Don Harron obit

Canadian actor-writer Don Harron, who starred on 'Hee Haw,' dies at age 90

He was not on the list.

TORONTO –  Don Harron, who entertained TV audiences in Canada and the U.S. with his comic alter ego Charlie Farquharson and helped bring the classic Canadian novel "Anne of Green Gables" to the stage, has died. He was 90.

Harron's eldest daughter Martha said her father died Saturday morning surrounded by family at his Toronto home after choosing not to seek treatment for cancer.

Harron introduced his Farquharson character — a country bumpkin from rural Ontario — on a CBC television revue in 1952. He went on to perform as Farquharson on the U.S. TV variety show "Hee Haw" from 1969-82.

Harron helped create a musical version of "Anne" for a CBC TV production in 1955, which was adapted nine years later into an on-stage version.

After university, Harron appeared in a number of plays and revues in Toronto, including the annual Spring Thaw revue, giving him national exposure when the 1952 edition was broadcast on the newly launched CBC Television network. He spent two years in London, England, travelling there variously performing in a West End production of A Streetcar Named Desire and also working for the BBC as a comedy writer, acting in a radio series, playing the part of a clown in the film The Red Shoes (1948), and writing scripts for Gracie Fields.

Returning to North America in the 1950s, Harron was featured in the inaugural season of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario as the male lead in All's Well That Ends Well and a minor part in Richard III and on Broadway and was one of the writers on the first English-language dramatic series broadcast in Canada, Sunshine Sketches, which aired from 1952 to 1953 on CBC Television. Harron also co-wrote the script for the 1956 television musical Anne of Green Gables. Harron later adapted the production for the stage in 1965 as Anne of Green Gables: The Musical, which continues to be performed annually during the Charlottetown Festival. According to Harron in a 2008 interview with the Calgary Herald, the stage show has provided work for more than 10,000 actors since its inception.

 

Donald Harron played Art Harris in the two-part The Outer Limits episode titled "The Inheritors" (1964), in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea ("Doomsday", 1965) as the naval missile officer aboard the SSRN Seaview who could not bring himself to perform his duties to launch nuclear missiles, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ("The Four-Steps Affair", also 1965) as an Australian U.N.C.L.E. agent named Kitt Kittridge, and in 12 O'Clock High ("The Ticket", 1965) as Lt. Crain. He guest-starred in the premiere episode of the television series Blue Light (1966), which was later edited together with the three following episodes to create the theatrical film I Deal in Danger. Harron starred in the original 1965 television pilot of The Man Who Never Was as Mark Wainwright but a change in sponsor led to the new sponsor requesting Robert Lansing in the role.

He made one appearance on the CBC Television show Adventures in Rainbow Country in the episode "The Frank Williams File" (1969). He has also been a host and interviewer on Canadian television and radio, hosting CBC Radio's Morningside from 1977 to 1982, for which he received an ACTRA Award for best radio host, and subsequently hosting an afternoon talk show, The Don Harron Show on CTV from 1983 to 1985. He had a featured role in Arthur Hiller's film The Hospital (1971), written by Paddy Chayefsky. He replaced Gene Wood as host of the game show Anything You Can Do from 1972 to 1974.

Director

Anne of Green Gables

TV Movie

Director

1958

 

Anne of Green Gables

6.0

TV Movie

Director

1956

 

Writer

Once (1981)

Once

Writer

1981

 

Hee Haw (1969)

Hee Haw

7.1

TV Series

writerwritten by

1970–1980

66 episodes

 

Snow Job

8.1

Short

Writer

1974

 

Cynthia Dale and Jennifer Dale in The Wonder of It All (1971)

The Wonder of It All

TV Movie

book

1971

 

CBC Show of the Week (1964)

CBC Show of the Week

TV Series

Writer

1969

1 episode

 

Anne of Green Gables

TV Movie

teleplay

1958

 

Anne Fielding in Folio (1955)

Folio

7.1

TV Series

Writer

1957

1 episode

 

Anne of Green Gables

6.0

TV Movie

Writer

1956

 

Sunshine Sketches

TV Series

Writer (1952-1953)

1952–1953

 

Actor

Bruce Hunter, Bob Martin, James Rankin, Dan Redican, and Gord Robertson in Puppets Who Kill (2002)

Puppets Who Kill

7.5

TV Series

Dalton Trumble

2005

1 episode

 

Patrick McKenna and Steve Smith in The Red Green Show (1991)

The Red Green Show

8.1

TV Series

CharlieCharlie Farquharson

2003–2004

3 episodes

 

Eckhart (2000)

Eckhart

7.8

TV Series

Ringmaster (voice)

2002

1 episode

 

John Candy, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, and Joe Flaherty in Really Weird Tales (1986)

Really Weird Tales

6.1

TV Movie

Wade Jeffries (segment "All's Well that Ends Strange") (as Don Harron)

1986

 

Ken Pogue, Winston Rekert, Dixie Seatle, and Jonathan Welsh in Adderly (1986)

Adderly

7.6

TV Series

Woodside

1986

1 episode

 

Peep

TV Movie

Professor Powell

1984

 

Hee Haw (1969)

Hee Haw

7.1

TV Series

Charlie FarquharsonHimsel

1969–1982

84 episodes

 

Riel (1979)

Riel

6.5

TV Movie

Donald Smith

1979

 

The Human Collision (1975)

The Human Collision

1975

 

Fair Weather Friends

TV Movie

Charlie Farquharson

1975

 

The Wayne & Shuster Comedy Special (1967)

The Wayne & Shuster Comedy Special

7.7

TV Series

1975

1 episode

 

And That's the News, Goodnight

TV Series

Charlie FarquharsonValerie Rosedaleothers

1974

 

Norman Corwin Presents (1971)

Norman Corwin Presents

6.7

TV Series

1972

1 episode

 

The Hospital (1971)

The Hospital

7.1

Milton Mead

1971

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

7.4

TV Series

George DamienEdward BolandPaul Laurence

1965–1971

3 episodes

 

Play for Today (1970)

Play for Today

7.8

TV Series

Reddick

1971

1 episode

 

CBC Show of the Week (1964)

CBC Show of the Week

TV Series

Charlie Farquharson

1969

1 episode

 

Adventures in Rainbow Country (1969)

Adventures in Rainbow Country

6.9

TV Series

Inspector Saunders (as Don Harron)

1969

1 episode

 

The Invaders (1967)

The Invaders

8.0

TV Series

Jeff Brower

1968

1 episode

 

Mosby's Marauders (1967)

Mosby's Marauders

6.1

Gen. Stoughton

1967

 

Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1965)

Please Don't Eat the Daisies

7.0

TV Series

Richard Webster

1967

1 episode

 

Walt Disney in The Magical World of Disney (1954)

The Magical World of Disney

8.3

TV Series

Gen. Edwin H. Stoughton

1967

2 episodes

 

Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Peter Graves, Peter Lupus, and Greg Morris in Mission: Impossible (1966)

Mission: Impossible

7.9

TV Series

Ernst Graff

1967

1 episode

 

One Hundred Years Young

TV Movie

Charlie Farquharson (as Don Harron)

1967

 

The Time Tunnel (1966)

The Time Tunnel

7.5

TV Series

Robin HoodEarl of Huntington

1966

1 episode

 

I Deal in Danger (1966)

I Deal in Danger

5.5

Spauling

1966

 

Festival (1960)

Festival

5.8

TV Series

AmosThomas Mendip

1962–1966

3 episodes

 

The Man Who Never Was (1966)

The Man Who Never Was

7.7

TV Series

1966–1967

1 episode

 

Armchair Theatre (1956)

Armchair Theatre

7.6

TV Series

Chuck Robinson

1966

1 episode

 

Blue Light (1966)

Blue Light

7.5

TV Series

Guy Spaulding

1966

1 episode

 

Burke's Law (1963)

Burke's Law

7.3

TV Series

Paul Kimbrell

1965

1 episode

 

12 O'Clock High (1964)

12 O'Clock High

8.1

TV Series

Master Sgt. TraskGroup Capt. Maurice BrailLieutenant Crain

1965

4 episodes

 

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

7.4

TV Series

1965

1 episode

 

David Janssen in The Fugitive (1963)

The Fugitive

8.1

TV Series

Major Christopher Beck

1965

1 episode

 

Benita Evans in CBS Repertoire Workshop (1960)

CBS Repertoire Workshop

TV Series

Edwin BoothEdwin Booth (mature)Werner

1960–1965

3 episodes

 

Profiles in Courage (1964)

Profiles in Courage

8.1

TV Series

Governor RandolphJohn Cotton

1965

2 episodes

 

Senta Berger, Robert Vaughn, and David McCallum in The Spy with My Face (1965)

The Spy with My Face

5.9

Kitt Kittridge

1965

 

James Franciscus in Mr. Novak (1963)

Mr. Novak

7.4

TV Series

Bud Walker

1965

1 episode

 

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964)

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

7.7

TV Series

Kitt Kittridge

1965

1 episode

 

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964)

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

7.2

TV Series

Corbett

1965

1 episode

 

The Outer Limits (1963)

The Outer Limits

8.2

TV Series

Art Harris

1964

2 episodes

 

Dr. Kildare (1961)

Dr. Kildare

7.0

TV Series

Dr. Ian MacDuff

1964

3 episodes

 

Espionage (1963)

Espionage

7.6

TV Series

Locke

1964

1 episode

 

Robert Reed and E.G. Marshall in The Defenders (1961)

The Defenders

7.9

TV Series

Professor Wilson

1963–1964

2 episodes

 

Playdate

7.1

TV Series

HenryMartin Miller

1962–1963

2 episodes

 

Fred Astaire in Alcoa Premiere (1961)

Alcoa Premiere

6.9

TV Series

Robert Devon

1962

1 episode

 

Cyrano De Bergerac

8.6

TV Movie

Christian de Neuvillette

1962

 

William Shatner and Basil Rathbone in Encounter (1952)

Encounter

7.5

TV Series

MartinMartin WilliamsJamie ...

1952–1961

11 episodes

 

Shirley Temple in Shirley Temple's Storybook (1958)

Shirley Temple's Storybook

7.3

TV Series

Prince

1961

1 episode

 

Moment of Fear (1960)

Moment of Fear

5.4

TV Series

1960

1 episode

 

Natalie Wood and Jacques Sernas in Camera Three (1954)

Camera Three

7.2

TV Series

1956–1960

2 episodes

 

Frontiers of Faith (1952)

Frontiers of Faith

7.0

TV Series

Toby

1960

1 episode

 

Walter Matthau in Play of the Week (1959)

Play of the Week

7.2

TV Series

Gregory HawkeHugo

1959–1960

2 episodes

 

One Step Beyond (1959)

One Step Beyond

7.8

TV Series

JamieWilliam

1959

1 episode

 

Brian Aherne, Diane Baker, Stephen Boyd, Joan Crawford, Robert Evans, Martha Hyer, Louis Jourdan, Hope Lange, and Suzy Parker in The Best of Everything (1959)

The Best of Everything

6.6

Sidney Carter

1959

 

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958)

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

7.8

TV Series

HarrisBooth

1958–1959

2 episodes

 

The Texan (1958)

The Texan

7.6

TV Series

Julian Dowd

1958

1 episode

 

Marsha Hunt and John Rodney in Studio One (1948)

Studio One

7.5

TV Series

Francis Fouche

1958

1 episode

 

Anne Fielding in Folio (1955)

Folio

7.1

TV Series

Tegeus Chromis

1958

1 episode

 

Matinee Theatre (1955)

Matinee Theatre

6.7

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

On Camera

6.5

TV Series

Tim

1956

1 episode

 

Producers' Showcase (1954)

Producers' Showcase

7.1

TV Series

Octavius

1956

1 episode

 

The Alcoa Hour (1955)

The Alcoa Hour

7.2

TV Series

Mickey DoranJack

1956

2 episodes

 

Omnibus (1952)

Omnibus

8.2

TV Series

Jack Purdie

1956

1 episode

 

Kraft Theatre (1947)

The United States Steel Hour

7.8

TV Series

Billy

1955

1 episode

 

Ruth

TV Movie

1955

 

The Sound Barrier (1952)

The Sound Barrier

6.7

ATA Officer (uncredited)

1952

 

BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950)

BBC Sunday-Night Theatre

7.2

TV Series

Hotel Receptionist

1951

1 episode

 

Self

Life and Times (1996)

Life and Times

7.9

TV Series

Self

2002

1 episode

 

The Joke's on Us: 50 Years of CBC Satire

4.8

TV Movie

Self

2002

 

The 2000 Canadian Comedy Awards

4.6

TV Special

Self - Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame Inductee

2000

 

Rick Green in Prisoners of Gravity (1989)

Prisoners of Gravity

8.4

TV Series

Charlie Farquharson

1991

1 episode

 

The Don Harron Show

TV Series

Self - Host

1983–1984

3 episodes

 

Hee Haw (1969)

Hee Haw

7.1

TV Series

SelfSelf - Charlie Farquharson

1971–1982

83 episodes

 

Canada After Dark (1978)

Canada After Dark

5.8

TV Series

SelfCharlie Farquharson

1978

1 episode

 

The Alan Hamel Show (1976)

The Alan Hamel Show

6.8

TV Series

Self (as Don Harron)

1978

1 episode

 

90 Minutes Live (1976)

90 Minutes Live

5.9

TV Series

SelfMrs. Charles Rosedale

1977–1978

2 episodes

 

The Bob Braun Show (1967)

The Bob Braun Show

2.6

TV Series

Charlie Farquharson - Country Comedian Hee Haw

1976

1 episode

 

Snow Job

8.1

Short

Local farmer

1974

 

Fletcher Markle in Telescope (1963)

Telescope

7.6

TV Series

Self

1972

1 episode

 

Anything You Can Do

TV Series

Host (1972)

1971

 

CBC Show of the Week (1964)

CBC Show of the Week

TV Series

Self - Host

1964

1 episode

 

Take Thirty (1962)

Take Thirty

7.1

TV Series

Self

1962

2 episodes

 

Look Up and Live (1954)

Look Up and Live

5.9

TV Series

SelfTrappist MonkSelf - Narrator

1959–1961

5 episodes

 

The Jackie Rae Show

TV Series

Self

1955

1 episode

 

The Big Revue

TV Series

Co-hostCharlie Farquharson

1952