Why did Fred MacMurray completely change his screen persona in the 1960s? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 07-29-2025, 07:48 PM

Why did he become such a G rated dull actor during a decade in which he should had kept more of his previous persona (when he was appearing in films like The Apartment, The Caine Mutiny, and Double Indemnity in particular)?

Is this a good clue here:

Quote:

“Fred MacMurray was a well-established film star when he was approached by executive producer Don Fedderson about starring in a TV series. MacMurray agreed with two conditions: one, that he would own a percentage of the show, and two, that he only would be required to work three months of each year. In reality, MacMurray was a dedicated family man, and after years of being away on movie sets had planned to retire early and spend the majority of his time at home with his wife and four-year-old twin daughters. But the money Fedderson offered him was too tempting to pass up—and would secure his children’s future—so he signed on to play the widowed patriarch on My Three Sons. “

biffbronson · 07-30-2025, 05:23 AM

Do you think it's fair to dismiss Fred as a "G rated dull actor" -- what did you expect of him, this was a sitcom. This has to be the most idiotic comment ever posted on the My Three Sons forum. Why not play a sitcom dad, TV offered different roles than just the Film Noir stuff you apparently favor and consider so exciting.

Why don't you stop and consider fairness. What did you want, a show titled "My Three Sons and I, a Quasi-Criminal" -- ? Just how was Fred more "dull" than any other 60s sitcom dad actor? Let us know. Stupid and ridiculous.

On M3S his character had shots fired at him, he traveled to 5 or more foreign countries, he got remarried, he adopted a son and later a daughter as well, he was a successful aircraft engineer, he got taken into police custody, he dated several ladies, he put on robot and tree costumes, he ran a distance marathon, he took home a stag party performer to help her in need -- yeah right, that's all part of "dull" acting. Did you want Steve to be like Archie Bunker and spout controversial comments? Just what did you want from Fred in order not to be a "G rated dull actor"?

stevea · 07-30-2025, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffbronson

On M3S his character had shots fired at him, he traveled to 5 or more foreign countries, he got remarried, he adopted a son and later a daughter as well, he was a successful aircraft engineer, he got taken into police custody, he dated several ladies, he put on robot and tree costumes, he ran a distance marathon, he took home a stag party performer to help her in need -- yeah right, that's all part of "dull" acting. Did you want Steve to be like Archie Bunker and spout controversial comments? Just what did you want from Fred in order not to be a "G rated dull actor"?

Yes, but did we ever hear him flush the toilet? This kind of thing made some sitcoms.

cd637299 · 07-30-2025, 12:42 PM

“Will you stifle yourself, Barbara?!”

cd

stevea · 07-30-2025, 03:51 PM

(Fred channels Carroll as Archie, in a scene where Steve and Barbara are at Mama's Lasagne Palace after having met a few days before. Cesaré approaches and starts playing his violin.)

Steve: Get that #&$^! s*** outta here so I can eat in peace!

Fred De Cordova (director): Cut!

cd637299 · 07-30-2025, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

(Fred channels Carroll as Archie, in a scene where Steve and Barbara are at Mama's Lasagne Palace after having met a few days before. Cesaré approaches and starts playing his violin.)

Steve: Get that #&$^! s*** outta here so I can eat in peace!

Fred De Cordova (director): Cut!

Since you brought up Fred….

Johnny Carson, in the monologue, pointed his hand out to Fred and said onstage, something like:

“And of course over there, we have the great Fred de Cordova. [applause] Of course you also know Fred as being the former director on ‘My Three Sons,’ where he received a Peabody Award for that classic episode, ‘Chip Grows Hair on His Palm.’ “

[Note 1: I mentioned that to a relative, and he thought that was nasty. I just thought it silly. I will take it back if the former and apologize ahead of time!

Note 2: If that joke wasn’t the work of Pat McCormick, I wouldn’t know who else would do that. I also am sure it was McCormick who authored the classic Carnac “Sis Boom Bah.”]

cd

TMC · 07-30-2025, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffbronson

Do you think it's fair to dismiss Fred as a "G rated dull actor" -- what did you expect of him, this was a sitcom. This has to be the most idiotic comment ever posted on the My Three Sons forum. Why not play a sitcom dad, TV offered different roles than just the Film Noir stuff you apparently favor and consider so exciting.

Why don't you stop and consider fairness. What did you want, a show titled "My Three Sons and I, a Quasi-Criminal" -- ? Just how was Fred more "dull" than any other 60s sitcom dad actor? Let us know. Stupid and ridiculous.

On M3S his character had shots fired at him, he traveled to 5 or more foreign countries, he got remarried, he adopted a son and later a daughter as well, he was a successful aircraft engineer, he got taken into police custody, he dated several ladies, he put on robot and tree costumes, he ran a distance marathon, he took home a stag party performer to help her in need -- yeah right, that's all part of "dull" acting. Did you want Steve to be like Archie Bunker and spout controversial comments? Just what did you want from Fred in order not to be a "G rated dull actor"?

How exactly is inquiring why or how exactly, an actor like Fred MacMurray goes from decidedly gritty roles like his early, pre-My Three Sons film roles to family friendly, Disney projects an "idiotic comment"!? I don't think that it's any different than wanting to know why or how somebody like Leslie Nielsen went from being a serious, dramatic actor to being strictly a comedic actor (beginning with Airplane! and really picking up after Police Squad! and The Naked Gun) in the later portion of his career.

And why are you comparing a show like My Three Sons, which debuted in black in white in 1960 to a show like All in the Family, which debuted a good 11 years later, during what would've been My Three Sons' 12th and final season on the air?

cd637299 · 07-30-2025, 05:57 PM

To me it all boils down to one word:

Versatility.

Nothing wrong with that.

I remember reading that Paul Lynde wanted to do drama, BUT, he said as long as he can get people to laugh, that was fine with him.

“Airplane!” was a tour de force of comedy—taking some actors strictly known for drama (Robert Stack, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges, Leslie N.) and having them as fish out of water. Only Leslie truly cashed in, though.

Again, versatility.

cd

stevea · 07-30-2025, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cd637299

I also am sure it was McCormick who authored the classic Carnac “Sis Boom Bah.” cd

I'm pretty sure that Carnac bit is on Youtube. IIRC it produces a very extended laugh session by Johnny and Ed.

Duster76 · 07-30-2025, 11:28 PM

Fred MacMurray had one of the most brilliantly managed careers of his era. He was a top flight star, big name, who made big money, working regularly from the 30's into the mid70's. He also ranged seamlessly from light comedy to drama with some of his strongest performances coming when he played against type. This was the description of MacMurray from IMD, "Fred MacMurray was likely the most underrated actor of his generation", I believe this to be true.

I'm surprised this didn't come up in response to the initial question, "Why did Fred MacMurray completely change his screen persona in the 1960s"?. In 1960 MacMurray was brilliant in the film "The Apartment" playing a first-rate sleazeball insurance executive. He got great reviews, the picture was a hit, but he received fan mail from some longtime fans who were very upset that he played such a reprehensible character. In addition from Wikipedia "he was accosted by women in the street who berated him for making a "dirty filthy movie", and one of them hit him with her purse". That was enough for Fred he instructed his agent to entertain no more scripts of that type.

Fred MacMurray had a large fan base, consider how many A list movie stars attempted to move to TV and how many failed, Bing Crosby, James Stewart, Gene Kelly, Henry Fonda just to name a few.

It's no accident that show lasted 12 years, his performance was anything but dull.

cd637299 · 07-31-2025, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

I'm pretty sure that Carnac bit is on Youtube. IIRC it produces a very extended laugh session by Johnny and Ed.

Indeed it is, likely in a few forms. Just entering

youtube carnac sis boom bah

will do the trick. I watched that thing myself the night it was on. Usually I don’t stay around after the first two segments….but the first guest was Alan King, who said, “Sis Boom Bah—-that’s a tough one to follow.”

Yes we are going OT for which I apologize.

The post above me, seriously I never followed Fred outside MTS—in fact I hardly watched that! However I watched the 1968 episode where Katie had the triplets—heartwarming.

Semi-OT (whoops)—-Tina Cole and Don Grady were on the game show “You Don’t Say”, in one of the very few 60s episodes that have survived wiping. Tom Kennedy quipped about the possibility of “My Three Grandsons.” Well it was definitely plausible. It should be on YouTube as well.

cd

biffbronson · 07-31-2025, 04:23 AM

Since the argument is that the '60s was "a decade in which he should had [sic] kept more of his previous persona," what about Fred's highly popular starring-role films "The Absent Minded Professor" and "Son of Flubber," both of which came out during the run of M3S ('61, '63)? I've seen "The Apartment" and personally prefer the Flubber roles for Fred. Regardless, M3S is being made a scapegoat of sorts for a change of type of role, as Fred's career was playing out. Saying one prefers Fred's earlier work is fine, but the implied degradation of his career in taking on M3S is what I found objectionable.

Anyway, the comparison regarding Bunker from All In the Family was not about the series themselves, it was about what is to be expected in the portrayal of a sitcom dad.

07-30-2025, 05:23 AM	#2
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,576	Do you think it's fair to dismiss Fred as a "G rated dull actor" -- what did you expect of him, this was a sitcom. This has to be the most idiotic comment ever posted on the My Three Sons forum. Why not play a sitcom dad, TV offered different roles than just the Film Noir stuff you apparently favor and consider so exciting. Why don't you stop and consider fairness. What did you want, a show titled "My Three Sons and I, a Quasi-Criminal" -- ? Just how was Fred more "dull" than any other 60s sitcom dad actor? Let us know. Stupid and ridiculous. On M3S his character had shots fired at him, he traveled to 5 or more foreign countries, he got remarried, he adopted a son and later a daughter as well, he was a successful aircraft engineer, he got taken into police custody, he dated several ladies, he put on robot and tree costumes, he ran a distance marathon, he took home a stag party performer to help her in need -- yeah right, that's all part of "dull" acting. Did you want Steve to be like Archie Bunker and spout controversial comments? Just what did you want from Fred in order not to be a "G rated dull actor"?

07-30-2025, 12:42 PM	#4
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 854	“Will you stifle yourself, Barbara?!” cd

07-30-2025, 03:51 PM	#5
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 45,051	(Fred channels Carroll as Archie, in a scene where Steve and Barbara are at Mama's Lasagne Palace after having met a few days before. Cesaré approaches and starts playing his violin.) Steve: Get that #&$^! s*** outta here so I can eat in peace! Fred De Cordova (director): Cut!

07-30-2025, 05:57 PM	#8
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 854	To me it all boils down to one word: Versatility. Nothing wrong with that. I remember reading that Paul Lynde wanted to do drama, BUT, he said as long as he can get people to laugh, that was fine with him. “Airplane!” was a tour de force of comedy—taking some actors strictly known for drama (Robert Stack, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges, Leslie N.) and having them as fish out of water. Only Leslie truly cashed in, though. Again, versatility. cd

07-30-2025, 11:28 PM	#10
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,657	Fred MacMurray had one of the most brilliantly managed careers of his era. He was a top flight star, big name, who made big money, working regularly from the 30's into the mid70's. He also ranged seamlessly from light comedy to drama with some of his strongest performances coming when he played against type. This was the description of MacMurray from IMD, "Fred MacMurray was likely the most underrated actor of his generation", I believe this to be true. I'm surprised this didn't come up in response to the initial question, "Why did Fred MacMurray completely change his screen persona in the 1960s"?. In 1960 MacMurray was brilliant in the film "The Apartment" playing a first-rate sleazeball insurance executive. He got great reviews, the picture was a hit, but he received fan mail from some longtime fans who were very upset that he played such a reprehensible character. In addition from Wikipedia "he was accosted by women in the street who berated him for making a "dirty filthy movie", and one of them hit him with her purse". That was enough for Fred he instructed his agent to entertain no more scripts of that type. Fred MacMurray had a large fan base, consider how many A list movie stars attempted to move to TV and how many failed, Bing Crosby, James Stewart, Gene Kelly, Henry Fonda just to name a few. It's no accident that show lasted 12 years, his performance was anything but dull.

07-31-2025, 04:23 AM	#12
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,576	Since the argument is that the '60s was "a decade in which he should had [sic] kept more of his previous persona," what about Fred's highly popular starring-role films "The Absent Minded Professor" and "Son of Flubber," both of which came out during the run of M3S ('61, '63)? I've seen "The Apartment" and personally prefer the Flubber roles for Fred. Regardless, M3S is being made a scapegoat of sorts for a change of type of role, as Fred's career was playing out. Saying one prefers Fred's earlier work is fine, but the implied degradation of his career in taking on M3S is what I found objectionable. Anyway, the comparison regarding Bunker from All In the Family was not about the series themselves, it was about what is to be expected in the portrayal of a sitcom dad.