Donald May facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donald May
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May in 1971
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| Born | February 22, 1929 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | January 28, 2022 (aged 92) Kent, New York, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Oklahoma |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1956–1993 |
| Known for | The Edge of Night |
| Spouse(s) |
Ellen Cameron
(m. 1951; div. 1984)Carla Borelli |
| Children | 2 |
Donald Adam May (born February 22, 1929 – died January 28, 2022) was an American actor. He was well-known for his roles in TV shows like Colt .45 and The Edge of Night.
Contents
Early Life
Donald May was born in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Leontine Frances and Harry Stuart May. He went to elementary school in Houston, Texas. Later, he graduated from Shaker Heights High School in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1949, he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma. After college, Donald May joined the U.S. Navy in 1951. He served for four years and was discharged in 1955.
Acting Career
Even before finishing college, Donald May started acting. In 1948, he performed in summer plays in Surrey, Maine. After graduating, he acted on stage in Albany, New York, and Brattleboro, Vermont. He also appeared in films for the Signal Corps.
His first TV role was in 1956. He played Cadet Charles C. Thompson in the ABC military drama The West Point Story.
Famous TV Roles
From 1959 to 1960, Donald May took over a main role in the TV western Colt .45. He played "Sam Colt, Jr.," who was a cousin to the show's original lead character.
He also appeared in many other TV shows from Warner Bros.. These included Sugarfoot, Cheyenne, 77 Sunset Strip, Hawaiian Eye, and Surfside 6.
From 1960 to 1962, he had a regular role in The Roaring 20s. He played Pat Garrison, a newspaper reporter, in 42 episodes.
Other Appearances
In 1962, Donald May played a doctor named Paul Larson in a TV pilot. This episode was part of the ABC drama series Bus Stop. That same year, he was Major Thompson in an episode of the war drama Combat!.
He also appeared in films. In 1964, he was in A Tiger Walks and Kisses for My President. In Kisses for My President, he played a Secret Service agent. Two years later, in 1966, he was in Follow Me, Boys!, a movie about the Boy Scouts of America.
Donald May also guest-starred on many popular shows. These included Barnaby Jones, The Dukes of Hazzard, Dallas, and Falcon Crest. He also appeared on Fantasy Island.
Soap Operas
Donald May was a well-known face in soap operas. From 1967 to 1977, he played Adam Drake, a crime-fighting lawyer, in The Edge of Night. This was one of his most famous roles.
He also played Grant Wheeler in Texas from 1981 to 1982. He had other recurring roles in One Life to Live and All My Children.
His last acting role was in 1993. He appeared as Andrew Laraby in an episode of the legal drama L.A. Law.
Personal Life and Death
Donald May was married twice. His first marriage was to Ellen Cameron from 1951 to 1984. They had two sons together. Later, he married actress Carla Borelli. Carla Borelli also appeared in the TV shows Texas and Falcon Crest.
Donald May passed away on January 28, 2022. He was 92 years old and died from laryngeal cancer at his home in Kent, New York.
External Sources
- Donald May at The New York Times
- Clips from Texas episodes
