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."
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...
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 cornbelt. A production company had chosen her hometown to film a movie.
She had met the man in charge of the "honeywagons," (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.
"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 cornbelt. A production company had chosen her hometown to film a movie.
She had met the man in charge of the "honeywagons," (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.
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
Martino published the literary
magazine Pteranodon, 1979-1984.
in Pteranodon, June 1984. It was our
last issue.
Patricia Lieb and Carol Schott
Martino 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.
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.
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."
directors, Troy said.
"Because writers are used
to words. They know what
they have in mind for the
actor to say."
Looking back: Troy Donahue