Troy Donahue was a famous actor and singer in the 1950s and 1960s, known for his good looks and charm.
However, the pressure from his fame and fans weighed heavily on him throughout most of his life.
In the end, his story took an unexpected turn that no one saw coming…
Whenever I hear the song “Summer Place,” I think of Troy Donahue. I remember watching the movie as a kid and thinking he was so handsome!
In the 1950s and 60s, Troy Donahue was seen as the ideal American heartthrob: young, blond, blue-eyed, and very good-looking. He had many young female fans because of his appearance.
Even though Troy was only a Hollywood star for a few years, many people still recognize his name, even if they might not remember him well.
Even though Troy Donahue was famous, he didn’t make much money from his career. His life started to fall apart, and things only began to improve when he reconnected with his teenage son.
Troy was born Merle Johnson in New York City. He was inspired by his mother, who was a stage actress, and wanted to be an actor from a young age. In a 1984 interview with People magazine, he said:
“I always grew up around Broadway and theater people. I remember sitting with Gertrude Lawrence while she read her reviews for ‘The King and I.’”
Troy Donahue went to Columbia University to study journalism, but he kept acting in local theater productions on the side. When he started appearing in movies, he had a new name, an agent, and was working with studio executives.
He said, “At first, they wanted to name me Paris, like the lover of Helen of Troy. But they changed it because there was already a Paris, France, and Paris, Illinois.”
Troy made his film debut in *Man Afraid*. Just two years later, he signed with Warner Bros, who saw his potential.
He recalled, “They asked me to light a cigarette, and when I did, they were so surprised, they fell down.”
In 1959, Troy starred in *A Summer Place*, which made him a big star and a popular teen heartthrob. He often played the good guy alongside a beautiful blonde actress. Despite his fame, he didn’t make much money.
Troy Donahue admitted that he was living like a movie star but not getting paid like one. He said, “I lived way over my head and got into a lot of trouble.”
In the late 1950s, Troy and Sandra Dee were known as a romantic movie couple. Over his life, Troy was married four times: first to Suzanne Pleshette, then to Valerie Allen, Alma Sharpe, and Vicky Taylor. All of these marriages ended in divorce.
As his love life fell apart, Troy began struggling with substance abuse. His unhealthy habits made things worse for his acting career.
By the end of the 1960s, his life was in a mess. He said, “I was loaded all the time. I’d wake up around 6:30 in the morning, take three aspirins with codeine, drink half a pint of vodka, and then do four lines of cocaine.”
Despite his struggles, Troy claimed that his addiction never affected his work. He insisted he was never drunk or impaired while working and that his drinking problems were not caused by his career.
Troy Donahue immediately believed the news when he learned he had a son, Sean. He saw a lot of himself in the boy and was relieved to find they got along well. Sean’s mother did not ask for child support, and they set up visitations so Sean could get to know his father. Donahue had been kept away from Sean earlier because of his struggles with drugs and alcohol.
His addiction problems also affected his career. By this time, he was no longer getting big roles and was working in smaller films like “Cry-Baby,” “Bad Blood,” and “Assault of the Party Nerds.”
In 1998, Donahue mentioned in an interview that he was not worried about his career shift to B-films. He felt his career was nearing its end but still considered himself a talented actor despite the critics.
Sadly, Donahue passed away from a heart attack in 2001 at age 65. By then, he had cleaned up his life and built a strong relationship with his son.
Troy was known for his good looks and charm on screen. Although he faced many struggles, he left behind many memorable performances.
You Don’t Wanna Miss These 29 Promo Codes If You Love a Bargain
Amazon makes it so easy for all of us to find amazing bargains and purchase items, even 50% off. Whether you need something for your kid, your beauty regimen, or your household, we have you covered. Keep scrolling to discover the 29 products that currently have promo codes.
Health and household
Vitamins for hair growth
15% promo code: 15YM1UIY (valid April 8 through May 2)
Pure Himalayan organic resin for immune support
50% promo code: 505K3R9Q (valid April 8 through May 2)
A set of shower steamers
50% promo code: 50RQ5NDP (valid April 8 through May 5)
Guava skin toner face sheets
50% promo code: 509JEZXV (valid April 21 through April 29)
Sandalwood beard oil
10% promo code: 10GYALIVE102 (valid April 15 through April 16)
Argan oil for hair growth
10% promo code: 10GYALIVE102 (valid April 15 through April 16)
Beauty and grooming
Professional hair dryer
50% promo code: 506RX57Y (valid April 8 through April 15)
Natural exfoliating loofah scrubber
50% promo code: 50U4IUP1 (valid April 8 through April 23)
Hair crimper for creating wavy hairstyles
50% promo code: 5043CP9S (valid April 9 through April 15)
Tattoo aftercare balm
50% promo code: 50CA1Q12 (valid April 26 through May 3)
Kitchen and dining
Heated portable lunch box
48% promo code: 48NOJV62 (valid April 9 through April 19)
Spoon rest with drip pad for multiple utensils
50% promo codes: 50MOVG21 (valid April 9 through April 30)
Blender for shakes and smoothies
50% promo code: 50LN1OW5 (valid April 9 through April 30)
Cast aluminum Dutch oven
45% promo code: 45KOLLEL (valid April 9 through April 22)
Touchless kitchen faucet
10% promo code: 10I8DPNE (valid April 9 through May 8)
Glass tumbler with lid and straw
40% promo code: 40FH9XBO (valid April 9 through April 15)
Stove gap covers
40% promo code: 40TKLAG5 (valid April 9 through May 8)
Water dispenser for 5-gallon bottle
50% promo code: 50MHGRKI (valid April 9 through April 16)
Baby and nursery
Baby teether toy
50% promo code: 50DEM8W8 (valid April 16 through April 20)
Baby proofing drawer locks
50% promo code: 509ZAW8X (valid April 12 through April 16)
Indoor and outdoor retractable baby gate
50% promo code: 50AA7DL4 (valid April 12 through April 16)
Home improvement
Candle warmer lamp with timer
40% promo code: 40M76UE6 (valid April 9 through April 15)
Wooden pegboard for organizing items
50% promo code: 50B25Q8V (valid April 8 through April 30)
Under cabinet lights with motion sensor
50% promo code: 503BYJWA (valid April 8 through April 14)
Galaxy LED projector
50% promo code: 50GTK8P6 (valid April 9 through April 16)
Flameless candle with remote control
40% promo code: 40TT53K4 (valid April 8 through April 14)
Shower razor holder
50% promo code: 50XDZ883 (valid April 9 through April 15)
Waterproof solar garden lights
20% promo code: 20GN9KJ9 (valid April 8 through April 16)
Car rim repair pens for scratches
50% promo code: 50ZPFDOO (valid April 8 through April 30)
Who hasn’t battled the annoying ear wax in your favorite earbuds? It’s so easy to find a tool for solving such an issue, as it is to locate items that are both useful and entertaining.
Bright Side gets commissions for purchases made through the links in this post. Reviews may have been edited for length and clarity.
Preview photo credit Matt / Amazon
Leave a Reply