Tim Hovey
| Tim Hovey | |
|---|---|
| Born |
June 19, 1945 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died |
September 9, 1989 (aged 44) Watsonville, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Suicide by overdose |
| Other names | Timothy Hovey |
| Occupation | Actor, musician, audio engineer and road manager |
| Years active | 1955–1989 |
Tim Hovey (June 19, 1945 — September 9, 1989) was a former American child actor during the 1950s. He later became a musician, road manager and an audio engineer for rock bands.
Acting career
Born in Los Angeles, California, Hovey was discovered by a talent agent who saw his photo in the window of a photography shop.[1] In 1955, he made his acting debut in an episode of Lassie. Later that year, he made his film debut as Tiger Flaherty opposite Charlton Heston in The Private War of Major Benson.[2]
From 1955 to 1959, Hovey worked steadily in films and television, often playing characters younger than his real age due to his small stature.[1] In 1957, he was signed to a film contract with Universal-International. While working at U-I, Hovey appeared in the Westerns Slim Carter and Money, Women and Guns, both opposite Jock Mahoney.[3]
Hovey's final onscreen appearance was in an episode of the anthology series Schlitz Playhouse of the Stars, in 1959. Despite receiving an offer to appear in a Broadway play produced and directed by Otto Preminger, Hovey chose to retire from acting.[1]
Later years and death
In the 1970s and 1980s, Hovey lived in Northern California and worked with computers. He was also the road manager for the rock band Grateful Dead.[1] Hovey later learned how to play the slide guitar and would play with the band on occasion.[4] From 1971 to 1977, Hovey served as the chief audio engineer for the Grateful Dead and Kingfish, the side project of Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir.[5] He is credited as co-writer of "Important Exportin' Man" (with Dave Tobert), on the album The Adventures of Panama Red, by the New Riders of the Purple Sage.[4]
Death
On September 9, 1989, Hovey died of an intentional drug overdose at his home in Watsonville, California.[1][6] Hovey's suicide, along with the suicides of fellow former child actors Trent Lehman and Rusty Hamer, prompted Paul Petersen to form the child actor advocacy group A Minor Consideration.[7]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Lassie | Malcolm | 2 episodes Credited as Timothy Hovey |
| 1955 | The Private War of Major Benson | Cadet Thomas "Tiger" Flaherty | |
| 1955 | The Colgate Comedy Hour | Cadet Flaherty | Episode #5.38 |
| 1955 | Queen Bee | Ted Phillips | |
| 1956 | The Toy Tiger | Timmie Harkinson | |
| 1956 | Lux Video Theatre | Austin | Episode: "The Gay Sisters" |
| 1956 | Everything but the Truth | Willie Taylor | |
| 1956 | Playhouse 90 | Donny | Episode: "The Family Nobody Wanted" |
| 1957 | Man Afraid | Michael Collins | |
| 1957 | Slim Carter | Leo Gallaher | |
| 1957 | The Lux Show with Rosemary Clooney | Himself | Episode #1.11 |
| 1958 | General Electric Theatre | Frank Morgan | Episode: "Kid at the Stick" |
| 1958 | Kraft Television Theatre | Jeff Hillyer | Episode: "Material Witness" |
| 1958 | Money, Women and Guns | Davy Kingman | |
| 1958 | Cimarron City | Avery Wickham | Episode: "Cimarron Holiday" |
| 1959 | Schlitz Playhouse of the Stars | Timmy Parker | Episode: "Ivy League" |
Notes
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Tim Hovey, 44; Child Actor in the 1950s". latimes.com. November 3, 1989. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
- ↑ "Moppets In Movieland". The Miami News (Miami, Florida). August 25, 1957. p. 33. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
- ↑ "Hovey-Mahoney Team". Toledo Blade (Toledo, Ohio). October 18, 1957. p. 52. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
- 1 2 Talevski, Nick (2010). Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 285. ISBN 0-857-12117-0.
- ↑ Lamparski, Richard (1982). Whatever Became Of-- ?: Eight Series: The Best (updated) and Newest of the Famous Lamparski Profiles of Personalities of Yesteryear. Crown Publishers. p. 285. ISBN 0-517-54346-X.
- ↑ Brioux, Bill (2007). "Ward, I'm Worried About the Beaver: TV Rumors Involving Child Stars". Truth and Rumors: The Reality Behind TV's Most Famous Myths. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-275-99247-7.
- ↑ Kubey, Robert William (2004). Creating Television: Conversations With the People Behind 50 Years Of American TV. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. p. 387. ISBN 0-8058-1077-3.