and early 60s. His first role was on “Spin and Marty” but then he became famous as the older son on “My Three Sons” with Fred MacMurray. Playing Mike Douglas, Considine was able to capitalize on his fame also from “The Mickey Mouse Club,” where he co-starred with Annette Funicello. Considine was on “My Three Sons” for five years, then left for a career in writing and directing.
Tim Considine came from a show business family. His uncle was a famous sports columnist, Bob Considine, His father, John Sr., was a movie producer in Hollywood. His mother was the daughter of the Pantages family, the theater chain. The Pantages Theater in Hollywood today is where Jimmy Kimmel’s show is broadcast from. Tim’s older brother, John, is still alive, and an accomplished actor with dozens of credits including long runs on soap operas in the 1980s including “Another World” and “Santa Barbara.”
ALAN LADD JR. died this week at age 84. Known as “Laddie,” he was one of the town’s best liked film producers and executives. His father was Alan Ladd, the famous actor who starred in “Shane” in 1953. (The name Ladd may be more known to kids from the 70s because Cheryl Ladd was his half-brother David’s wife for most of that decade.)
Alan Ladd Jr. has a long list of films he produced on his resume. The biggest is “Star Wars.” Among the other movies he produced were were “Chariots of Fire” (1981), and “Braveheart” (1995), each of which won Best Picture at the Oscars. Even if he didn’t have a producing credit himself, Ladd was a behind the scenes quarterback for a lot of important, much loved films including “Moonstruck,” “Julia,” and “Alien.”
Kathie Berlin, one of the great and legendary PR people, wrote of Ladd on Facebook: “My mentor and the best boss I ever had died this morning. Alan Ladd known as Laddie. A brilliant film producer and studio executive. Never yelled , always an open door and made movies for and about women. Thelma and Louise, Turning Point, Moonstruck, Julia. I will miss him. Won Best Picture for Chariots of Fire and Braveheart.”
