Don Stroud
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| Don Stroud | |
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| Born | September 1, 1943  United States Honolulu, Hawaii, |
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Don Lee Stroud (born 1 September 1943) is an American actor and surfer who appeared in many films in the 1960s, '70s and '80s, and has starred in over 100 movies and 175 television shows to date.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
Stroud was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he grew up, the son of comedian and vaudevillien Clarence Stroud (of the Stroud Twins), and singer Ann Livermore (née McCormack), who toured the world with Frank Sinatra. Stroud's mother and stepfather owned and operated the popular "Embers Steak House" and nightclub where Ann performed nightly. Don thrived on the beach in Waikiki under the watchful eyes of such mentors as Blackout, Mud, Buckshot, Rabbit and Steamboat.He learned much from these famous beach boys and in 1960, at the age of 17, he placed fourth in the "Duke Kahanamoku World Surfing Championship" at Makaha, Hawaii.
[edit] Career
Stroud was surfing at Waikiki when he was discovered by actor Troy Donahue who was filming "Hawaiian Eye" (1959) and needed a stunt double for his surfing scenes. Don, at 18, 6' 2" and 175 pounds, stepped up and was hired on the spot. He loved the gig so much, he decided to go to Hollywood to give acting a try. Upon arriving in L.A., he landed a variety of jobs, including parking cars, bouncer and then manager of the world famous "Whiskey A Go-Go" nightclub on the Sunset Strip, where such greats as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison of the "Doors" appeared. It was at the "Whiskey" that actor Sidney Poitier turned Don on to his acting career. Stroud went on to become one of Hollywood's great heavies and character actors.
Stroud co-starred with Clint Eastwood in two films, Coogan's Bluff in 1968 and Joe Kidd in 1972. He co-starred in The Buddy Holly Story as the late musician's drummer (1978) (in which he actually played the drums), and played a James Bond villain in the 1989 film Licence to Kill. He played Captain Pat Chambers in the television series Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (Keach whom he co-starred with in the 1975 film The Killer Inside Me) and starred in four television series, notably Mickey Spillane's "Mike Hammer" (1984) with Stacy Keach and "The New Gidget" (1986) where he was a natural to play the "Kahuna.
In 1973, he was paid $10,000 to appear as a nude centerfold in Playgirl Magazine's November issue.
Don's brother Duke Stroud is also an actor, memorable as the furious air-traffic controller in 1986's Top Gun. Duke also stages plays and teaches acting at Pasadena City College (Nick Nolte's alma matter).
