Served with the Navy in the South Pacific toward the end of World War II. Then, quietly and without publicity or fanfare, compiled one of the most distinguished peacetime military careers of anyone in his profession. In 1961, as his weekly TV series Hennesey (1959) was enhancing naval recruiting efforts, accepted a commission as a line officer in the Naval Reserve with duties in recruitment, training films, and public relations. Holder of a multi-engine pilot license, he later co-piloted jet planes for the Navy, which made him an Honorary Aviator authorized to wear wings of gold-at the time only the third so honored in naval aviation history. By 1976 he had attained the rank of captain, and was in uniform aboard the carrier USS Constellation for the Bicentennial celebration on July 4. In 1980, the Navy proposed a period of active duty at the Pentagon that would have resulted in a promotion to rear admiral, bringing him even with Air Force Reserve Brigadier General James Stewart. Fresh on the heels of a second directing Emmy, he felt his absence would impact achieving a long-held goal of directing motion pictures, and reluctantly declined. (The opportunity in films never materialized.) Holds Letters of Commendation from six secretaries of the Navy. Was honorary chairman of the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation and a charter member of VIVA, the effort to return POW-MIAs from Vietnam. Upon retirement in 1982, he was decorated with the Legion of Merit by Navy Secretary John F. Lehman Jr.. Other than Stewart, no performer in his industry has achieved a higher uniformed rank in the U.S. military. (Glenn Ford was also a Naval Reserve captain, and director and Captain John Ford was awarded honorary flag rank upon his 1951 retirement from the Naval Reserve).
Juanito
Film 1930
Clem
Film 1940
Jim Hawkins
Film 1934
Jackie (archive footage)
Film 1994
Larry Kelly
Film 1938
Skippy Skinner
Film 1931
Scooter O'Neal
Film 1933
Raymond Couzins
Film 1974
Tiny Barlow
Film 1941
Johnny Schumacher
Film 1942
Robert Houston Scott
Film 1942
Joe 'Babe' Duttson
Film 1942
Peter Trimble
Film 1938
Jackie
Film 1929
Jackie
Film 1930
Terry Parker
Film 1932
Lt. J.S. Parmell - Psychiatrist
Film 1961
Bill Peck
Film 1934
Little Boy in 'That's You, Baby' Number (uncredited)
Film 1929
Self
Film 1941
Kurt Anderson
Film 1972
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Film 1983
Frederick Martindale Vincent III
Film 1936
Self
Film 1932
Ed Miller
Film 1971
Byron Newbold
Film 1940
Jackie
Film 1929
Danny Cheston
Film 1943
Film 2021
Bear
Film 1938
Dinky Daniels
Film 1935
Chuck Brennan
Film 1938
Jackie
Film 1930
Henry Aldrich
Film 1941
Self
Film 1995
Rifle Edwards
Film 1938
Swipes McGurk
Film 1933
Kid listening to Farina (uncredited)
Film 1929
Jackie
Film 1930
Jackie
Film 1930
Jackie
Film 1930
Self (archive footage)
Film 1997
Steve Barker
Film 1974
Henry Aldrich
Film 1939
Edward Haverford 'Eddie' Randall
Film 1932
Himself
Film 1931
Tom Allen
Film 1939
Peter Campbell
Film 1975
Self
Film 1962
Jerry McGinnis (uncredited)
Film 1929
Jackie
Film 1930
Jackie
Film 1930
Jackie Cooper
Film 1930
Jackie
Film 1931
Jackie Cooper
Film 1931
Jackie
Film 1931
Self
Film 1985
Jackie Cooper
Film 1940
Doctor
Film 1972
Skitch Kilroy
Film 1948
Pilot
Film 1942
Film 2022
Film 2021
Film 2023
Bruce Scott
Film 1939
Self
Film 2000
Self
Film 1980
Self
Film 1982
Self - Actor (voice)
Film 2004
Self (archive footage)
Film 1975
Everett Calhoun
Film 1964
Midge Murray
Film 1931
John J. Kilroy
Film 1947
Self
Film 2006
Skippy
Film 1931
Film 1934
Chuck Harris
Film 1941
John Morrison
Film 1973
Jackie
Film 1931
Ernest (Ernie) C. Brown
Film 1947
Jackie
Film 1981
Walter Carlson
Film 1975
Self (archive footage)
Film 1982
J. Nash Hawkins
Film 1984
Rory O'Donnell
Film 1939
Jimmy Hutchins
Film 1939
Film 1995
Self
Film 2001
Narrator
Film 1984
Self
Film 2006
Tv 1982
Tv 1948
Carl Schulman / Neil Fletcher
Tv 1984
Nelson Hayward
Tv 1971
Judd Rogers
Tv 1961
Self
Tv 1950
Lt. Dickson
Tv 1963
Harlan Slade
Tv 1965
Dr. Alexander Southmore
Tv 1968
Frank Mulvaney
Tv 1973
Tv 1948
Jeremy Bates
Tv 1953
Jonathan West / Caesar (voice)
Tv 1959
Tv 1967
Tv 1956
Tv 1972
Tv 1952
Tv 1975
Tv 1973
Tv 1959
Orrin Dudley
Tv 1950
Bob Heywood
Tv 1951
Tv 1970
Tv 1950
Tv 1953
Self
Tv 1963
Bubbo
Tv 1948
Self
Tv 1956
Tv 1954
Socrates 'Sock' Miller
Tv 1955
Tv 1948
Tv 1951
Tv 1950
Self - Guest
Tv 1956
Tv 1958
Tv 1956
Tv 1971
Tv 1953
Tv 1953
Tv 1949
Tv 1950
Dumpy Doyle
Tv 1972
Tv 1954
Tv 1954
Tv 1971
Tv 1961
Tv 1953
Dink in 'The Champ' (archive footage)
Tv 1955
Host
Tv 1974
Self
Tv 1954
Self
Tv 1961
Bill Harlow / Joe Toyah
Tv 1951
Dave Carter
Tv 1950
John Reardon
Tv 1961
Self - Host
Tv 1961
Self
Tv 1962
Dave Tuttle
Tv 1948
Capt. Highland
Tv 1974
Blackie Scantling
Tv 1948
Garth McGregor
Tv 1974
Self - Singer
Tv 1956
Self - Mystery Guest
Tv 1950
John C. Dodd
Tv 1990