Gavin MacLeod (1931-2021)

[Zoneboy]

https://tinyurl.com/5tn27ryx

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Television actor Gavin MacLeod of “The Love Boat” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” has died. He was 90.

MacLeod died early Saturday, his nephew, Mark See, told Variety. MacLeod’s health had been poor recently but no cause of death was given, the trade publication reported.

MacLeod achieved stardom as Murray Slaughter, the sardonic TV news writer on the 1970s comedy “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

He went to a lead role, and bigger fame, as the cheerful Capt. Stubing on “The Love Boat.” Early in his career, he was featured on “McHale’s Navy” from 1962 to 1964 as seaman Joseph “Happy” Haines.

His movie credits included “Kelly’s Heroes,” “The Sand Pebbles,” “The Sword of Ali Baba,” “War Hunt” and “The Crime Busters.” Among his more recent TV credits were “Touched By An Angel,” “JAG” and “The King of Queens.”

[OH Nuts!]

May he R.I.P.

[Yong Fang]

My mother was also born in 1931 and died in 2018 so Gavin had three more years of life than my mother ever had.

[PracTz]

It was a tricky line playing someone who openly admired Mary (and fantasized about wanting to be with her) while never actually crossing the line to either flirt with her or seriously consider leaving his devoted wife Marie - while keeping the laughs going but Mr. MacLeod did it flawlessly! RIP, Mr. MacLeod!

[Yong Fang]

I went to college with a nice guy named Gavin. At the time I told him, “I only know one other Gavin, you and....” (us together), the guy from the Mary Tyler Moore Show/ Murray Slaughter/Love Boat (it was 35 years ago).”

I have since known another Gavin, a Brit who I didn’t like. We almost came to blows one night but fortunately haven’t seen him in years.

[Yong Fang]

For me, I am now about fifteen years older than Mary then (I am now 13 years older than her when the show went off first run in 1977.)

I am the first one who would tell you Mary was a nice looking woman and she did have a beautiful body. She was sexually attractive. But the character’s personality I found a bit grating. I found her to be a bit judgmental, a bit above it all, in short to have a relationship with her would be annoying because she was annoying. Rhoda would have been a fantastic girlfriend. She was beautiful, rarely judged people outside of her mother, was fun and was more open minded. Mary was an old lady before her time.

I have said before that in the Mary Tyler Moore Show universe, Lou and Murray would have been dead for many years, Lou from the effects of drink, stress and weight (Asner is still obese and 91, my hero), this was mainly from the MTM show and now from his show “Lou Grant”, but still. Murray to me was psychologically depressed, just an unhappy individual. The guy had to find things to laugh about and actually Ted was good therapy for him because Murray had something to laugh and joke about to make his day, and he had Mary as a friend, and kids who loved him. But in the MTM Show universe, Mary and Rhoda are kicking it in a very nice assisted living home having fun and games with the fogies (Mary had a boyfriend named Rob Petrie whose wife Laura died after 58 years of marriage). TV universe is different from real life.

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

I went to college with a nice guy named Gavin. At the time I told him, “I only know one other Gavin, you and....” (us together), the guy from the Mary Tyler Moore Show/ Murray Slaughter/Love Boat (it was 35 years ago).”

I have since known another Gavin, a Brit who I didn’t like. We almost came to blows one night but fortunately haven’t seen him in years.

Ironically, Mr. MacLeod's original name was Alan George See .However, for his performing name, he chose 'Gavin' after a mentally challenged character he once played and 'MacLeod' after an acting teacher's surname because he didn't think his original name had much marquee appeal.

[AB]

Rest in peace.