https://lebeauleblog.com/2017/06/29/june-29-happy-birthday-nicole-scherzinger-and-ray-harryhausen/

Fred Grandy, who played Burl “Gopher Smith on The Love Boat and then became a Republican Congressman from Iowa, is turning 69.

Happy belated birthday, Mr. Grandy! He was born in the same month and in the same city as Jerry Mathers, who was born in Sioux City, Iowa on June 2, 1948.

Mr. Mathers' family moved to California when he was very young, allowing him to start his movie & tv career at a very young age.

Mr. Grandy remained in Iowa through his childhood until he attended Exeter Academy in New Hampshire for high school. He was a speechwriter for Sioux City's then-congressman, Wiley Mayne, and then eventually won Rep. Mayne's congressional seat for himself, holding it from 1987 to 1995.

Happy belated birthday, Mr. Grandy! He was born in the same month and in the same city as Jerry Mathers, who was born in Sioux City, Iowa on June 2, 1948.

Mr. Mathers' family moved to California when he was very young, allowing him to start his movie & tv career at a very young age.

Mr. Grandy remained in Iowa through his childhood until he attended Exeter Academy in New Hampshire for high school. He was a speechwriter for Sioux City's then-congressman, Wiley Mayne, and then eventually won Rep. Mayne's congressional seat for himself, holding it from 1987 to 1995.

Fred Grandy said he ''reached a plateau'' on The Love Boat, so he pivoted to politics (https://www.metv.com/stories/fred-grandy-said-he-reached-a-plateau-on-the-love-boat-so-he-pivoted-to-politics)

Gopher was a politician, too!