Tuesday, June 01, 2021

Remembering Gavin MacLeod of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Love Boat; Mr. Big Returns in New Sex and the City Chapter

Gavin MacLeod

Actor Gavin MacLeod, who starred as Murray Slaughter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and as Captain Merrill Stubing on The Love Boat, has died. He died on May 29 at his home in Palm Desert, California, after a period of ill health. No cause of death was given. Mr. MacLeod was 90.

MacLeod made his television debut in 1957 on the crime drama The Walter Winchell File. Some of his early drama guest appearances included The Thin Man, U.S. Marshal, Steve Canyon, Manhunt, Peter Gunn (2 episodes), Mr. Lucky (2 episodes), Men Into Space, The Untouchables (5 episodes), Dr. Kildare, Death Valley Days (2 episodes), Perry Mason (3 episodes), Rawhide, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Ben Casey, The Rat Patrol, Combat!, Death Valley Days (2 episodes), The Big Valley (3 episodes), It Takes a Thief (3 episodes) and Hawaii Five-0 (2 episodes).

Gavin MacLeod - McHale's Navy

His first sitcom starring role was as Joseph "Happy" Haines on the ABC sitcom McHale's Navy. He appeared on the show for the first two seasons from 1962 to 1964 before leaving to appear in the film The Sand Pebbles (1966). He also played Seaman Joseph Haines in the films McHale's Navy (1964) and McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force (1965). The series cast in the first two seasons included Ernest Borgnine, Joe Flynn, Tim Conway, Carl Ballantine, Gary Vinson, Billy Sands, Edson Stroll, Jane Dulo (1962-1964) and Yoshio Yoda.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

MacLeod's breakout role was as Murray Slaughter on the 1970-1977 CBS sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which ran for 7 seasons and 168 episodes. Murray Slaughter was the head writer of WJM-TV's Six O'Clock News in Minneapolis. MacLeod received two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor in 1975 and 1977 for the role. The series also starred Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Ted Knight, Valerie Harper (1970-1974), Cloris Leachman (1970-1975), Georgia Engel (1972-1977) and Betty White (1973-1977).

The Love Boat

He next starred as Captain Merrill Stubing on the 1977-1986 ABC sitcom The Love Boat, which ran for 9 seasons and 250 episodes. Merrill Stubing was the captain of the luxury passenger cruise ship MS Pacific Princess. MacLeod received three Golden Globe nominations for the role in 1979, 1981 and 1982. The series also starred Bernie Kopell, Fred Grandy, Ted Lange, Lauren Tewes (1977-1984), Jill Whelan (1979-1986), Pat Klous (1984-1986) and Ted McGinley (1984-1986). MacLeod reprised the role of Captain Merrill Stubing in a 1998 episode of Love Boat: The Next Wave.

Some of his sitcom guest appearances included The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Munsters, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., The Andy Griffith Show (2 episodes), My Favorite Martian (2 episodes), The Flying Nun, Hogan's Heroes (4 episodes), Love, American Style (1974), Rhoda (as Murray Slaughter), The King of Queens (2 episodes), That '70s Show (2 episodes) and The Suite Life on Deck (2 episodes).

Some of his other drama guest appearances included Wonder Woman, Charlie's Angels, Hotel, Murder, She Wrote (1990), Burke's Law, Oz, JAG and Touched by an Angel.

MacLeod's first credited film role was as The Lieutenant in I Want to Live! (1958). Some of his other film credits included Operation Petticoat (1959), Twelve Hours to Kill (1960), The Sword of Ali Baba (1965), The Sand Pebbles (1966), A Man Called Gannon (1968), The Thousand Plane Raid (1969) and Kelly's Heroes (1970).

He was interviewed for The Interviews: An Oral History of Television on January 3, 2003.

Mr. MacLeod had a great run for a combined 16 seasons on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Love Boat. He was very funny and memorable in his roles as Murray Slaughter and Captain Merrill Stubing. He was a dependable actor who made everything he appeared in much better. We thank him for the many laughs and entertainment he brought us during his long career. He will be greatly missed.

Share your memories on our The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Love Boat message boards. View photos in our galleries.


Chris Noth

Chris Noth will reprise the role of Mr. Big in the HBO Max original series And Just Like That... This new chapter of the groundbreaking HBO series Sex and the City follows Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s. The ten-episode, half-hour series is scheduled to begin production in New York this summer. Credits: Executive producers Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Julie Rottenberg, Elisa Zuritsky, John Melfi and Michael Patrick King. Writers include King, Samantha Irby, Rachna Fruchbom, Keli Goff, Rottenberg and Zuritsky. The HBO series Sex and the City was created by Darren Star and based on the book Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell. Previously Announced Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis and Sara Ramírez.

Two-time Golden Globe® nominee and SAG Award® nominated actor Chris Noth rose to prominence as Detective Mike Logan on the original Law and Order, where he spent five seasons before going on to set hearts aflutter as the iconic Mr. Big on HBO's groundbreaking series Sex and the City. Noth garnered his first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy playing the unattainable bachelor who gradually evolves into the love of Carrie Bradshaw's life. Meanwhile, Mr. Big became a central point for the Carrie character and the series as a whole, with their tumultuous storyline launching two blockbuster movies Sex and the City and Sex and the City 2, in which he also starred. Next came a critically lauded turn as the flawed and powerful Peter Florrick opposite Juliana Margolis on the CBS hit drama The Good Wife. Noth's complex performance earned him a second Golden Globe nod – this one for Best Actor in a Drama, as well as two SAG nominations for Best Ensemble. He recently starred opposite Sam Worthington and Paul Betany in Discovery's Manhunt: Unabomber and the final season of the FX series Tyrant. Currently Noth can be seen on the popular CBS drama The Equalizer opposite Queen Latifah.


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Monday, June 23

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Blowout" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Calvin spends a day babysitting Daphne. Also, Gemma and Dave worry about Grover’s high school applications.

The Neighborhood - "Welcome to the Signature Service Loyalty Rewards Program" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Malcom receives an unexpected call from USC’s athletic director about a baseball head coach vacancy. Meanwhile, Calvin and Marty start a new signature loyalty rewards program at The Fuse Box.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 23)

Monday, June 23

  • Patton Oswalt (A.P. Bio/The Goldbergs/The King of Queens) - Watch Patton on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Adria Arjona (Good Omens) - Adria appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Jensen Ackles (Mr. Rhodes) - Jensen is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Idris Elba (Turn Up Charlie) - Idris stops by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS. He also talks about Head of State on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Matty Matheson (The Bear) - Matty appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Suzi Barrett (Just Roll with It) and Carrie Preston (Crowded/Happyish/Emeril) - Suzi is a guest and Carrie makes a special appearance on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger (FUBAR) - Arnold drops by Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 10:01pm on Bravo.
  • Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear) - Liza talks about The Bear on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Jay Pharoah (White Famous/Champaign ILL) - Jay chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Niecy Nash-Betts (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Niecy guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • John Leguizamo (The Brothers Garcia) - John talks about Smoke on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
  • Keegan-Michael Key (Schmigadoon!/Friends from College/Playing House/Gary Unmarried) - Keegan-Michael is a guest on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Kevin Chamberlin (Jessie) - Kevin appears on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


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