David Fitzgerald Doyle (December 1, 1929 – February 26, 1997) was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of John Bosley on the 1970s TV series ''

Charlie's Angels ''Charlie's Angels'' is an American crime drama television series created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts for ABC. It originally aired from September 22, 1976, to June 24, 1981, airing for five seasons consisting of 115 episodes. It was produ ...

''. Doyle and Jaclyn Smith were the only actors to appear in every episode of the show. Doyle also became known later as the first voice of Grandpa Lou on the

Nickelodeon Nickelodeon (nicknamed Nick) is an American pay television channel and the flagship property of the Nickelodeon Group, a sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on April 1, 1979, as the first ca ...

series ''

Rugrats ''Rugrats'' is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The series focuses on a group of toddlers, most prominently Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil, and their day-to-d ...

''.

Early life

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Doyle graduated from Campion High School in

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin Prairie du Chien ( ) is a city in Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. The population was 5,506 at the 2020 census. Often called Wisconsin's second-oldest city, Prairie du Chien was established as a European settlemen ...

in 1947. His maternal grandfather, John Fitzgerald, was a prominent railroad builder and banker in Nebraska. His younger sister, Mary (1931–1995), was a stage actress, who died from

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma, is a malignant tumor that begins in the lung. Lung cancer is caused by genetic damage to the DNA of cells in the airways, often caused by cigarette smoking or inhaling damaging chemicals. Damaged ...

aged 63.

Career

Doyle is best remembered for his role as detective John Bosley on the television series ''

'', one of only two actors (the other being original angel Jaclyn Smith) to appear in all 110 episodes of the series (1976–1981). Doyle made a number of appearances as a guest on the game show ''

Match Game ''Match Game'' is an American television panel game show that premiered on NBC in 1962 and has been revived several times over the course of the last six decades. The game features contestants trying to match answers given by celebrity paneli ...

'' from 1977 to 1982, usually on the top row next to regular panelists Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly. He appeared on one week of ''

Password Plus ''Password Plus'' and ''Super Password'' are American TV game shows that aired separately between 1979 and 1989. Both shows were revivals of ''Password'', which originally ran from 1961 to 1975 in various incarnations. With only subtle differen ...

'' in 1980, three weeks of '' Super Password'', and on ''

Tattletales ''Tattletales'' is an American game show produced by Mark Goodson, Goodson-Bill Todman, Todman Productions in association with Fremantle (company), Fremantle. The program had two runs on the CBS daytime schedule between February 1974 and June ...

'' with his wife Anne in 1982. He voiced Grandpa Lou Pickles on the

animated series ''

'' from 1991 until his death, after which he was replaced by

Joe Alaskey Joseph Francis Alaskey III (April 17, 1952 – February 3, 2016) was an American actor and comedian. He was one of Mel Blanc's successors at the Warner Bros. Animation studio until his death. He alternated with Jeff Bergman, Greg Burson, Ji ...

. Doyle was also a stage actor. He played Orgon in the 1964 premiere of Richard Wilbur's translation of ''

Tartuffe ''Tartuffe, or The Impostor, or The Hypocrite'' (; , ), first performed in 1664, is a theatrical comedy (or more specifically, a farce) by Molière. The characters of Tartuffe, Elmire, and Orgon are considered among the greatest classical theat ...

'' at the Fred Miller Theater in

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

. His sister Mary played the maid, Dorine, in the same production. His

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

stage credits include '' Beg, Borrow or Steal'', '' Something About a Soldier'', ''

Here's Love ''Here's Love'' is a musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson. An adaptation of the film '' Miracle on 34th Street'', the show is currently licensed under the film's name as ''Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical''. The musical, ...

'', '' I Was Dancing'', and a revival of '' South Pacific''.

Personal life

Doyle was married twice. In 1956 he married his first wife, Rachael, with whom he had a daughter, Leah (born 1961). Rachael died in 1968 after falling from a staircase. The next year, while in a revival of the play South Pacific, Doyle met Anne Nathan, a singer dancer, and they married a short time later.

Death

Doyle died in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, of a heart attack on February 26, 1997, at age 67.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Doyle, David 1929 births 1997 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male television actors American male voice actors