Don Chastain (September 2, 1935 – August 9, 2002) was an American actor, singer, and screenwriter. He worked in television in Los Angeles and New York and toured the United States and Canada.

Early years

Chastain was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Acting

Chastain's Broadway credits include ''Parade'' (1998), ''42nd Street'' (1980), ''It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman'' (1965), and ''No Strings'' (1961). He played Jim Thompson in the TV comedy '' The Debbie Reynolds Show'' (1969–1970) and Scott Thomas in the TV comedy '' Hello, Larry'' (1979–1981). He penned the screenplay for '' The Mafu Cage'' (1978) and wrote several episodes of '' As the World Turns'' (1992–1995). In 1960, Chastain appeared as Gerald Wiley in the episode "Trial by Rope" of the TV series '' Colt .45''. The guest cast also included Pamela Duncan as Dora Lacey, and

Lurene Tuttle Lurene Tuttle (August 29, 1907 – May 28, 1986) was an American actress and acting coach, who made the transition from vaudeville to radio, and later films and television. Her most enduring impact was as one of network radio's more versatile a ...

as Lottie Strong. Other series in which Chastain appeared as a guest star include '' The Real McCoys'', ''

Rhoda ''Rhoda'' is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns starring Valerie Harper that originally aired on CBS for five seasons from September 9, 1974, to December 9, 1978. It was the first spin-off of ''The Mary Tyle ...

'', '' Maude'', '' The Rockford Files'', ''

All My Children ''All My Children'' (often shortened to ''AMC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from January 5, 1970, to September 23, 2011, and on The Online Network (TOLN) from April 29 to September 2, 20 ...

'', '' Hawaii Five-O'', '' The West Wing'',

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...

, ''

Scrubs Scrub(s) may refer to: * Scrub, low shrub and grass characteristic of scrubland * Scrubs (clothing), worn by medical staff * ''Scrubs'' (TV series), an American television program * Scrubs (occupation), also called "scrub tech," "scrub nurse," o ...

'', and ''

The Big Valley ''The Big Valley'' is an American Western drama television series that originally aired from September 15, 1965, to May 19, 1969 on ABC. The series is set on the fictional Barkley Ranch in Stockton, California, from 1884 to 1888. The one-hour e ...

''. He appeared in the role of Lizard in the 1970 film of ''

C.C. and Company ''C.C. and Company'' is a 1970 American biker film directed by Seymour Robbie. It starred Joe Namath as biker C.C. Ryder, Ann-Margret as fashion journalist Ann, and William Smith as Moon, the leader of the fictitious outlaw biker club the "Hea ...

''. One of Chastain’s final roles on TV was as a “suspect” On the television reality competition show “

Murder in Small Town X ''Murder in Small Town X'' (sometimes abbreviated MiSTX) is an American reality television series created by George Verschoor, Robert Fisher Jr., and Gordon Cassidy and was hosted by Sgt. Gary Fredo, a California Police Investigator, that aired o ...

” in 2001 as character Hayden DeBeck. He was featured for 6 episodes before being “killed” by the show’s fictional killer.

Music

Chastain was a jazz singer and lyricist who served in the United States Army.

Personal life

Don Chastain died August 9, 2002 of cancer in Los Angeles. He was 66. He is survived by his wife Jill and their son Colin.

Broadway performances

* '' No Strings'' (1962–1963) * '' It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman'' (1966) * '' 42nd Street'' (1980–1989) * ''

Dance a Little Closer ''Dance a Little Closer'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Charles Strouse. The story is an updated version of Robert E. Sherwood's 1936 antiwar comedy '' Idiot's Delight''. Plot overview The musical is set on ...

'' (1983) * ''

Parade A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, float (parade), floats, or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually ce ...

'' (1998–1999)

References

External links

* http://www.chastaincentral.com/content/don.html * * * * 1935 births 2002 deaths American male stage actors American male television actors American male film actors Male actors from Oklahoma City American soap opera writers Deaths from colorectal cancer Deaths from cancer in California Writers from Oklahoma City Screenwriters from Oklahoma 20th-century American male actors American male television writers 20th-century American screenwriters 20th-century American male writers {{US-screen-actor-stub