Dirk Wayne Summers obit

Dirk Wayne Summers Has Died

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Dirk Wayne Summers was born on June 9, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a writer and actor, known for The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters (1986), Biosphere 2 (1991) and The Global Forum (1990). He died on September 27, 2021 in San Diego, California, USA.

Always ahead of his time, Mr. Summers created two "boy-bands" in the early 1980s - "Outre" and "The Wumblies" - long before *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, and others filled this market in the late 1990s.

Son of Kate Davenport. Cousin of Arthur Rankin Jr. and Wallace Reid Jr.. Grandson of Harry Davenport and Phyllis Rankin. Great-grandson of McKee Rankin. Nephew of Ned Davenport, Ann Davenport, Dorothy Davenport, Wallace Reid and Arthur Rankin. Great-nephew of Mrs. Sidney Drew and Doris Rankin.

He has received two EMMY nominations: for writing; and for producing; the 1972 film Survival of Spaceship Earth (1972).

Because Chicago was home to Radio in its early days, as a child actor Dirk spent each "radio-season" (from September to May) in the 'Windy City.' His grandmother, Georgianna Hall, who mostly raised him, decided to turn over Dirk's formal education to the Jesuits and Religious School.

Apparently an A student, Dirk was advanced & skipped one year of grammar school, then completed his four years of high-school in under two years. He entered the University of Illinois (Urbana campus) (on a Scholarship) before his sixteenth birthday.

While at the University of Illinois he became a member of Phi Beta.

Professor Wesley Swanson (head of the University Theatre Arts department) remembered seeing Dirk as a boy in a Chicago production of "Bury The Dead;" and asked him to join his class and performance company. Subsequently Dirk was featured in several school productions, a few of which toured other cities and University campuses.

In the 1970s, he collaborated with his best friend (from grammar school days in Chicago) actress Joan Marshall, co-scripting TV sitcoms.

In 1959, he co-starred in a national tour of Sally Benson's "The Young And The Beautiful". Author Benson was the writer of the book that later became the memorable film Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), featuring Mr. Summers' grandfather, the beloved actor Harry Davenport.

Was named legal guardian for companion June Allyson and her late husband Dick Powell's children Richard Powell and Pamela Powell, as a result of a court petition.

First met June Allyson on the set of Little Women (1949). June was a major star at MGM. Dirk, who was visiting his grandfather, Harry Davenport, on the film set, was just 17. Dirk bore a striking resemblance to Van Johnson, June's favorite on-screen partner. They were together from 1962-75. During this time, June went through a bitter court battle with her mother over custody of her son, Richard Powell, and adopted daughter, Pamela Powell. June's mother told the court that June "was an unfit mother". The judge apparently agreed and court records show that Dirk was named legal guardian for Richard Powell and Pamela Powell. This long-drawn out legal case and June's increasing alcoholism caused a major break in their relationship. Dirk finally moved on.

When his friend, actress Joan Marshall, married business executive Mel Bartfield in 1990 in Los Angeles, he performed the wedding ceremony. Dirk became an ordained minister in 1969.

 

Writer

Biosphere 2

7.3

Writer

1991

 

The Global Forum

7.4

Writer

1990

 

Jonathan Winters in The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters (1986)

The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters

Writer

1986

 

Our Voices Ourselves

5.6

TV Movie

Writer

1982

 

Harnessing the Sun

9.1

Writer

1981

 

Project U.F.O. (1978)

Project U.F.O.

7.1

TV Series

writer

1978–1979

 

Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974)

Kolchak: The Night Stalker

8.4

TV Series

Writer (uncredited)

1974–1975

2 episodes

 

James Drury in Firehouse (1974)

Firehouse

7.7

TV Series

writer

1974

 

Kojak (1973)

Kojak

7.1

TV Series

writer

1973–1978

 

Brian Fong, Michael Richardson, Mitchell Ryan, and Reid Smith in Chase (1973)

Chase

7.3

TV Series

writer

1973–1974

 

Survival of Spaceship Earth

6.8

Writer (as Dirk Summers)

1972

 

Kate Jackson, Georg Stanford Brown, Sam Melville, and Michael Ontkean in The Rookies (1972)

The Rookies

6.8

TV Series

Writer

1972–1976

 

The Trackers (1971)

The Trackers

6.0

TV Movie

Writer (uncredited)

1971

 

Ralph Bellamy, George Maharis, and Yvette Mimieux in The Most Deadly Game (1970)

The Most Deadly Game

6.7

TV Series

Writer

1970–1971

 

Joan Marshall in The Great Sex War (1969)

The Great Sex War

6.2

writer

1969

 

The New People (1969)

The New People

7.3

TV Series

Writer (uncredited)

1969–1970

 

Peggy Lipton, Michael Cole, and Clarence Williams III in Mod Squad (1968)

Mod Squad

7.0

TV Series

writer

1968–1973

 

Darren McGavin in The Outsider (1968)

The Outsider

7.9

TV Series

writer

1968–1969

 

Five for Revenge (1966)

Five for Revenge

5.0

Writer

1966

 

Actor

Crown Theatre with Gloria Swanson (1952)

Crown Theatre with Gloria Swanson

2.8

TV Series

1954

1 episode

 

The Good Samaritan

TV Movie

Young King of Saxony

1954

 

Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)

Hallmark Hall of Fame

8.2

TV Series

Cast Member

Cast Member 1951-1952

1951–1952

2 episodes

 

Rock Hudson, Robert Arthur, Charles Drake, Richard Long, Stephen McNally, Alex Nicol, and Gail Russell in Air Cadet (1951)

Air Cadet

5.6

Cadet (uncredited)

1951

 

Joan Caulfield and Robert Cummings in The Petty Girl (1950)

The Petty Girl

6.0

Student (uncredited)

1950

 

Yvonne De Carlo and Richard Greene in The Desert Hawk (1950)

The Desert Hawk

5.5

Soldier (uncredited)

1950

 

Chicago Deadline (1949)

Chicago Deadline

6.3

Copyboy (uncredited)

1949

 

Don 'Red' Barry, Otto Kruger, and Lynne Roberts in The Chicago Kid (1945)

The Chicago Kid

7.0

Copy Boy (uncredited)

1945

 

Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind (1939)

Gone with the Wind

8.2

Youngest Boy in Band (uncredited)

1939

 

Producer

Biosphere 2

7.3

producer

1991

 

The Global Forum

7.4

producer

1990

 

Jonathan Winters in The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters (1986)

The Wonderful World of Jonathan Winters

producer

1986

 

Our Voices Ourselves

5.6

TV Movie

producer

1982

 

Harnessing the Sun

9.1

producer

1981

 

Survival of Spaceship Earth

6.8

producer (as Dirk Summers)

1972

 

The Trackers (1971)

The Trackers

6.0

TV Movie

creative producer (uncredited)

1971

 

Joan Marshall in The Great Sex War (1969)

The Great Sex War

6.2

producer

1969

 

Five for Revenge (1966)

Five for Revenge

5.0

creative producer (uncredited)

1966