Mike Douglas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Douglas
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Douglas in 1966
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| Born |
Michael Delaney Dowd Jr.
August 11, 1921 |
| Died | August 11, 2006 (aged 85) Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, U.S.
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| Resting place | Riverside Memorial Park, Tequesta, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation | Singer, entertainer, talk show host, actor |
| Spouse(s) |
Genevieve Purnell
(m. 1943) |
| Children | 3 |
Michael Delaney Dowd Jr. (born August 11, 1921 – died August 11, 2006), known as Mike Douglas, was a famous American singer, entertainer, and TV talk show host. He was best known for hosting The Mike Douglas Show, a very popular television program. He was also an actor and sang with big bands.
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Early Life and First Steps in Music
Michael Dowd Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois. His family later moved to Forest Park, Illinois. He went to Proviso Township High School but left after his second year. After that, he started singing as a choirboy.
How Mike Douglas Started His Career
As a teenager, Dowd worked as a singer in nightclubs. He also sang on a dinner cruise ship on Lake Michigan. He became a "staff singer" at the Oklahoma City radio station WKY.
After serving in the United States Navy during World War II, he continued his singing career. He became a staff singer for WMAQ-TV in Chicago. Later, he moved to Los Angeles, California, and joined the big band of Kay Kyser as a singer.
Singing for Disney and More
Even as big band music became less popular, Mike Douglas had some hits with Kay Kyser. These included "Ole Buttermilk Sky" in 1946 and "The Old Lamp-Lighter" in 1947. Kay Kyser actually gave him his famous stage name, Mike Douglas.
In 1950, Mike Douglas had a special role. He provided the singing voice for Prince Charming in Walt Disney's classic movie Cinderella.
In the 1950s, he hosted a show called Showcase on WGN-TV in Chicago. He also sang on The Music Show for the DuMont Television Network.
Becoming a Talk Show Star
In 1961, Mike Douglas found a new path in Cleveland. A former colleague hired him to host an afternoon television talk show at KYW-TV. This show, The Mike Douglas Show, quickly became very popular.
The Show Goes National
By August 1963, The Mike Douglas Show was shown across the country. It became a nationally syndicated program. In 1965, Douglas and his show moved to Philadelphia.
The show's format was unique. Mike Douglas would invite a different celebrity to be his co-host for an entire week. These guests included famous people like Truman Capote, Richard Nixon, and Jerry Lewis. Music stars like The Rolling Stones and Kiss also appeared.
Helping New Stars and Winning Awards
The Mike Douglas Show helped introduce many new entertainers. These included future stars like Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin.
In 1966, Mike Douglas had his only Top 40 song as a solo artist, called "The Men in My Little Girl's Life". By 1967, his show was seen by 6 million viewers every day. In 1967, the program won the first Emmy Award for Individual Achievement in Daytime Television. At his peak, he earned a lot of money each year.
Memorable Moments on the Show
Mike Douglas was known for letting his guests speak freely. This sometimes led to interesting discussions. For example, soul singer James Brown once had a heated talk with producer David Susskind about race.
In 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono co-hosted the show for a whole week. This led to some unusual and memorable moments.
In July 1978, the show moved to Los Angeles. It stayed there until it ended in 1981 after a 20-year run. Near the end, the show tried a new format called The Mike Douglas Entertainment Hour, but it didn't help the ratings.
Other Achievements and Contributions
Mike Douglas became a local hero in Philadelphia. He often invited players from the city's sports teams onto his show. He especially loved the Philadelphia Eagles football team, calling them "Our Eagles."
He also helped the city's mayor, Frank Rizzo, fight against jokes about Philadelphia. Douglas was the main spokesperson for an "Anti-Defamation Agency" set up for this purpose. He also had an important interview with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Recognition and Later Work
In February 1976, Hollywood honored Mike Douglas. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Douglas sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the first Philadelphia Phillies game at Veterans Stadium in 1971. He also sang it before a football game in 1973.
He wrote two books about his life and career. He also wrote a cookbook with recipes from his family and show guests. In 2007, a new documentary film called Mike Douglas: Moments and Memories was shown on PBS.
Personal Life
Mike Douglas was married to Genevieve. They had three daughters: Kelly, Michele, and Christine. He also had several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Douglas had prostate cancer in 1990, but he recovered well after surgery. He died unexpectedly on August 11, 2006, which was his 85th birthday. He passed away at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
His wife, Genevieve, said he became dehydrated while golfing a few weeks before his death. He was treated at a hospital but could not recover. His body was buried in Riverside Memorial Park cemetery.
Legacy
The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia added Mike Douglas to their Hall of Fame in 2006. This happened after he passed away, honoring his important contributions to television.
Other Television and Film Appearances
- 1969: The Mike Douglas Christmas Special
- 1971: The Last Valley as Stoffel (uncredited)
- 1976: Gator as The Governor
- 1981: Greatest American Hero; guest appearance in the season two premiere
- 1982: Knots Landing; episode: "Svengali"
- 1983: The Love Boat as Marv Mason
See also
- The Mike Douglas Show
