{{Short description|American actor (1903–1982)}} {{Use American English|date=October 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Don Dillaway | image = Don Dillaway in Young as You Feel (1931) 2.jpg | caption = Dillaway in ''Young as You Feel'' (1931) | birth_name = Donald Provost Dillaway | birth_date = {{Birth date|1903|03|17|mf=yes}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|1982|11|18|1903|03|17|mf=yes}} | death_place = Westlake Village, California, U.S. | resting_place = Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, Westlake Village, California | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1929–1967 }}
'''Donald Provost Dillaway''' (March 17, 1903 – November 18, 1982) was an American stage and film actor.
==Early years== Dillaway's mother, billed as Nettie Gordon, sang in vaudeville. Because she and his father insisted on a professional career for him, he studied law in Buffalo. He disliked that profession so much, however, that he moved to New York. Eventually his parents accepted his preference for entertaining and encouraged him in that career.<ref>{{cite news |title=Young Actor Studied Law |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111332359/don-dillaway/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 14, 1931 |page=49|via = Newspapers.com}}</ref>
==Career== Dillaway had numerous appearances on Broadway. His Broadway debut came in ''The Backslapper'' (1925).<ref>{{cite web |title=("Donald Dillaway" search results) |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/donald-dillaway-67334 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103034236/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/donald-dillaway-67334 |archivedate=3 January 2018 |accessdate=3 January 2018 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League}}</ref>
In 1927, Dillaway was one of seven actors who were found guilty in New York City of participating in the production of an obscene play, ''The Virgin Man''. They received suspended sentences, and three producers of the play were fined $250 each and sentenced to 10 days in the workhouse.<ref name="deo">{{cite news|title=Cast of "Virgin Man" Found Guilty And Fined|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16217332/don_dillaway/|work=Dunkirk Evening Observer|agency=United Press|date=28 March 1927|location=New York, Dunkirk|page=15|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = January 2, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref>
In 1928, Dillaway acted with the Lakewood Players.<ref>{{cite news |title=Buddies is big success |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111331673/morning-sentinel/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |work=Morning Sentinel |date=June 21, 1928 |location=Maine, Waterville |page=8|via = Newspapers.com}}</ref> He also acted with Otis Skinner in ''Papa Juan'' for two seasons.<ref name="nj">{{cite news |title=Makes film debut |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111331970/don-dillaway/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |work=News-Journal |date=September 18, 1930 |location=Ohio, Mansfield |page=15|via = Newspapers.com}}</ref>
Dillaway's film debut came in ''Meet the Widow'' (1930).<ref name="nj" /> He had supporting roles in several films of the 1930s, including ''Pack Up Your Troubles'' in 1932, the second feature film from Laurel and Hardy. His roles became gradually smaller in the 1940s and 1950s, usually uncredited bit parts.
His numerous TV appearances include ''Maverick'', ''Bonanza'', ''Perry Mason'', ''The Munsters'', ''Run for Your Life'', ''Leave It To Beaver'' and ''The Big Valley''. His final role before retiring in 1967 was in ''The Wild Wild West''.
After he left acting, Dillaway worked as head of RKO's New Talent Department, and he was an agent for actors. Later he had his own real estate agency.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hutton |first1=Ed |title=Here and There |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111331094/valley-times/ |access-date=October 15, 2022 |work=Valley Times |date=June 5, 1953 |location=California, North Hollywood |page=5|via = Newspapers.com}}</ref>
==Death== He died in Westlake Village, California at age 79. He was buried in Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, Westlake Village, California.{{Citation needed |date=October 2021}}
==Filmography== [[File:The-Magnificent-Ambersons-1.jpg|thumb|260px|right|Richard Bennett, Joseph Cotten, Dolores Costello, Don Dillaway, Agnes Moorehead and Ray Collins in ''The Magnificent Ambersons'' (1942)]] *''The Interview'' (1929) as The Cub Reporter (film debut) *''Cimarron'' (1931) as Adult Cim (uncredited) *''Young as You Feel'' (1931) as Billy Morehouse *''Platinum Blonde'' (1931) as Michael Schuyler *''Men in Her Life'' (1931) as Dick Webster * ''The Night Mayor'' (1932) *''Pack Up Your Troubles'' (1932) as Eddie Smith *''The Animal Kingdom'' (1932) as Joe Fiske *''Cross-Examination'' (1932) as David Wells *''Attorney for the Defense'' (1932) as Paul Wallace *''The Important Witness'' (1933) as Steve Connors *''The Little Giant'' (1933) as Gordon Cass * ''Marriage on Approval'' (1933) as Larry Bennett * ''Under Secret Orders'' (1933) as Henry Ames * ''The Circus Clown'' (1934) as Jack *''Cipher Bureau'' (1938) as Paul Waring *''Horror Island'' (1941) as Sailor (uncredited) *''The Postman Didn't Ring'' (1942) as Reporter (uncredited) *''The Magnificent Ambersons'' (1942) as Wilbur Minafer (uncredited) *''Over My Dead Body'' (1942) as Reporter *''Gangway for Tomorrow'' (1943) as Frank Danielson *''Gunmen of Abilene'' (1950) as Bill Harper *''Plymouth Adventure'' (1952) - Stephen Hopkins *''The Caine Mutiny'' (1954) as George (uncredited) *''Tarantula'' (1955) as Jim Bagny (uncredited) *''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' (Season 1 Episode 39: "Momentum") (1956) as Policeman *''Sunrise at Campobello'' (1960) as Sloan (uncredited) *''The Absent Minded Professor'' (1961) as Defense Department Secretary (uncredited) *''Back Street'' (1961) as Cleve (final film, uncredited)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Don Dillaway}} *{{IMDb name|0226858}} *{{IBDB name|67334}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dillaway, Don}} Category:1903 births Category:1982 deaths Category:American male film actors Category:Burials at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery Category:20th-century American male actors Category:Burials at Valley Oaks Memorial Park Category:Male actors from New York City