Mystery photo

Posted on December 12, 2008 by lmharnisch

2008_1208_mystery_photo
Photograph by Bob Potwin / Los Angeles Times

I suspect that regular Daily Mirror readers will guess him right away.
Update: Gardner McKay in 1962 with his dog, named Pussycat.

2008_1209_mystery_pix
Photograph by George R. Fry
Los Angeles Times 		Please congratulate Dewey Webb for recognizing our mystery guest. Here’s our fellow with another animal.

Update: In 1977, McKay retrieves a pet cheetah named Kenya from the roof of the garage at his Coldwater Canyon home.

2008_1210_mystery_pix
Times file photo 		Here’s a big clue to our mystery fellow.

Update: This is McKay in a 1960 publicity photo for "Adventures in Paradise." The Times cropped it down to a one-column mug shot. No bare-chested, hunky guys in The Times, folks. As late as 1971, the art department painted a shirt on a photo of bare-chested Charlton Heston in "The Omega Man." Incredible. 

2008_1211_mystery_pix

Los Angeles Times file photo 		I’m getting lots of correct guesses. Let’s see who else figures out the name of our mystery guest.

Update: McKay in 1974.
2008_1212_mystery_photo

Times file photo
Gardner McKay in 1981.

As almost everyone guessed, this is Gardner McKay, who starred in the TV show "Adventures in Paradise" and then abandoned his acting career for other pursuits, including writing. Several of his works are listed on bookfinder.com.

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times
This entry was posted in broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Television. Bookmark the permalink.

25 Responses to Mystery photo

  2. Mary Mallory's avatar Mary Mallory says:
    December 8, 2008 at 2:38 pm

    It is Dean Jones with the Shaggy Dog.

    Like

  3. Rinky Dink's avatar Rinky Dink says:
    December 8, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    Fred MacMurray?

    Like

  4. Unknown's avatar zabadu says:
    December 9, 2008 at 8:14 am

    Is it Ralph Helfer?

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  5. Unknown's avatar zabadu says:
    December 9, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    Okay, how about Bob Weatherwax?

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  6. MichaelRyerson's avatar MichaelRyerson says:
    December 10, 2008 at 3:19 am

    He looks a tad like Rudd Weatherwax.

    Like

  7. Arye Michael Bender's avatar Arye Michael Bender says:
    December 10, 2008 at 8:49 am

    Think the pipe smoker is Gardner McKay at the helm for ‘Adventures in Paradise’, and not the dean of animal university.

    Like

  8. Sandy's avatar Sandy says:
    December 10, 2008 at 10:17 am

    Tom Hatten? The guy from the Popeye show?

    Like

  9. LEE RIVAS's avatar LEE RIVAS says:
    December 10, 2008 at 10:30 am

    John Saxon??

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  10. LEE RIVAS's avatar LEE RIVAS says:
    December 10, 2008 at 10:31 am

    John Saxon??

    Like

  11. Tim Ahern's avatar Tim Ahern says:
    December 10, 2008 at 4:31 pm

    Gardner McKay

    Like

  12. Tom Page's avatar Tom Page says:
    December 10, 2008 at 4:31 pm

    How about that Gardner McKay?

    Like

  13. Tim Ahern's avatar Tim Ahern says:
    December 10, 2008 at 4:31 pm

    Gardner McKay

    Like

  14. Tom Page's avatar Tom Page says:
    December 10, 2008 at 4:33 pm

    Gardner McKay

    Like

  15. Barry O'Brien's avatar Barry O'Brien says:
    December 10, 2008 at 5:12 pm

    This one has got to be Gardner McKay although pic #1 looks more like CNN’s soon to be departed Miles O’Brien.

    Like

  16. Waldo Lydecker's avatar Waldo Lydecker says:
    December 10, 2008 at 5:35 pm

    You’re right – the third photo is the give away. Gardner McKay from Adventures in Paradise.

    Like

  17. Pamela Porter's avatar Pamela Porter says:
    December 10, 2008 at 6:28 pm

    Gardner McKay!

    Like

  18. Nancy's avatar Nancy says:
    December 10, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    Ty Hardin

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  19. Joe in Phoenix's avatar Joe in Phoenix says:
    December 11, 2008 at 7:29 am

    Richard Zanuck?

    Like

  20. Richard Heft's avatar Richard Heft says:
    December 11, 2008 at 8:10 am

    It’s Gardner McKay.

    Like

  21. herb nichols's avatar herb nichols says:
    December 11, 2008 at 8:42 am

    gardener mckay from adventures in paradise

    Like

  22. Carol Gwenn's avatar Carol Gwenn says:
    December 11, 2008 at 9:35 am

    Hmmmm….Gardner McKay of “Adventures in Paradise”?

    Like

  23. MichaelRyerson's avatar MichaelRyerson says:
    December 11, 2008 at 6:46 pm

    Ah, Gardiner McKay.

    Like

  24. LBard's avatar LBard says:
    December 11, 2008 at 10:01 pm

    Let’s see — the 4th photo makes me think it is John Derek, who was “Svengali” to Ursula Andress’ “Trilby” — and then to Linda Evans…. and Bo Derek — . I certainly don’t recognize him in first photo!

    Like

  25. Arye Michael Bender's avatar Arye Michael Bender says:
    December 12, 2008 at 12:09 pm

    Seeing Gardner McKay’s image after so long, prompted me to read more about him. Like many, I knew him only from one TV series, and vaguely recalled that he left acting to pursue ‘other interests’. What I discovered is that he lived a rich, adventurous, and creative life after acting. It seems that the character he portrayed in ‘Paradise’ was an authentic, although small, facet of a gifted, bright, and adventurous man. He seems to have been the real deal.
    Thanks for giving McKay fresh exposure.

    Like

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