Don Chastain (September 2, 1935 – August 9, 2002) was an American actor, singer, and screenwriter. He worked in television in Los Angeles and New York and toured the United States and Canada.

Early years

Chastain was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Acting

Chastain's Broadway credits include ''Parade'' (1998), ''42nd Street'' (1980), ''It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman'' (1965), and ''No Strings'' (1961). He played Jim Thompson in the TV comedy ''

The Debbie Reynolds Show ''The Debbie Reynolds Show'' is an American sitcom which aired on the NBC television network during the 1969–70 television season. The series was produced by Filmways. Synopsis Debbie Reynolds portrayed Debbie Thompson, a housewife married ...

'' (1969–1970) and Scott Thomas in the TV comedy ''

Hello, Larry ''Hello, Larry'' is an American sitcom television series created by Dick Bensfield and Perry Grant, starring McLean Stevenson. It aired on NBC from January 26, 1979, to April 30, 1980. Its broadcast run consisted of 38 episodes over two season ...

'' (1979–1981). He penned the screenplay for ''

The Mafu Cage ''The Mafu Cage'' (also released as ''My Sister, My Love'', ''Deviation'' and ''Don't Ring the Doorbell'') is a 1978 American psychological horror film directed by Karen Arthur, and starring Carol Kane and Lee Grant. Its plot follows two siste ...

'' (1978) and wrote several episodes of ''

As the World Turns ''As the World Turns'' (often abbreviated as ''ATWT'') is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS for 54 years from April 2, 1956, to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created ''As the World Turns'' as a sister show to her other s ...

'' (1992–1995). In 1960, Chastain appeared as Gerald Wiley in the episode "Trial by Rope" of the TV series '' Colt .45''. The guest cast also included Pamela Duncan as Dora Lacey, and Lurene Tuttle as Lottie Strong. Other series in which Chastain appeared as a guest star include ''

The Real McCoys ''The Real McCoys'' is an American situation comedy starring Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna, and Kathleen Nolan. Co-produced by Danny Thomas's Marterto Productions in association with Walter Brennan and Irving Pincus's Westgate Company, ...

'', '' Rhoda'', '' Maude'', ''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974 to January 10, 1980, and remains in syndication. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investiga ...

'', '' All My Children'', ''

Hawaii Five-O Hawaii Five-O or Hawaii Five-0 may refer to: * ''Hawaii Five-0'' (2010 TV series), an American action police procedural television series * ''Hawaii Five-O'' (1968 TV series), an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productio ...

'', ''

The West Wing ''The West Wing'' is an American serial political drama television series created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999, to May 14, 2006. The series is set primarily in the West Wing of the White Hous ...

'', Gunsmoke, '' Scrubs'', and '' The Big Valley''. He appeared in the role of Lizard in the 1970 film of '' C.C. and Company''. One of Chastain’s final roles on TV was as a “suspect” On the television reality competition show “ Murder in Small Town X” in 2001 as character Hayden DeBeck. He was featured for 6 episodes before being “killed” by the show’s fictional killer.

Music

Chastain was a jazz singer and lyricist who served in the United States Army.

Personal life

Don Chastain died August 9, 2002 of cancer in Los Angeles. He was 66. He is survived by his wife Jill and their son Colin.

Broadway performances

* ''

No Strings ''No Strings'' is a musical drama with book by Samuel A. Taylor and words and music by Richard Rodgers. ''No Strings'' is the only Broadway score for which Rodgers wrote both lyrics and music, and the first musical he composed after the death of ...

'' (1962–1963) * '' It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman'' (1966) * '' 42nd Street'' (1980–1989) * '' Dance a Little Closer'' (1983) * '' Parade'' (1998–1999)

References

External links

* http://www.chastaincentral.com/content/don.html * * * * 1935 births 2002 deaths American male stage actors American male television actors American male film actors Male actors from Oklahoma City American soap opera writers Deaths from colorectal cancer Deaths from cancer in California Writers from Oklahoma City Screenwriters from Oklahoma 20th-century American male actors American male television writers 20th-century American screenwriters 20th-century American male writers {{US-screen-actor-stub