Actor. Began working in films in 1937 doing mostly uncredited bit parts. His first billing was under his given name, Don DeForest, in the 1941 film "We Go Fast," but his breakthrough role came in the 1942 Henry Fonda film, "The Male Animal." He continued to work regularly through the 1940s usually playing the good natured friend of the lead character. He played opposite Van Johnson in the 1944 World War II film "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" and also co-starred in the 1949 romantic comedy "My Friend Irma." In the 1950s he achieved his greatest fame when he began acting on television. From 1952 to 1961 he played Thorny Thornberry, the good natured neighbor in "The Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet" and received an Emmy nomination for the role in 1955. He guest starred on many shows including, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, My Three Sons, Mannix, The Mod Squad, Vega$, Murder She Wrote and St. Elsewhere. However, he was best known on television as George Baxter (Mr. B) on the Shirley Booth sitcom "Hazel," a role he played from 1961 to 1965.
Actor. Began working in films in 1937 doing mostly uncredited bit parts. His first billing was under his given name, Don DeForest, in the 1941 film "We Go Fast," but his breakthrough role came in the 1942 Henry Fonda film, "The Male Animal." He continued to work regularly through the 1940s usually playing the good natured friend of the lead character. He played opposite Van Johnson in the 1944 World War II film "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" and also co-starred in the 1949 romantic comedy "My Friend Irma." In the 1950s he achieved his greatest fame when he began acting on television. From 1952 to 1961 he played Thorny Thornberry, the good natured neighbor in "The Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet" and received an Emmy nomination for the role in 1955. He guest starred on many shows including, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, My Three Sons, Mannix, The Mod Squad, Vega$, Murder She Wrote and St. Elsewhere. However, he was best known on television as George Baxter (Mr. B) on the Shirley Booth sitcom "Hazel," a role he played from 1961 to 1965.
Bio by: Decal
Family Members
Advertisement
See more DeFore memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
