Paul Martin (television character)

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For other uses, see Paul Martin (disambiguation).

Paul Martin
Hugh Reilly as Paul Martin
First appearance	"Transition" (1957)
Last appearance	"The Wayfarers" (1964)
Created by	Robert Maxwell Jack Wrather
Portrayed by	Jon Shepodd (1957) Hugh Reilly (1958-1964)
Episode count	Multiple
Information
Gender	Male
Age	@35 (in 1957 debut)
Occupation	Farmer
Family	Ruth Martin (wife) Timmy Martin (adopted son) Petrie J. Martin (uncle) Lassie (beloved companion animal)
Spouse(s)	Ruth Martin
Children	Timmy Martin

Paul Martin is a fictional dramatic character on the long running television program Lassie (1954 – 1973). Paul is the husband of Ruth and the adoptive father of Timmy. Paul makes his first appearance in the fourth season episode, "Transition" (1957) and his last appearance in the tenth season episode, "The Wayfarers" (1964). The character is portrayed on the series, first, by Jon Shepodd (1957) and, secondly, by Hugh Reilly (1958-1964).

1 Overview
2 Closure
3 Production note
4 References

[edit] Overview

Paul Martin enters the series in the fourth season episode, "Transition", when he and his wife, Ruth purchase the Miller farm. The couple permanently adopt Timmy, a boy Ellen and Jeff Miller had provided with a foster home on the farm. The Martins also give a home to Lassie, a rough collie who becomes Timmy's companion animal when the Millers move to Capitol City.

Paul is an agricultural college graduate and, in the episode "Pied Piper", visits his alma mater with his son Timmy. Paul served his country during WWII, being stationed in England and flying missions over Germany. His uncle, Petrie J. Martin of Millvale, Pennsylvania, takes up residence on the farm when Ruth becomes concerned about the amount of farmwork overwhelming her husband. Ruth phones Uncle Petrie and invites him to join the family on the farm.

Paul is a practical man and is very protective of his family. He takes command when wildfires, insect plagues, drought, or tornados strike the farm. Paul is active in the community of Calverton. He attends church, is a volunteer firefighter, and a member of the Grange.

[edit] Closure

Ruth and Paul Martin portrayed by Cloris Leachman and Jon Shepodd in their debut episode, "Transition", (fourth season, 1957).

In the last "Martin family" seasons, Timmy spent a considerable amount of time with his eccentric neighbor and nature lover, farmer Cully Wilson. Cully was portrayed by veteran character actor, Andy Clyde. The veteran film and television actor was a comic genius whose performances in the series provided countless high points. With both Paul and Cully as frequently appearing characters on the show, producers felt two adult males would overwhelm the audience. Consequently, the producers often sent Paul to distant parts of the farm or out of the county on business. Paul's role in Timmy's life was diminished.

As Lassie entered the mid-sixties, it was obvious that teenaged Jon Provost was outgrowing his role. The producers felt he was too old for a dog as a nursemaid and decided the show should strike a different course. In "The Wayfarers", the opening three part teleplay of the tenth season (1964), the producers shipped the Martins to Australia, where Paul would teach agriculture. Lassie remained in the States due to Australia's strict quarantine regulations, and became Cully Wilson's companion animal. When Cully suffered a disabling heart attack, Lassie found a home with United States Forestry Service worker, Corey Stuart (Robert Bray). Lassie would see several seasons of wilderness adventures with Corey and his ranger friends, Scott Turner (Jed Allan} and Bob Erikson (Jack De Mave). The Martin family would never be seen or heard again.

[edit] Production note

Paul's adopted son Timmy and wife Ruth.

Some time after Provost, Lockhart and Reilly were written out of the show in their move to Australia, Hugh Reilly was offered the role of the professor on Gilligan's Island. Reilly wanted to pursue theater work in New York City instead.

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