How did Dwayne Hickman die? Star of 'The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis' dead at 87
Dwayne Bernard Hickman, an actor, producer, and television director, best remembered for his role as the titular Dobie Gillis in 'The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,' is dead. He died of Parkinson's disease complications and was 87 years old. Hickman's death was verified by the actor's publicist, Harlan Boll. No memorial plans have been announced as of now. Reports state that the funeral services will also not be public. The Hickman's family has requested that donations be made to The Actors Fund (actorsfund.org) or DreamClub United (dreamclubunited.org), which supports humanitarian programs, including Parkinson’s organizations.
Hickman was born on May 18, 1934, in Los Angeles, California, and made his cinematic debut in 'The Boy With the Green Hair' and 'The Grapes of Wrath' in the 1940s. He played Chuck MacDonald in 'The Bob Cummings Show' as a teenager, co-starring with the titular comic during the show's four-year run. Hickman landed the lead part in 'The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis' in 1959. The actor appeared in every episode of the 20th Century Fox sitcom, which ran for 148 episodes.
RELATED ARTICLES
Who is Ric Romo's wife? NBC's longtime 'Today' show producer dies at 62
Who were Ned Beatty’s wives? Actor found love after 3 divorces before death at 83
'Dobie Gillis' established Hickman as one of the first and principal cultural icons for the Baby Boomer generation in the 1950s and 1960s. It was the first major television series to feature teens as its main protagonists. After graduating from Loyola University with a degree in economics in the 1960s, Hickman returned to acting in films including 'How to Stuff a Wild Bikini,' 'Ski Party,' and 'Cat Ballou.' In addition to cinema, Hickman has appeared in television shows and on stage in touring plays. In the 1970s, Hickman worked for CBS Television as a network executive. During his ten-year tenure, he oversaw films like 'Maude,' 'M*A*S*H,' and 'Designing Women.' Hickman has also directed episodes of a variety of half-hour sitcoms. Hickman featured in and produced 'Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis,' a 1988 reunion feature for the comedy series that aired on CBS.
Hickman also had recurring appearances on UPN TV's 'Clueless' and co-starred in 'The Night at the Roxbury' and 'Saving Gilligan's Island.' Hickman was a practising artist who painted numerous home and landscape series in oils in addition to acting. Along with his wife, Joan Roberts, he co-wrote his biography, 'Forever Dobie: The Many Lives of Dwayne Hickman.' Hickman had three marriages. Once to actress Carol Christensen, and then to singer Joanne Papile for a brief while. He married Joan Roberts in 1983, and they stayed married for the rest of his life. Albert and John Hickman, Hickman's two sons, survive him.
