Michael Anderson Jr.

Michael Anderson Jr.
Anderson in 1974
Born
Michael Joseph Anderson Jr.

(1943-08-06) 6 August 1943 (age 81)
Hillingdon, Middlesex, England
OccupationActor
Years active1956–1998
Spouses
Vikki Harrington
​
​
(m. 1966; div. 1973)​
Maria O'Brien
​
​
(m. 1976; div. 1984)​
Marina Anderson
​
​
(m. 1986; div. 1990)​
Children4
FatherMichael Anderson
RelativesAdrienne Ellis (stepmother)
Laurie Holden (stepsister)
Don Murray and Michael Anderson Jr. in an episode of Police Story (1975)

Michael Joseph Anderson Jr. (born 6 August 1943) is a British and American retired actor whose 40-year career includes roles in The Sundowners, In Search of the Castaways,[1] The Sons of Katie Elder,[2] and Logan's Run. During the 1966 television season he starred as Clayt Monroe in The Monroes.[3]

Early life

Anderson was born in Hillingdon, England on 6 August 1943,[4] the son of Betty Jordan and film director Michael Anderson. He grew up wanting to act in his father's films. He studied drama and ballet at Arts Educational Schools, London, and by the age of 8 began performing on live radio and television shows.[5] He also danced with the London Festival Ballet, now the English National Ballet.[4]

American acting career

Anderson's first major American film was The Sundowners (1960). In 1962 he was cast as John Glenarvan in the Walt Disney film In Search of the Castaways.[4]

From 7 September 1966, to 30 August 1967, Anderson played 18-year-old Clayt Monroe, one of five orphaned siblings, in the ABC Western series The Monroes.[6] Before the series filming began it was reported that Anderson "spent five months getting rid of his English accent."[3]

In 1976, Anderson finally had a chance to act in one of his father's films, playing Doc in Logan's Run.[7]

Personal life

Anderson dated actress Cheryl Holdridge in 1964 and had previously proposed to Haley Mills.[8]

Anderson married three times. From 1966 to 1973, he was married to Victoria Harrington. They had three children. From 1976 to 1984, he was married Maria O’Brien. They had one child. From 1986 to 1990, he was married to Marina Anderson.[5]

On 12 December 1988, Anderson became a naturalized United States citizen. He retired from acting in 1998.[5]

Filmography

References

  1. ^ Maltin, Leonard (1990). Leonard Maltin's TV Movies and Video Guide (1991 ed.). New York: New American Library. p. 558. ISBN 978-0-4511-6748-4.
  2. ^ The Sons of Katie Elder, The Big Trail, October, 1994, page 7[full citation needed]
  3. ^ a b Witbeck, Charles (23 September 1966). "New TV Western Long on Simplicity". Shreveport Journal. p. D7. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Michael Anderson Jr...Rising Star". Amarillo Globe-Times. 18 June 1965. p. 26.
  5. ^ a b c Aaker, Everett (16 May 2017). Television Western Players, 1960 – 1975. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. pp. 13–14. ISBN 978-1-4766-2856-1. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  6. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (24 June 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946 – Present (1st ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. pp. 413–414. ISBN 978-0-3074-8320-1. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  7. ^ Sugerman, Michael; Barnes, Mike (28 April 2018). "Michael Anderson, Director of 'Logan's Run' and 'Around the World in 80 Days,' Dies at 98". The Hollywood Reporter.
  8. ^ Mike's Love Life, by Marilyn Beck, Teen Life magazine, April 1964

Further reading

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