David's Little House Star Profiles and Trivia

Did you profile the actress who played "Molly Reardon"?

Suzanne Rogers is on Page 4

Very neat!!!

Keith Coogan was born Keith Eric Mitchell in January of 1970 in Palm Springs, California, the son of Leslie Diane Coogan Mitchell, an actress. He changed his name to "Keith Coogan" in 1986, two years after the death of his grandfather Jackie Coogan. His grandfather was a mega super child star beginning in silent films in a career that lasted from 1917 until his death in 1984. His garandfather was also responsible for the passing of the “Coogan” Act that requires that a child actor's employer set aside 15% of the earnings in a trust, and codifies issues such as schooling, work hours and time-off.

Keith began acting in commercials at the age of five, but appeared on TV as early as two years old. As a child, he appeared on episodes of The Waltons, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, Eight is Enough, Knight Rider, Growing Pains, Silver Spoons, Fame, and CHiPs.

Keith Coogan also appeared as 'William' in the adaptation of Ray Bradbury's "All Summer In A Day" that aired on PBS in 1982 by the Learning Corporation of America.

He has also starred in films such as Adventures in Babysitting, Cousins, Hiding Out, Cheetah, Toy Soldiers, Book of Love, and Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, as well as straight-to-video releases such as Python, Soulkeeper and Downhill Willie. He guest-starred on Joan of Arcadia and Married to the Kellys. In 1991, he also made a one-off HBO special with Jason Biggs called; The Fotis Sevastakis Story, but due to licencing arguments, it was never aired.

His theater credits include John Olive's The Voice of the Prairie, James McLure's Pvt. Wars, and an unfinished Louisville work by Marsha Norman, The Holdup. All were performed at Timothy and Buck Busfield's "B" St. Theater in Sacramento, California, during the 1992 and '93 seasons.

In 2008, he worked in Dallas, TX, on a short film, The Keith Coogan Experience. On January 1, 2010, Coogan started the "Monologue a Day Project", where he learns a monologue or other short piece every day, "as inspired by Julie & Julia", and posts the resulting video performance on blogspot.com.
Furthermore, Keith was featured in the mini-documentary, Simply Coogan - An Interview with Keith Coogan, released by Keith Coogan on December 13, 2010, which coincided with Keith Coogan's birthday celebrations.

Currently, Keith hosts "The Call Sheet" on the radio podcast network. An entertainment industry based show, which also covers tech news, politics and the ever present threat we face by squirrel invasion.

He has appeared in 67 movies and television shows since 1978.
Here are a few:
The Fox and the Hound (1981)
All In A Summer Day (1982) (TV)
Million Dollar Infield (1982) (TV film)
Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
Hiding Out (1987)
Cousins (1989)
Cheetah (1989)
Under the Boardwalk (1989)
Book of Love (1990)
Toy Soldiers (1991)
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991)
Forever (1993)
In the Army Now (1995)
Downhill Willie (1995)
A Reason to Believe (1995)
Just a Little Harmless Sex (1998)
The Godson (1998)
Ivory Tower (1998)
Evasive Action (1998)
Dreamers (1999)
Soulkeeper (2001)
Cats Dancing on Jupiter (2011)
Waking (2012)

He was on 18 episodes of The Waltons as Jeffrey Burton billed as Keith Mitchell.

He was on one Episode of Little House as Timothy
"Make A Joyful Noise" - 1981

On The Waltons as Jeffrey

Keith's Grandfather Jackie in "The Adams Family"

Later Years

Versatile, award-winning character actress Eileen Heckart, with the lean, horsey face and assured, fervent gait, was born Anna Eileen Stark on March 29, 1919, in Columbus, Ohio. An only child, she lived with her mother after her parents separated at age 2. Her childhood was an acutely unhappy one. Her mother, an alcoholic, was married five times, and her stern grandmother, whom Eileen was often shuttled off to stay with, was physically abusive. To survive, Eileen escaped into the joy and imaginary world of movies as an adolescent.

Somehow she managed to survive it all and attend (and graduate from) Ohio State University in 1942 with a degree in English. That same year she married John Harrison Yankee Jr., an insurance broker. They had three sons in a union that lasted 53 years, unusual for a feisty, independent lady of show business. While her husband was off to the war (he joined the Navy), Eileen moved to New York and toiled in a number of day jobs while trying to jumpstart a career in acting. Beginning in summer stock, Eileen took classes at the American Theatre Wing and apprenticed in a number of obscure plays/revues such as "Tinker's Dam" (1943) and "Musical Moment" (1943).

Following extensive work on the NY stage, which included her Broadway debut as an understudy and eventual replacement in "The Voice of the Turtle" (1945), she established herself as a major force on the Great White Way. Her first big break under the Broadway lights was her portrayal of the arch, lonely schoolteacher in William Inge's "Picnic," which earned her both the Outer Critic's Circle and Theatre World awards in 1953. She began quick in demand as flinty, overwrought, down-to-earth types or wise-to-the-bone old gals who, more than not, lived a life of drudgery. Later award-worthy Broadway hits would include "The Bad Seed" (which earned her the Donaldson award), "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs" (Tony-nom), "Invitation to a March" (Tony-nom), and "Butterflies Are Free" (Tony-nom). Intermixed were live performances on TV for such prestigious programs as "Goodyear Television Playhouse", "Kraft Television Theatre", "Studio One", "Suspense", "The Alcoa Hour" and "Playhouse 90".

Heckart was a dominant yet only intermittent force in films, making her debut in the so-so Miracle in the Rain (1956) featured as Jane Wyman's confidante. Although greatly disappointed at losing the bid to recreate her Broadway role in the film version of Picnic (1955) (Rosalind Russell won the honors), she did receive the satisfaction of transferring her scene-chewing stage role as the despairing, drunken mom whose son falls victim to young Patty McCormack's malevolent mischief in The Bad Seed (1956). For this Eileen copped both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. During this period she fell into a number of dowdy matrons, dour moms and matter-of-fact gal friends with flashy roles in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956), Bus Stop (1956), Hot Spell (1958) and Heller in Pink Tights (1960). Earning another Tony nomination and the New York Drama Critics award for her brittle role in the 1957 production of Inge's "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs," she was pregnant with her third child when the film version of The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960) started rolling and Angela Lansbury stepped in to replace her.

For most of the 60s, Eileen traded off TV guest parts ("Ben Casey," "Dr. Kildare", "The F.B.I.", "The Defenders") with theater roles ("Pal Joey", "Barefoot in the Park", "You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running"). She was finally rewarded on film as blind Edward Albert's busybody mom in the welterweight comedy Butterflies Are Free (1972), netting the Academy Award for "Best Supporting Actress". It was a role she had played on Broadway, receiving her fourth Tony nomination.

The Oscar did not bring her pick-of-the-litter roles afforded to other fortunates, but the veteran continued on in all three mediums quite enviably. While not fond of sitcom work, she gave Emmy-style for her guest work on such shows as "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "Love & War", "Ellen", "Cybill" and was part of a short-lived ensemble series as one of "The 5 Mrs. Buchanans" (1994). She also put together a one-woman stage tribute to Eleanor Roosevelt and gave assertive theater performances in "The Ladies of the Alamo," "The Cemetery Club" and "Northeast Local".

Strangely enough, the Tony Award eluded the three-time nominee during her long, eventful career. The Tony committee finally made up for this oversight in 2000 by awarding her a "special" Tony for "excellence in theater, triggered by her final, multiple award-winning success (Obie, Drama Desk) as an Alzheimer's patient in "The Waverly Gallery" in 2000. In retrospect, it was none too soon for Ms. Heckart, who worked nearly until the end, was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away on the last day of 2001. She was 82.
She was in 102 titles in a 48 year career that spanned from 1950 to 1998.

One Episode of Highway To Heaven as Helen Spencer in “An Investment In Caring” 1985

Appeared as Marge Stone in The Love Story TV Series – Episode “Love Came Laughing” Written and Directed By Michael Landon.

She Was In One Little House Episode
Dance With Me – 1979 – As Amanda Cooper
Toby’s Love Interest Opposite Ray Bolger

Parley Edward Baer (August 5, 1914 – November 22, 2002) was an American actor in radio and later in television and film

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in August of 1914, he had a circus background, but began his radio career at Utah station KSL. With a fairly high pitched voice often accompanied by a Western twang, he became one of the busiest radio performers in the late 1940s and 1950s.
His first network show was The Whistler which was soon followed by appearances on Escape (notably narrating "Wild Jack Rhett" and as the title patriot in an adaptation of Stephen Vincent Benet's "A Tooth for Paul Revere"), Suspense, Tales of the Texas Rangers (as various local sheriffs), Dragnet, The CBS Radio Workshop, Lux Radio Theater, The Six Shooter, and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, to name a few.

In 1952, he began playing Chester, the unofficial deputy to Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, eventually ad-libbing the character's full name, “Chester Wesley Proudfoot”. (The character's name was changed to “Chester Goode” in the television series, which featured an entirely different cast.) Baer's portrayal of Chester was generally considered his finest and most memorable role and, as he often said, the one he found most fulfilling. Baer worked on several other radio shows produced by Norman MacDonnell, including the situation comedy The Harold Peary Show (aka Honest Harold) as Pete the Marshal, Rogers of the Gazette (loosely based on the early life of Will Rogers) as Doc Clemens, Fort Laramie, and The Adventures of Philip Marlowe.

Other recurring roles included Eb the farm hand on Granby's Green Acres (the radio predecessor to television's Green Acres), Gramps on The Truitts, and Rene the manservant on the radio version of The Count of Monte Cristo. His later radio work included playing Reginald Duffield and Uncle Joe Finneman on the Focus on the Family series Adventures in Odyssey in the 1980s and 1990s.

As an on-camera performer, Baer was recognizable by both his voice and his balding, paunchy appearance, often as fussy or obstinate officials or neighbors. Extended television roles included obnoxious Mayor Stoner on The Andy Griffith Show, neighbor Darby on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, frequent guest appearances on The Addams Family as insurance man and city commissioner Arthur J. Henson, and in later years, Miles Dugan on The Young and the Restless in the late 1990s.

Baer guest starred in the 1950s on NBC's The Dennis Day Show and It's a Great Life, on CBS's Hey, Jeannie!, on ABC's The Law and Mr. Jones with James Whitmore, and on the syndicated crime drama Johnny Midnight with Edmond O'Brien. He appeared as well on the ABC sitcom Harrigan and Son, and on NBC's crime drama Dan Raven starring Skip Homeier.
In 1961, Baer guest starred on Marilyn Maxwell's short-lived ABC drama series, Bus Stop. On April 13, 1962, he appeared, along with Frank Ferguson and Royal Dano in ABC's crime drama Target: The Corruptors! in the episode "Journey into Mourning". The 1962 film Gypsy had Baer appearing opposite Natalie Wood and Rosalind Russell as hotel owner Mr. Kringelein. In 1964, he appeared as a sheriff in an episode of Mickey Rooney's short-lived Mickey sitcom. He was seen in four episodes of Hogan's Heroes and eight episodes of Bewitched in various roles as advertising clients of McMann and Tate. Later guest appearances included Three for the Road, Three's Company (as a cooking competition judge), The A-Team, Star Trek: Voyager, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, 7 Episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard, Night Court, Little House on the Prairie, and Mad About You.

Baer's film roles included parts in several live action Disney features, including Follow Me, Boys! (again as a mayor), The Ugly Dachshund, and Those Calloways. He also appeared in Two on a Guillotine and Dave (as the Senate majority leader).
He also voiced Ernie Keebler in the cookie commercials before suffering a stroke in 1997 which affected both speech and movement. He recovered sufficiently to make a handful of appearances at old-time radio conventions before dying from related complications in 2002, at the age of 88.

In 1946, he met and married circus aerialist and bareback rider Ernestine Clarke. They were together for 54 years until her death and had two daughters, Kim and Dale. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

He was in 256 titles from 1950 thru 1996.

Appeared in One Father Murphy Episode as the Banker
“John Michael Murphy, R.I.P.” - 1982

Appeared in Two Little House Episodes
“Sweet Sixteen” – 1980 – Mr. Williams
“The Runaway Caboose” – 1976 – J.W. Diamond

Opposite Melissa Gilbert In "Sweet Sixteen"
I Think She Set A Record Wearing That Dress!

Andy Griffith Show As The Mayor

Dave, you must have done, Jonathan Hall Kovac...can you tell me what page? I didn't realize he was really deaf, interesting.

Jonathon is on page 3. There is an index on page one at the very beginning of the sticky.
Enjoy,
Dave

Thank you, I will check that from now on..I found it very interesting he was deaf and I wish he was on longer. He was cute and Mr. Edward's would have bonded well with him after a while.

He was a sweet kid. That scene where Isiah tries to teach him to whistle was really priceless. When Isiah talked to the folks in church and convinced the judge to let him stay, I thought, was one of Victor French's finest and most notable performances. When he left with his real Pa, it was heartbreaking. I think there could have been some great story lines with Willie, Albert and Matthew. But, Albert was pretty much gone by then....
I'm working on a video that has just about every kid that was on Little House. Should have it done in a week or so.

That should be fun to watch. Are you using the extras also? Can't wait to see it.

Just the kids, all of them including the extras. The adults will be later in a seperate Vid.

Davetucson wrote:

He was a sweet kid. That scene where Isiah tries to teach him to whistle was really priceless. When Isiah talked to the folks in church and convinced the judge to let him stay, I thought, was one of Victor French's finest and most notable performances. When he left with his real Pa, it was heartbreaking. I think there could have been some great story lines with Willie, Albert and Matthew. But, Albert was pretty much gone by then....
I'm working on a video that has just about every kid that was on Little House. Should have it done in a week or so.

You always does an otstanding job, David...And I'm burning wanting to see those videos!

Vanesa.

Thanks Vanesa, getting close, lots of kids and lots of music!

Not sure if you've done the older man that gave Charles access to rifles in "He was only 12" part 1. I don't know his name or I would look him up. This is when Charles was trying to get people together to look for the bank robbers.

Hi Everyone!
Would like to invite all of you to view "Michael's Kids" at the link listed below. It was put together after profiling most of the kids on Little House, and there were a bunch. Wanted to recognize the casting genius of Susan McCray and Michael and also the contribution that those marvelous child actors made during the tenure of Little House. I hope you enjoy it as much I enjoyed putting it together. During the upload, some titles jumped out of place, but they are still there.

Best To You All,
David

Video Located on Page 25......

Love it Dave!! You did a fabulous job. I didn't realize Clay Greenbush starred in LHOP. So many memories brought back and smiles. Thank you!

Nice job, Dave! Sean Penn still has that same look.

Robert Telford was an actor in three titles in 1981 and 1982. He did some editing, directing and producing before leaving show business in 2002.

1981Walking Tall (TV series)
Citizen

Company Town(1981)… Citizen1978 Alien Zone
Maitre'd

Editor
2002Journey Into Night (short)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
1998 Riding with James Dean(first assistant director)

Casting Director
1998 Riding with James Dean

He Played The Gun Proprietor
That Offered Charles Guns To Capture
The Slime That Shot James in "He Was Only Twelve" - 1982

Thanks for all the facts Dave...really enjoy reading them and seeing the actors when they are older. Matt seemed really young when he played part of young Charles and I could see why he was not interested in girls yet...he was still a little boy!!

annecimina wrote:

Thanks for all the facts Dave...really enjoy reading them and seeing the actors when they are older. Matt seemed really young when he played part of young Charles and I could see why he was not interested in girls yet...he was still a little boy!!

Yes he was! Eleven to be exact......Glad you enjoy the sticky.....Thanks for the comments........

JA Preston was born in November of 1957. He appeared in over 60 TV shows and movies. Some of them included Air Force One, Chicago Hope, Seaquest 2012, Empty Nest, A Few Good Men, tales From The Crypt, Father Dowling Mysteries, 15 episodes of Santa Barbara, Trapper John MD, Quincy ME, Roots, Diff’rent Strokes, 24 episodes of All’s Fair, The Jeffersons and All In The Family to name a few.

He Was On One Little House Episode as Sam Terhune
"Second Chance "– 1982
Opposite Ketty Lester
 
As The Judge in "A Few Good Men"
Starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson

Are you sure about his year of birth, Dave? He looks older than 25 in that scene.

Rob wrote:

Are you sure about his year of birth, Dave? He looks older than 25 in that scene.

Thx Rob, typo, fixed it, appreciate u catching it....
Dave

Stephen Elliott was born in New York City in November of 1918. He was a Drama Desk Award-winning actor ("A Whistle in the Dark" [1969] ) and a Tony Award nominee (as "Monsieur Colmier", "Marat/Sade" [1967] ), he began his career as a member of New York's Neighborhood Playhouse from 1940 to 1942, where he studied with noted acting instructor, Sanford Meisner, before joining the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II. Upon his return, he made his Broadway debut in 1945 in "The Tempest". His stepson, David Hirson, told the Los Angeles Times in an interview that his stepfather was always proudest of his stage work.

His mother died soon after his birth, during the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918, and he was raised by his father, who was a textile worker, and his stepmother.

Most of his acting successes in films came after he reached the age of fifty, although he was a pioneering actor in the days of early television, notably as the third actor after Bram Nossen and Hal Conklin to play "Dr. Pauli", nemesis of "Captain Video" in the final years (1954-1955) of "Captain Video and His Video Rangers" (1949) (1949-1955) over the DuMont Television Network. His portrayal of "Burt Johnson" in Arthur (1981) earned praise from the New York Times as a "standout performance".

He passed away in May of 2005 in Woodland Hills, Ca. of congestive heart failure. He was 86 years old.

He appeared in 111 titles, both movies and television in a career that lasted from 1949 to 1999. They included 14 episodes of Dallas as Scotty Demarest, Columbo, Perry Mason, One episode of Highway To Heaven, Murder She Wrote, 8 episodes of St. Elsewhere, 9 Episodes of Falcon Crest, Hawaii Five –O, and was Dr. Sundstrom in the movie Hospital to name a few.

One Episode of Little House
“The Empire Builders” – 1982
As Railroad President Spencer Hollingsworth