Tim Considine, who co-starred on the Mickey Mouse Club television serials “The Adventures of Spin and Marty” and “The Hardy Boys,” died last week at the age of 81.
Considine was born on December 31, 1940 in Los Angeles to a show business family. His father, John W. Considine Jr., was an Oscar-nominated MGM movie producer. His mother, Carmen, was the daughter of Greek American vaudeville impresario and theater magnate Alexander Pantages. In an interesting twist, his other grandfather, John Considine, was a vaudeville pioneer and Alexander Pantages’ vaudeville rival.
In 2006, the Walt Disney Company honored him for his contributions to the Disney legacy when he was named a Disney Legend.
The Mickey Mouse Club and Spin and Marty
In 1955, Walt Disney premiered the children’s variety show “The Mickey Mouse Club” on ABC. The program featured a cast of child and teen performers known as Mousketeers, who performed musical numbers and original skits. The show also included serials that were very popular during the show’s original airing. Many of the cast members were launched into stardom, and Considine was one of them.
Considine starred as the affable and athletic Spin Evans, who played in contrast to spoiled rich kid Marty Markham, portrayed by David Stollery, on “The Adventures of Spin and Marty.” The series of shorts, the series was set at a Western-style summer camp for boys called the Triple R Ranch.
“I got the part of Marty Markham. I didn’t want [to play him] because he was this snotty little rich kid,” said Considine in a 2010 interview. “I’d like to be this other guy who’s really cool in it, his friend Spin. My agent went back to Disney Studios and said my guy wants to do it, but only if you make Spin an equal-size part to Marty. And so it became ‘Spin and Marty.’”
During the serial’s second season, Mousketeer Annette Funicello was added to the cast as Annette from the Circle H Ranch, and Kevin Corcoran as Moochie. Mouseketeer Darlene Gillespie was added to the cast during season three, and the program became a vehicle for song and dance sketches as part of “Let’s put on a show!”
Based on the first Hardy Boys book, “The Tower Treasure,” Considine starred as Frank Hardy opposite Tommy Kirk as his brother, Joe, in “The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure” and “The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Ghost Farm.” The serial’s theme song was performed by Thurl Ravenscroft and played over clips from Disney’s 1950 adventure film, “Treasure Island.”
The Shaggy Dog and My Three Sons
Directed by Charles Barton from a screenplay by Lillie Hayward and Bill Walsh, Considine was reunited with Tommy Kirk, Annette Funicello, and Kevin Corcoran in the 1959 hit film “The Shaggy Dog.” The film also stars Fred MacMurray, Jean Hagen, and Roberta Shore.
After “The Shaggy Dog,” Considine was then reunited with Fred MacMurray and former Mousketeer Don Grady to star on ABC’s “My Three Sons.” Grady and Stanley Livingston played his brothers, Robbie and Chip, who are raised by widower Steve Douglas with the help of his father-in-law, played by William Frawley.
After his departure from “My Three Sons,” Considine appeared on many television staples like “Bonanza,” “Medical Center,” “The Fugitive,” “Gunsmoke,” and “The Smith Family.” He also made an appearance as the town mayor in 2000’s “The New Adventures of Spin and Marty: Suspect Behavior.”
Considine also appeared in many theatrical films during the 1950s. He appeared in 1954’s “Executive Suite” with William Holden and June Allyson, and prior to “Spin and Marty,” he shared the screen with Stollery in “Her Twelve Men.” He also starred in the sequel to “The Doberman Gang” in the 1973 film “The Daring Dobermans.” Many film aficionados may recognize him as a shell-shocked soldier, who was called a coward and slapped by George C. Scott in 1970’s “Patton.”
Fellow “My Three Sons” costar Barry Livingston wrote a heartfelt message about Considine on his Facebook page:
“Deeply saddened today hearing that my big brother, Tim Considine, just passed away. When I came on to My Three Sons as the friend next door Tim welcomed me with a lot of love, taking me to Dodger games, going for rides in his D-Jag race cars and, in fact, writing a couple MTS episodes that I was the star of. In later years, long after he left the series, we’d rendezvous at the Indy 500 and would hang for a week enjoying each other’s company. I’m truly stunned that he’s gone now. RIP, TC.”
Let’s Hear From You
It’s always sad when a symbol of our youth passes away, but we can help keep them alive in our memories by sharing favorite moments and recollections. If you were a Tim Considine fan, let us know below… and if you are too young to remember, take a look at some of the clips above and get to know him. Rest In Peace Tim, you will be missed and fondly remembered.