King Moody

King Moody
Moody as Spacecraft Captain in Teenagers from Outer Space (1959)
Born(1929-12-06)December 6, 1929
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 7, 2001(2001-02-07) (aged 71)
Tarzana, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1959–1992
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1960; div. 1979)​
Jacqueline L. Larson
​
​
(m. 1981; div. 1984)​

Robert "King" Moody (December 6, 1929 – February 7, 2001) was an American actor, best known for playing Shtarker in the television series Get Smart and for his portrayal as Ronald McDonald in the McDonald's commercials from 1969 to 1985.[1][2][3]

Early life

Moody was born in New York City on December 6, 1929.[4]

Career

Moody played the spaceship captain in Teenagers From Outer Space and various other roles in forty movies and television episodes, including Bonanza, The Bob Newhart Show, CHiPs, Combat!, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Dragnet, and Sea Hunt. He became the fifth portrayer of Ronald McDonald in 1969, playing the character for 16 years in McDonald's commercials, until 1985.[3]

Personal life

Moody married Rachel Rosenthal in 1960; the marriage lasted for nineteen years before they divorced in 1979.[5] He married his second wife Jacqueline L. Larson in 1981, but they divorced in 1984 after three years of marriage.

Death

Moody died on February 7, 2001 in Tarzana, California at the age of 71.[4]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1959 Teenagers from Outer Space Spacecraft Captain
1962 The Nun and the Sergeant Pollard
Terror at Black Falls Billy, barroom tough-guy
1963 Five Minutes to Love Blowhard
1964 The Glass Cage Tox Milner
1966 Any Wednesday Milkman
1968 The Destructors Patch
P.J. Thorson Friend Uncredited
Sweet November Digby
The Shakiest Gun in the West Ernie Uncredited
1970 The Strawberry Statement TV Newscaster
Which Way to the Front? Checkpoint Guard #2 Uncredited
1972 Get to Know Your Rabbit TV Reporter
1989 Wedding Band Detective
1991 The Dark Backward Twinkee Doodle
1992 The Nutt House Victor Kaplan (final film role)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1960–1961 Sea Hunt Consul Baumer, Dr. Herschel, Heinrich Maus 3 episodes
1966–1969 Get Smart Markovich, Kirsch, Starker, KAOS Scientist 10 episodes
1967 Combat! Toulon Episode: "Entombed"
1989 Get Smart, Again! Starker TV movie

References

  1. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 386. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  2. ^ "THE UNCLASSIFIED GET SMART SITE". www.ilovegetsmart.com. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  3. ^ a b "Origins Of Ronald McDonald & McDonaldland". Beneath The Golden Arches (Archived). SimonsWebsite.co.uk. 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b "King Moody". www.aveleyman.com. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  5. ^ "Rachel Rosenthal". Omni. 14 (11): 57–58. August 1992.


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