Don Grady facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Don Grady
Grady in My Three Sons, 1969
Born	Don Louis Agrati (1944-06-08)June 8, 1944 San Diego, California, U.S.
Died	June 27, 2012(2012-06-27) (aged 68) Thousand Oaks, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, musician, composer
Years active	1954–2006
Notable work	Mouseketeer on The Mickey Mouse Club, My Three Sons
Spouse(s)	Julie Boonisar ​ (m. 1976⁠–⁠1979)​ (divorced), Virginia Lewsader ​ (m. 1985)​

Don Grady (born Don Louis Agrati; June 8, 1944 – June 27, 2012) was an American actor, composer, and musician. He was famous for being one of the Mouseketeers on The Mickey Mouse Club. He also played Robbie Douglas on the long-running TV show My Three Sons. During his music career, he was a solo singer and the drummer for the pop band The Yellow Balloon.

Don Grady's Early Life and Career

Don Louis Agrati was born in San Diego, California. His mother, Mary B., was a talent agent. His father, Lou Anthony Agrati, made sausages. Don grew up in Lafayette, California. He later moved to Burbank and graduated from Burbank High School in 1962. His sister, Lanita, also became an actress known as Lani O'Grady.

Don started acting in TV shows called Westerns. He appeared in series like The Restless Gun, Have Gun – Will Travel, and Wagon Train. He also played two different roles in The Rifleman.

In 1960, Don Grady began his most famous role. He played Robbie Douglas in the TV show My Three Sons. This show lasted for 11 years! It first aired on ABC, then moved to CBS in 1965.

Music and My Three Sons

While working on My Three Sons, Don was also busy with music. His own band, The Greefs, even appeared on the show. He wrote two songs for the series: "A Good Man To Have Around The House" and "Leaving It Up To You."

Don was also the drummer for a band called The Yellow Balloon. Their song, which was also called "The Yellow Balloon," became a small hit in 1967.

On My Three Sons, Don's character, Robbie, changed over time. At first, he was the middle brother. But when the oldest brother, Mike, left the show, Robbie became the confident older brother. A new younger son, Ernie, was adopted into the family.

After My Three Sons

After 11 years, Don Grady decided to leave My Three Sons at the end of 1970. He wanted to focus on his music career. He said that playing Robbie had become too easy and didn't challenge him anymore.

Don became a successful composer. He wrote music for the movie Switch. He also wrote the theme song for The Phil Donahue Show. Another big project was the music for EFX, a large stage show in Las Vegas.

In 2008, Don released an album called Boomer: JazRokPop. This album had songs he wrote about the baby boomer generation. It was his first album of original songs since 1973.

Don Grady's Family Life

Don Grady's parents divorced when he started My Three Sons. He later said that the show's producers and actor Fred MacMurray were like father figures to him.

Don's first marriage to Julie Boonisar ended in 1979. They did not have children. In 1985, Don married Virginia "Ginny" Lewsader. They met at Disneyland. Don and Ginny had two children, Joey and Tessa. They were married for 27 years.

Don Grady passed away on June 27, 2012, at the age of 68. He died from myeloma, a type of cancer, in Thousand Oaks, California. He is buried in Westlake Village, California.

Filmography