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Yale Summers
Inger Stevens The Farmer's Daughter 1964.JPG
Yale Summers guest starring with Sharon Hugueny (right) in a May 1964 episode of Inger Stevens' sitcom The Farmer's Daughter
Born (1933-07-26)July 26, 1933
Manhattan, New York, US
Died May 6, 2012(2012-05-06) (aged 78)
Nationality American
Occupation Actor
Years active 1961–2009
Spouse(s) Suzanne Ried Summers
Children 2

Yale Summers (born July 26, 1933 – died May 6, 2012) was an American actor and producer. He was best known for his role in the 1960s CBS television series, Daktari. Besides acting, Yale Summers was very involved with the Screen Actors Guild, a union for actors.

Yale Summers' Acting Journey

Yale Summers was born in Manhattan, New York. He started his acting career in 1961 with a small part in the film Mad Dog Coll. Most of his work was on television.

He had a regular role on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital, playing Dr. Bob Ayres from 1964 to 1965. His most famous role was Jack Dane on Daktari, which aired from 1966 to 1968. Later, from 1972 to 1974, he played Rodney Harrington in the NBC series Return to Peyton Place.

Summers also made guest appearances on many other TV shows. These included Land of the Giants, My Favorite Martian, My Three Sons, The Outer Limits, Quincy, M.E., Fantasy Island, and The Donna Reed Show.

Helping Fellow Actors: His Union Work

Yale Summers was deeply involved with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). This is a union that helps actors with their rights and working conditions. He was a member of SAG's national board of directors for 27 years. He also served on the national executive committee for 18 years.

He helped start the SAG Awards Committee and was its chairman for some time. He also co-founded and produced the Screen Actors Guild Awards show from 1995 to 2009.

Summers was also the national treasurer and recording secretary for SAG. He helped manage the SAG Pension and Health Funds. In 2008, SAG gave him the Ralph Morgan Award for all his hard work and dedication to the union.

He was also active with another actors' union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). He spent 24 years on the national AFTRA board and its Los Angeles chapter. SAG and AFTRA later joined together in March 2012, shortly before Summers passed away.

Life Outside Acting

Yale Summers was the only child of Joseph and Edlie Neuvohner. He earned a degree in business from Cornell University in 1955. After college, he served in the United States Army and became a lieutenant.

In 1967, he married actress Suzanne Ried. They had two children, including Jolie Elean Summers. He also had two grandchildren when he died.

Film and TV Roles

Yale Summers appeared in several films and many television shows throughout his career.

Films

Films
Year Title Role
1961 Mad Dog Coll Gambler (uncredited)
1977 If You Loved Me Don
2000 $pent Max's Father (uncredited)

Television Shows

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1962 The Dick Powell Theater Jeff "330 Independence S.W."
1962 Window on Main Street Fred "It's Blessed to Receive"
1962 The Gallant Men Young Officer (uncredited) "Some Tears Fall Dry"
1962 Cheyenne Lieutenant Jackson "Johnny Brassbuttons"
1963 The Untouchables Student (uncredited) "The Snowball"
1963 General Hospital Dr. Bob Ayres
1963 The Donna Reed Show Howard "The New Look", "Big Wheel"
1963 Channing Fraternity President "Exercise in a Shark Tank"
1963 The New Phil Silvers Show TBC
1963 The Lieutenant Lt. Barry Everest "The Two Star Giant", "A Touching of Hands"
1964 My Favorite Martian Intern "RX for a Martian"
1964 The Outer Limits Buddy Lyman "Second Chance"
1964 The Farmer's Daughter Paul Layton "Mismatch Maker"
1964 Karen Hoot Dubbins "Surfer's Aide"
1964 Twelve O'Clock High Lt. Charley Vale "Appointment at Liege"
1966-68 Daktari Jack Dane
1969 The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Walter Emmons "One Small Step for Man"
1970 Land of the Giants Andre "Nightmare"
1971 The Smith Family Mr. Bower "Cindy"
1971 O'Hara, U.S. Treasury Freshno Agent "Operation: Stolen Bonds"
1971 McMillan & Wife George Fairborn "The Easy Sunday Murder Case"
1972 Arnie Dougie Pritchett "Room at the Top"
1965-72 My Three Sons Multiple roles
1972 Return to Peyton Place Rodney Harrington #2
1974 Big Rose: Double Trouble James Mayhew TV Movie
1975 The Blue Knight Clark "Two to Make Deadly"
1976 Emergency! Manager "The Tycoons"
1977 Switch Porter Collins "Butterfly Mourning"
1970-78 This Is the Life Multiple roles
1978 The Amazing Captain Nemo Sirak TV Movie
1978 Fantasy Island Philip "I Want to Get Married/The Jewel Thief"
1979 Quincy M.E. Coroner "Walking Softly Through the Night: Part 1, Part 2"
1979 240-Robert Mr. Kline "The Apology"

His Final Years

Yale Summers passed away in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 78. He died from problems related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung condition.

Ed Asner, a fellow actor and former SAG President, shared kind words about Summers. He said that Yale was a good man and friend who truly believed in the union. Asner added that Summers always put the best interests of the union first.

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