Denny Miller obit

Denny Miller, Star of ‘Tarzan’ and ‘Wagon Train,’ Dies at 80

He played basketball at UCLA under John Wooden and appeared with Peter Sellers in 'The Party' and in commercials for fish sticks

 

He was not on the list.

Denny Miller, who played scout Duke Shannon on the classic TV Western Wagon Train and was the first blond Tarzan on the big screen, has died. He was 80.

Miller, who wore a yellow rain slicker as the Gorton’s Fisherman in TV commercials for the seafood company for more than a decade, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in January and died on Tuesday in Las Vegas, his agent, David Moss, told The Hollywood Reporter.

The strapping 6-foot-4 Miller, who played basketball at UCLA for legendary coach John Wooden in the 1950s, also is known for his role as Western movie actor “Wyoming” Bill Kelso in the delightful 1968 Peter Sellers comedy The Party, directed by Blake Edwards.

Miller appeared in two episodes of CBS’ Gilligan’s Island: one as surfer Duke Williams, who washed ashore after a tsunami, and another as Tongo, an ape man who is captured and put in a cage.

Miller appeared over three seasons in more than 100 episodes of Wagon Train, which aired on NBC and ABC from 1957 to 1965. He then segued to playing an Air Force sergeant who is married to a Las Vegas chorus girl (Juliet Prowse) in the short-lived NBC sitcom Mona McCluskey.

Miller starred as Edgar Rice Burroughs’ lord of the jungle in the low-budget Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959), a remake of the 1932 classic that starred Olympic gold medalist Johnny Weissmuller. Footage from that film, as well as Tarzan’s yell, were recycled from the original (both were made at MGM).

A native of Bloomington, Indiana, Miller was thinking about pursuing a career as a basketball or football coach when he was spotted by an agent on Sunset Boulevard. He signed a movie contract at MGM after his screen test was directed by George Cukor and appeared in an uncredited role in the Frank Sinatra drama Some Came Running (1958).

Miller also worked in such films as Making It (1971), written by Peter Bart, Buck and the Preacher (1972) and The Norseman (1978).

The actor made more of a mark on television, with stints on dozens of shows including Have Gun — Will Travel, The Rifleman, Ben Casey, The Fugitive, I Spy, The High Chaparral, Hawaii Five-O, I Dream of Jeannie, The Brady Bunch, The Six Million Dollar Man, Battlestar Galactica, Barnaby Jones, Charlie’s Angels, Dallas, Magnum, P.I. and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

Actor (103 credits)

 2005 Hell to Pay

Horace the miner

 1996 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (TV Series)

Noah McBride

- Dead or Alive: Part 2 (1996) ... Noah McBride

- Dead or Alive: Part 1 (1996) ... Noah McBride

 1994-1995 Lonesome Dove: The Series (TV Mini Series)

Sherriff Owen Kearney

- Snowbound (1995) ... Sherriff Owen Kearney

- Blood Money (1995) ... Sherriff Owen Kearney

- Law and Order (1994) ... Sherriff Owen Kearney

 1989-1990 Bordertown (TV Series)

Vince Stockard / Obediah Winslow

- In Cold Blood (1990) ... Vince Stockard

- The Reaper (1989) ... Obediah Winslow

 1987 Werewolf (TV Series)

Captain Mueller

- Nightwatch (1987) ... Captain Mueller

 1987 Outlaws (TV Series)

Nash

- Orleans (1987) ... Nash

 1982-1986 Magnum, P.I. (TV Series)

FBI Agent Longdon / Leon Platt / Ox

- Photo Play (1986) ... FBI Agent Longdon

- A Sense of Debt (1983) ... Leon Platt

- Three Minus Two (1982) ... Ox

 1986 Hardcastle and McCormick (TV Series)

Blake

- McCormick's Bar and Grill (1986) ... Blake

 1986 Blacke's Magic (TV Series)

Sonny Schreiber

- Vanishing Act (1986) ... Sonny Schreiber

 1985 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series)

Nils Anderson

- Sticks and Stones (1985) ... Nils Anderson

 1985 Half Nelson (TV Movie)

 1985 Detective in the House (TV Series)

- Whatever Happened To...? (1985)

 1983-1984 Matt Houston (TV Series)

Dolclek / Jerry Fenton

- Blood Money (1984) ... Dolclek

- A Novel Way to Die (1983) ... Jerry Fenton

 1982-1984 The Fall Guy (TV Series)

Hoss / Hugo

- Dead Bounty (1984) ... Hoss

- Mighty Myron (1982) ... Hugo

 1984 Knight Rider (TV Series)

Big Ed Barton

- The Rotten Apples (1984) ... Big Ed Barton

 1984 Hart to Hart (TV Series)

Trammell

- Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (1984) ... Trammell

 1984 Dallas (TV Series)

Max Flowers

- Love Stories (1984) ... Max Flowers

- Turning Point (1984) ... Max Flowers

- Blow Up (1984) ... Max Flowers

- Strange Alliance (1984) ... Max Flowers

 1984 More Than Murder (TV Movie)

Tallahassee Smith

 1983 Shooting Stars (TV Movie)

 1983 V (TV Mini Series)

Visitor Trooper

- Part 2 (1983) ... Visitor Trooper

- Part 1 (1983) ... Visitor Trooper

 1983 Simon & Simon (TV Series)

Gilbert Dunn

- Design for Killing (1983) ... Gilbert Dunn

 1982 Voyagers! (TV Series)

Little John

- An Arrow Pointing East (1982) ... Little John

 1982 Today's F.B.I. (TV Series)

John

- Tapper (1982) ... John

 1981 The Seal (TV Movie)

 1981 The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (TV Series)

Jesse

- Keep on Buckin' (1981) ... Jesse

 1981 Circle of Power

Uwe

 1981 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV Series)

Saurus

- The Dorian Secret (1981) ... Saurus

 1978-1981 The Incredible Hulk (TV Series)

Paul Corton / John Tobey

- The Harder They Fall (1981) ... Paul Corton

- Killer Instinct (1978) ... John Tobey

 1979-1981 Vega$ (TV Series)

Art Cochran / Lyle Kemp

- Time Bomb (1981) ... Art Cochran

- Red Handed (1979) ... Lyle Kemp

 1977-1981 Charlie's Angels (TV Series)

Jeff Stanowitch / Ed Fellows / Helmut Klaus

- Stuntwomen Angels (1981) ... Jeff Stanowitch

- Angels on Vacation (1979) ... Ed Fellows

- Circus of Terror (1977) ... Helmut Klaus

 1981 M*A*S*H (TV Series)

Military Policeman

- Tell It to the Marines (1981) ... Military Policeman

 1980 When the Whistle Blows (TV Series)

Langhorn

- The House that Roared (1980) ... Langhorn

 1980 Beyond Westworld (TV Series)

Earl Case

- My Brother's Keeper (1980) ... Earl Case

 1980 Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (TV Series)

Tony

- Savage Says: There's No Free Lunch (1980) ... Tony

 1980 Fantasy Island (TV Series)

Big Earl Sanderson

- PlayGirl/Smith's Valhalla (1980) ... Big Earl Sanderson

 1980 Cabo Blanco

Horst

 1980 Stone (TV Series)

- But Can She Type? (1980)

 1979 Young Maverick (TV Series)

Clancy Flannery

- Clancy (1979) ... Clancy Flannery

 1979 The Runaways (TV Series)

Jimmy Joe

- Land of Honey (1979) ... Jimmy Joe

 1977-1978 The Rockford Files (TV Series)

Norman / Chris Jenks

- Black Mirror (1978) ... Norman

- Forced Retirement (1977) ... Chris Jenks

 1978 Battlestar Galactica (TV Series)

Ser 5-9

- Gun on Ice Planet Zero: Part II (1978) ... Ser 5-9

- Gun on Ice Planet Zero (1978) ... Ser 5-9

 1978 Flying High (TV Series)

Jimbo

- A Hairy Yak Plays Musical Chairs Eagerly (1978) ... Jimbo

 1978 The Norseman

Rauric

 1978 Quark (TV Series)

Zoltar

- Goodbye, Polumbus (1978) ... Zoltar

 1975-1978 Barnaby Jones (TV Series)

Dixon / Simms

- The Coronado Triangle (1978) ... Dixon

- Fatal Witness (1975) ... Simms

 1978 Dr. Scorpion (TV Movie)

The Dane

 1977 What Really Happened to the Class of '65? (TV Series)

Jim Vann

- Everybody's Girl (1977) ... Jim Vann

 1977 Wonder Woman (TV Series)

Carl Schwartz

- The Pied Piper (1977) ... Carl Schwartz

 1977 Danger in Paradise (TV Movie)

 1977 Keeper of the Wild (TV Series)

Jim Donaldson

- Episode #1.1 (1977) ... Jim Donaldson

 1976 Quincy M.E. (TV Series)

Ben Chase

- Go Fight City Hall... to the Death (1976) ... Ben Chase

 1976 Alice (TV Series)

Jack Newhouse

- Alice Gets a Pass (1976) ... Jack Newhouse

 1976 Bronk (TV Series)

Mark Lynn

- Next of Kin (1976) ... Mark Lynn

 1975 Cannon (TV Series)

Phil Sedakis

- Fall Guy (1975) ... Phil Sedakis

 1974-1975 The Six Million Dollar Man (TV Series)

Jeremy Burke / Stellen

- Target in the Sky (1975) ... Jeremy Burke

- The Pal-Mir Escort (1974) ... Stellen

 1975 Mobile One (TV Series)

- The Reporter (1975)

 1975 The Wide World of Mystery (TV Series)

Garrity

- Nick and Nora (1975) ... Garrity

 1974 The Island at the Top of the World

Town Guard

 1974 Emergency! (TV Series)

Brock Caine

- Communication Gaffe (1974) ... Brock Caine

 1974 The Streets of San Francisco (TV Series)

Harvey Ross / Sims' Driver

- Mask of Death (1974) ... Harvey Ross

- Commitment (1974) ... Sims' Driver

 1974 The Dion Brothers

Rex

 1974 Dusty's Trail (TV Series)

Butcher Dan

- John J. Callahan (1974) ... Butcher Dan

 1973 McCloud (TV Series)

Murphy Michaels

- The Solid Gold Swingers (1973) ... Murphy Michaels

 1973 The Brady Bunch (TV Series)

Tank Gates

- Quarterback Sneak (1973) ... Tank Gates

 1972 Doomsday Machine

Col. Don Price (as Scott Miller)

 1972 Buck and the Preacher

Floyd

 1971 Gunsmoke (TV Series)

Lijah

- Lijah (1971) ... Lijah

 1971 Sarge (TV Series)

The Rockhead

- Psst! Wanna Buy a Dirty Picture? (1971) ... The Rockhead

 1971 Making It

Skeeter

 1971 Vanished (TV Mini Series)

Big Bubba Toubo

- Part II (1971) ... Big Bubba Toubo

- Part I (1971) ... Big Bubba Toubo

 1971 Mission: Impossible (TV Series)

Arthur Norris

- The Field (1971) ... Arthur Norris

 1971 The Virginian (TV Series)

Joe Terry

- The Politician (1971) ... Joe Terry

 1970 Ironside (TV Series)

Matt Wratten

- The Lonely Way to Go (1970) ... Matt Wratten

 1970 I Dream of Jeannie (TV Series)

Moose Murphy

- Eternally Yours, Jeannie (1970) ... Moose Murphy

 1969 Love, American Style (TV Series)

Mike (segment "Love and the Legal Agreement")

- Love and the Legal Agreement/Love and the Militant/Love and Who? (1969) ... Mike (segment "Love and the Legal Agreement")

 1969 The Name of the Game (TV Series)

Bill 'Beau' Beauregard

- Blind Man's Bluff (1969) ... Bill 'Beau' Beauregard

 1969 Hawaii Five-O (TV Series)

John Hayes

- Pray Love Remember, Pray Love Remember (1969) ... John Hayes

 1968 The High Chaparral (TV Series)

Kolos

- A Way of Justice (1968) ... Kolos

 1968 Death Valley Days (TV Series)

Tommy Cruse / Gustav Olaffson

- The Leprechaun of Last Chance Gulch (1968) ... Tommy Cruse

- Britta Goes Home (1968) ... Gustav Olaffson

 1968 The Party

'Wyoming Bill' Kelso

 1968 This Is the Life (TV Series)

Captain Richard

- Episode dated 31 January 1968 (1968) ... Captain Richard

 1968 I Spy (TV Series)

Wally MacGregor

- Anyplace I Hang Myself Is Home (1968) ... Wally MacGregor

 1965-1967 Gilligan's Island (TV Series)

Tongo the ape man / Duke Williams

- Our Vines Have Tender Apes (1967) ... Tongo the ape man

- Big Man on a Little Stick (1965) ... Duke Williams (as Denny Scott Miller)

 1966 The Fugitive (TV Series)

Willie Turner

- Approach with Care (1966) ... Willie Turner

 1966 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series)

Vic Ryan

- The Atlantis Affair (1966) ... Vic Ryan

 1965-1966 Mona McCluskey (TV Series)

Mike McCluskey

- Mike's Birthday Present (1966) ... Mike McCluskey

- Will He or Won't He? (1966) ... Mike McCluskey

- Snow Valley Snow Job (1966) ... Mike McCluskey

- How to Turn Off a Laser Beam (1966) ... Mike McCluskey

- Operation: Chicken Soup (1966) ... Mike McCluskey

Show all 26 episodes

 1965 Ben Casey (TV Series)

Welsey Boone

- A Dipperful of Water from a Poisoned Well (1965) ... Welsey Boone (as Denny Scott Miller)

 1961-1964 Wagon Train (TV Series)

Duke Shannon

- The Last Circle Up (1964) ... Duke Shannon (as Scott Miller)

- The Zebedee Titus Story (1964) ... Duke Shannon (as Scott Miller)

- The Link Cheney Story (1964) ... Duke Shannon (as Scott Miller)

- The Stark Bluff Story (1964) ... Duke Shannon (as Scott Miller)

- The Santiago Quesada Story (1964) ... Duke Shannon (as Scott Miller)

Show all 106 episodes

 1961 Love in a Goldfish Bowl

Oscar Flegler

 1961 The Deputy (TV Series)

Bill Jason

- Brother in Arms (1961) ... Bill Jason

 1961 Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series)

Stickson

- Prince Jim (1961) ... Stickson

 1961 Michael Shayne (TV Series)

Herb Troy

- The Body Beautiful (1961) ... Herb Troy

 1961 Stagecoach West (TV Series)

Dunn

- Finn McCool (1961) ... Dunn

 1960 The Rifleman (TV Series)

Reuben Miles

- The Promoter (1960) ... Reuben Miles

 1960 Laramie (TV Series)

Howard Wilkie / Toby

- License to Kill (1960) ... Howard Wilkie

- Men of Defiance (1960) ... Toby

 1960 General Electric Theater (TV Series)

Bud Hastings

- The Playoff (1960) ... Bud Hastings

 1960 Riverboat (TV Series)

The Dublin Boy

- River Champion (1960) ... The Dublin Boy

 1960 Have Gun - Will Travel (TV Series)

Svenska - Swede

- Saturday Night (1960) ... Svenska - Swede

 1960 Overland Trail (TV Series)

Jimmy / Nicky Michaels

- The Reckoning (1960) ... Jimmy / Nicky Michaels (as Dennis Miller)

 1959 Tarzan, the Ape Man

Tarzan

 1958 Some Came Running

Dewey Cole (uncredited)

 1958 Northwest Passage (TV Series)

Ranger Cooper

- Fight at the River (1958) ... Ranger Cooper

 1958 The Life of Riley (TV Series)

Moose

- Little Awful Annie (1958) ... Moose