Stanley Bernard Livingston and Barry Gordon Livingston were both born in Los Angeles, California. Stanley came into the world on November 24, 1950. His brother Barry followed on December 17, 1953. They are the sons of Lillian Rochelle "Marilyn" Palyash and Hilliard Livingston.
Stanley played Richard "Chip" Douglas, the third son of Steve Douglas (Fred MacMurray) on the long-running sitcom My Three Sons. Stanley and Fred MacMurray were the only cast members to appear throughout the entire 12-year run of the series, from 1960 to 1972. The two played father and son in all 380 episodes and Fred became a mentor to Stan.
Of his role as Chip Douglas, IMDb.com quotes Stanley Livingston as saying, "The name Chip Douglas is probably going to be on my tombstone. That's neither good nor bad. It's just a fact of life."
Below is a My Three Sons photo: Back row: Left to right: Fred MacMurry (Steve Douglas), Don Grady (Robbie Douglas) and William Demerest (Uncle Charley) Front row: (L to R: Stanley and Barry Livingston.
Stanley Livingston launched his acting career with small, uncredited parts in films such as The Bonnie Parker Story (1958) and Rally Round the Flag (1958). He played one of the children, Gabriel Mackay, in 1960's Please Don't Eat the Daisies, starring Doris Day and David Niven. Stanley also appeared in a 1959 episode of the short-lived TV series Peck's Bad Girls and a 1960 episode of The George Gobel Show (Season 6, Episode 7). From 1958 until 1963, Stanley portrayed a neighbourhood child named "Stanley" in 9 episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. He had an uncredited role as Prescott Rawlings in a 1962 episode of How the West Was Won.
After My Three Sons went off the air in 1972, Stanley's acting career never really blossomed. His television roles were sporadic. In a 1973 episode of Room 222, he played Jackie O'Farrell, a former child star,who doesn't quite fit in at Walt Whitman High School, The episode is entitled "A Hairy Escape." (Season 4, Episode 21, Air Date: February 23 1973). Stan also guest-starred in a 1974 episode of Lucas Tanner, a short-lived TV drama starring David Hartman.
In addition to his career as an actor, Stan Livingston, has done extensive work behind the camera. He has written and produced many commercials, music videos and educational programs. He has also directed children's programming for PBS.
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| Stanley Livingston |
Stanley has been married twice. He was just 18 when he wed his first wife, Sandra L. Goble, a go-go-dancer. The marriage last for six years, from 1968 until 1974. Th couple had one child, a daughter named Samantha, and the marriage ended in divorce. Of his first marriage, Stanley told People magazine about Fred MacMurray's reaction: "He spoke to me about it a couple of times. You could tell he didn't approve."
Stanley married his second wife, actress Paula Drake, on December 19, 2015. Paula is also a practising criminal defence lawyer.
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| Paula Drake |
At the age of five, Barry Livingston was cast in the role of Paul Newman's son in the 1958 film Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys. In an interview for FOX411'S Pop Tart's column, Barry related how, during the filming of the movie, his eyes began to "ping-pong around his head" because he wasn't wearing glasses at the time. He couldn't keep his eyes still and there were fears he was having a seizure. The youngster was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with having astigmatism. A day or two later, he returned to the set wearing his glasses and was "promptly fired by the producer, who said he didn't think Paul Neman's son in the movie would be wearing glasses."
Barry Livingston was one of the rare bespectacled child actors, but he didn't let his glasses prevent him from attaining success. He began his television career in the early 1960s and he usually portrayed "the kid next door." His first regular TV role was on the The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. From 1960 to 1963, he played a neighbourhood child named Barry Martin on the popular family comedy.
In 1962, Barry appeared in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show.. The episode is entitled "The Talented Neighborhood" (Season 1, Episode 19, Air Date: January 31, 1962). In the episode, "The Alan Brady Show" conducts it annual talent search for the most gifted youngster. Barry portrayed Philip Mathias, one of the children trying to win the talent contest.
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| Lucille Ball with Barry on The Lucy Show in 1963. |
Barry Livingston did not join the cast of My Three Sons until 1963. He made his first appearance in an episode entitled "My Friend Ernie" (Season 4, Episode 7, Air Date: October 31, 1963). He played Ernie Thompson, a foster child living with a family down the street from the Douglas clan. Chip befriends Ernie and in Barry's debut episode, the two boys embark on an adventure to find a treasure chest.
On September 27, 2013, Barry was interviewed by Nancy Harrington for the Archive of American Television. When asked to describe his character, Ernie, this is how he replied:
"I was sort of the ragamuffin, the kid who was not the rich kid's child. I was sort of the poverty-stricken one who couldn't afford braces and glasses. Terrible haircut. And slowly that became my signature, being the goofy-looking kid next door, and now that's all the rage. Nerds control the world."
In September of 1965, My Three Sons began its sixth season with a wedding. The eldest son, Mike Douglas (Tim Considine) married his girlfriend Sally (Meredith MacRae). The newlyweds moved out of state where Mike began a new job. With Consadine and MacRae written out of the show, the stage was set for the Douglas family to adopt the orphaned Ernie. Thus, Ernie Thompson changed his name to Ernie Douglas and Barry Livingston became a permanent member of the cast.
Fortunately for Barry, the end of My Three Sons did not mean the end of his career. Unlike many child stars, he managed to land roles on the small screen. He has a fairly long list of television credits since then. He appeared in episodes of such series as The Sandy Duncan Show (1972), Room 222 (1973), Ironside (1973). He was the voice of Linus in the TV movie You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1973).
In 1974, Brrry had a recurring role as Murray "Moose" Kerner in the drama TV series Sons and Daughters. He also made a guest appearance that year on Police Woman. His other television credits in the 1970s and 1980s include Lucas Tanner (1975), the television move High School USA (1983), Simon & Simon (1984) and Hart to Hart (1984)
From 1990 to 1993, Barry appeared in three episodes of the medical drama Doogie Howser, M.D., staring Neil Patrick Harris. He played Dr. Berney in the 1995 television movie The O.J. Simpson Story. From 1993 to1994, he portrayed Sheldon Bender in Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. In 1996, he guest-starred in an episode of Boston Common entitled "Gobble, Gobble, Aggch!" In the later 1990s, Barry portrayed an attorney in an episode of The Nanny (1997), He also appeared on Ally McBeal (1998) and USA High (1998)
Barry Livingston's career has had its highs and lows. There have been times when he has had difficulty finding work as an actor. However, in the 21st century, Barry has had no shortage of television roles, although some have been bit parts or cameos His TV credits include Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2000), Judging Amy (2000), Will & Grace (2002), The Drew Carey Show (2004), Two and A Half Men (2008), Everybody Hates Chris (2009), NCIS (2009), Desperate Housewives (2010), Grey's Anatomy (2010), Parenthood (2014), Anger Management (2014), Hot in Cleveland (2015) and Me, Myself and I (2017). His motion picture credits include Adam Sandlers's Don't Mess with Zohan (2008), The Social Network (2010). (He played Mr. Cox in the film), as well Argo (2012), in which he played a CIA official).
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| Barry in 2015 |
Barry seems busier than ever and has been a constant presence on the small screen. Viewers have seen Barry transform himself from "the kid next door" child star to a versatile character actor, a husband and a parent. He married Karen Huntsman, a physiotherapist, in 1983. They have two children, a son, Spencer Livingston (born 1989) and a daughter, Hailey Marie Livingston (born 1992). Spencer is a musician and Hailey is an actress and screenwriter.
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| Hailey Livingston |
The Livingston brothers are survivors in a ruthless and fickle business. In 2012, Barry talked to Fox News Entertainment about the difficulties he faced during his career. "I had a lot of challenges to overcome - drug use, the obstacles of re-inventing myself and my credibility " he told reporter Hollie McKay." "I could barely get an agent, or get to see casting people. It's a strange town and you never really know why you're hot and the next minute you're not. I found myself no longer on the list of people called to read roles in TV and film."
END NOTES
* Fred MacMurray died on November 5, 1991 at the age of 83.
* Don Grady, who played second son Robbie Douglas, died of bone cancer on June 27, 2012. He was 68 years old at the time of his passing.
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| Don Grady |
* Barry Livingston's memoir is titled The Importance of Being Ernie: From My Three Sons to Mad Men, a Hollywood Survivor Tells All. It was published by Citadel in 2011.
- Joanne
How come every article never mentions the other 2 actors whom started the show William Frawley and Tim Considine , they started the show Frawley was Bub and Tim played Mike. William left do to old age and Tim left because he got married.
ReplyDeleteexactly Frawley was great I ñoved the original cast and thats what I remember from my childhood
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