He was a gal's heart throb back
in 1957; I met Troy Donahue in
Pontiac, Illinois, in 1983, when he
starred Patrick Swayze, Jamie Leigh
Curtis and C. Thomas Howell in
"Grandview, U.S.A."
in 1957; I met Troy Donahue in
Pontiac, Illinois, in 1983, when he
starred Patrick Swayze, Jamie Leigh
Curtis and C. Thomas Howell in
"Grandview, U.S.A."
At the filming of "Grandview,
U.S.A.," I was thrilled at meeting Troy
Donahue. I had dreamed of him many
times after he became a star. I never
thought I'd ever meet this blond icon
who had stolen the hearts of so many
teenage girls back then--mine for sure.
Now, here it was, 25 years later and
Troy Donahue was right at the tip of my
felt-tip pen...
The stars came out on a crisp October night in Pontiac, Illinois, during the filming of Ken Hixon's
screenplay, "Grandview, U.S.A.
There was Troy Donahue, along with Jamie Leigh Curtis, Patrick Swayze and C. Thomas Howell.
My attention focused on the blond movie star that had captured my heart when he was treated so
badly by his mother's husband in "Parrish." It was hard for me to believe I was actually there, looking eye to
eye and talking with Troy Donahue.
Earlier that day, Carol Schott Martino, my friend and co-editor/publisher of our literary magazine,
called to tell me the stars had come to the corn belt. A production company had chosen her hometown to film
a movie. She had met the man in charge of the "honey-wagons," (mobile dressing rooms) and he would let us
by the police guarded ropes.
Troy was playing the part of a shady character called Donny Vinton. The first time I talked with him, he
was sitting on a director's stool on the set wearing an all-weather jacket, white jeans, and house slippers. He
signed autographs for a few kids who had slipped their way past the barricades. I think they had invaded to
see the teen idol, Tommy Howell. Troy's grin gave me the idea he had the same thought.
"Actually, I think their mothers are saying to them, 'get over there and get his autograph for me,'" Troy
said, grinning.
Troy liked giving autographs. That's what he said. I believed him, because I don't think he would have
had such a glow on his face if he had been fibbing.
He said he truly felt a special affection for his fans and enjoyed signing. "It doesn't bother me at all if I'm
asked for my autograph. Sometimes I'm busy and have to refuse someone, but I hate to. And sometimes I'm
just in a bad mood. Not too often, though. I would start to worry if I wasn't asked. I appreciate my fans. They
have been good to me. Even when the bottom kind-of fell out for me, and I was no longer in demand, I
remained popular with my fans."
In 1983, prior to making "Grandview U.S.A.," Troy had starring roles in three movies. "I don't call this a
comeback. I call it a continuance of my career," he said.
From the beginning of his movie-making days, things seemed to fall in place for Troy. "It was persistence and
luck that got me where I am today. It was being in the right place at the right time," he said.
screenplay, "Grandview, U.S.A.
There was Troy Donahue, along with Jamie Leigh Curtis, Patrick Swayze and C. Thomas Howell.
My attention focused on the blond movie star that had captured my heart when he was treated so
badly by his mother's husband in "Parrish." It was hard for me to believe I was actually there, looking eye to
eye and talking with Troy Donahue.
Earlier that day, Carol Schott Martino, my friend and co-editor/publisher of our literary magazine,
called to tell me the stars had come to the corn belt. A production company had chosen her hometown to film
a movie. She had met the man in charge of the "honey-wagons," (mobile dressing rooms) and he would let us
by the police guarded ropes.
Troy was playing the part of a shady character called Donny Vinton. The first time I talked with him, he
was sitting on a director's stool on the set wearing an all-weather jacket, white jeans, and house slippers. He
signed autographs for a few kids who had slipped their way past the barricades. I think they had invaded to
see the teen idol, Tommy Howell. Troy's grin gave me the idea he had the same thought.
"Actually, I think their mothers are saying to them, 'get over there and get his autograph for me,'" Troy
said, grinning.
Troy liked giving autographs. That's what he said. I believed him, because I don't think he would have
had such a glow on his face if he had been fibbing.
He said he truly felt a special affection for his fans and enjoyed signing. "It doesn't bother me at all if I'm
asked for my autograph. Sometimes I'm busy and have to refuse someone, but I hate to. And sometimes I'm
just in a bad mood. Not too often, though. I would start to worry if I wasn't asked. I appreciate my fans. They
have been good to me. Even when the bottom kind-of fell out for me, and I was no longer in demand, I
remained popular with my fans."
In 1983, prior to making "Grandview U.S.A.," Troy had starring roles in three movies. "I don't call this a
comeback. I call it a continuance of my career," he said.
From the beginning of his movie-making days, things seemed to fall in place for Troy. "It was persistence and
luck that got me where I am today. It was being in the right place at the right time," he said.
"My mother was an actress and she tried out for a part in an off-Broadway play. That's when she met my
father. He was directing, so instead of giving her the part, he married her. That was the end of her acting
career and the beginning of mine. It can take years to be successful as an actor, or it can happen right away.
For me, it happened right away."
Troy said he though he might have had things a bit too easy; even after he left home at age 17 and
studied acting at night and worked during the day delivering film rushes in New York City.
A year later, Troy went to California where he "knocked on a lot of doors" before he finally got a screen
test.This landed him a contract with Universal. The following year, Troy signed a seven-year contract with
Warner Brothers. His first movie role in "Man With A Thousand Faces," in 1957, made him an instant star.
"This is great. I love being a star. I always get the script about a month early and memorize all my lines
before we start shooting. I like to be comfortable with the script. I love playing a role that has some substance
to it. This part is just wonderful," he said of the "polyester jerk" character, Donny Vinton..
father. He was directing, so instead of giving her the part, he married her. That was the end of her acting
career and the beginning of mine. It can take years to be successful as an actor, or it can happen right away.
For me, it happened right away."
Troy said he though he might have had things a bit too easy; even after he left home at age 17 and
studied acting at night and worked during the day delivering film rushes in New York City.
A year later, Troy went to California where he "knocked on a lot of doors" before he finally got a screen
test.This landed him a contract with Universal. The following year, Troy signed a seven-year contract with
Warner Brothers. His first movie role in "Man With A Thousand Faces," in 1957, made him an instant star.
"This is great. I love being a star. I always get the script about a month early and memorize all my lines
before we start shooting. I like to be comfortable with the script. I love playing a role that has some substance
to it. This part is just wonderful," he said of the "polyester jerk" character, Donny Vinton..
During the making of the movie, Troy talked a lot about someday becoming a movie director. He
agreed with screenwriter Ken Hixon that it is easier for a writer to become a director, though, than it is for an
actor to become a director.
It was a wee morning hour, with a bunch of people still standing behind the ropes, whenTroy was to
again become Donny Vinton. He would enter the staged bungalow where he would be tied to a bed by his
lover just minutes before her husband would demolish the house with a bulldozer.
"I consider it my ability to act that got me this part," he said, laughing as a piece of heavy equipment
moved into the scene.
agreed with screenwriter Ken Hixon that it is easier for a writer to become a director, though, than it is for an
actor to become a director.
It was a wee morning hour, with a bunch of people still standing behind the ropes, whenTroy was to
again become Donny Vinton. He would enter the staged bungalow where he would be tied to a bed by his
lover just minutes before her husband would demolish the house with a bulldozer.
"I consider it my ability to act that got me this part," he said, laughing as a piece of heavy equipment
moved into the scene.
The Troy Donahue story
appeared in Pteranodon, June 1984.
It was our last issue.
Patricia Lieb and Carol Schott
published the literary magazine
Pteranodon, 1979-1984.
appeared in Pteranodon, June 1984.
It was our last issue.
Patricia Lieb and Carol Schott
published the literary magazine
Pteranodon, 1979-1984.
From the start, Troy knew
of the affect he had on teenage
girls and women. "It felt great; it
still does," he said, a boyish grin
appearing on his face.
of the affect he had on teenage
girls and women. "It felt great; it
still does," he said, a boyish grin
appearing on his face.
Probably, the kids were
sent by their mothers to get
his autograph for them, Troy
said.
sent by their mothers to get
his autograph for them, Troy
said.
Writers make good
movie directors, Troy said.
"Because writers are used
to words. They know what
they have in mind for the
actor to say."
movie directors, Troy said.
"Because writers are used
to words. They know what
they have in mind for the
actor to say."
| Troy Donahue |