Harvey Brownstone Interviews Ron DeFore, Son of TV and Screen Star, Don DeFore

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  • Опубліковано 10 лют 2023
  • Harvey Brownstone conducts an in-depth interview with Ron DeFore, Son of TV and Screen Star, Don DeFore
    About Harvey's guest:
    Today’s special guest, Ron DeFore, is the son of one of Hollywood’s most beloved and respected actors, Don DeFore, who appeared in dozens of great movies, including “A Guy Named Joe”, “30 Seconds Over Tokyo”, “The Male Animal”, “Ramrod”, “Romance on the High Seas”, “The Facts of Life”, and one of the great Christmas classics, “It Happened on 5th Avenue”.
    He worked with everyone from Spencer Tracy and Lionel Barrymore to John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Olivia de Havilland, Claudette Colbert, Lucille Ball, Judy Holiday - and that’s just scratching the surface. On television, he became a household name, first as “Mr. Thornberry”, or “Thorny”, the next-door neighbour on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”, earning him a 1954 Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor. And then, he became “Mr. Baxter”, affectionately referred to as “Mr. B.”, for 4 seasons, on the classic sitcom, “Hazel”, co-starring the wonderful Shirley Booth.
    Don DeFore’s acting was seamless, because he was projecting his genuine, regular-guy personality, that made him endearing, enduring and beloved by his millions of fans. But there was much more to this man than his acting career.
    He was a loving husband to big band singer Marion Holmes, and a devoted father to his 5 children. He owned a popular BBQ restaurant at Disneyland.
    He served on the Board of the Screen Actors Guild, and was President of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and he orchestrated the first nationally televised Emmy Awards show in 1955. In 1965 he co-authored a book with his sister Penny DeFore entitled, “With All My Love”, about her experiences working in a Korean orphanage. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
    He was part of the US delegation to the 1969 International Film Festival in Moscow. And after getting to know Ronald Reagan on the set of a movie they made together, he became heavily involved in President Reagan’s political career, and was on the Presidential Advisory Committee to the Peace Corps.
    And if that weren’t enough, Don DeFore was a very gifted furniture maker. Our guest has had a remarkable life himself. He started out in the television industry and then moved on to an impressive career in Washington, first in the Peace Corps, then as part of President Reagan’s administration, and then as co-founder of one of the largest and most respected public affairs firms in Washington.
    He’s here to talk about his wonderful book, “Growing Up in Disneyland: Memoirs of Stage, TV and Movie Star Don DeFore, and His Son’s Exciting Life in a Celebrity Family and Beyond”.
    For more interviews and podcasts go to: www.harveybrownstoneinterview...
    www.defore.net/
    / dondefore
    / ron.defore
    / 1180199459597906
    / @rhd4444
    #ron.defore #harveybrownstoneinterviews
  • Розваги

КОМЕНТАРІ • 77

  • @Csrasberrysmith
    @Csrasberrysmith Рік тому +18

    I am a 65 yr. old woman. I saw Hazel as a kid but love it even more now! I watch it almost every night to go to sleep. I have trouble sleeping and the humor and love in the family gives me a warm feeling and reduces stress.

    • @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980
      @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980  Рік тому +2

      Did you enjoy the interview?

    • @Csrasberrysmith
      @Csrasberrysmith Рік тому

      @@harveybrownstoneinterviews8980 yes, I did & I thoroughly enjoyed the interview. So happy to learn of Don DeFore’s political beliefs, which align with mine. Now I know why I was so drawn to his movies and the the Hazel show. His dedication to God, family, and country are dear to many, esp. in the midst of all that’s going on today. I do wish I could obtain all the seasons and episodes of Hazel.

    • @marybranicki3354
      @marybranicki3354 5 місяців тому +1

      OMG !!! I am exactly the same way… I watch Hazel and Ozzie Harriet every night to get that warm feeling and reduce stress …❤❤❤❤ Love the interview

    • @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980
      @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980  5 місяців тому

      @marybranicki3354 thank you so much for watching our show!

  • @douglasthompson9482
    @douglasthompson9482 Місяць тому +2

    Don Defore was a classic actor….I loved him. God Bless him…. A man of God…an example for all of us.

  • @joekerswild2754
    @joekerswild2754 8 місяців тому +3

    Don DeFore was my uncle. Great guy..though I was young when we visited him.

  • @bejoyful
    @bejoyful 11 місяців тому +6

    Never cared for the sitcom Hazel without Don Defore and Whitney Blake; very nice to hear his son speak of his father.

  • @mullen25
    @mullen25 9 місяців тому +3

    Don Defore was great. i watch it happened on 5th avenue every christmas.

  • @kenmartin1345
    @kenmartin1345 13 днів тому +1

    In the fall of 1974, I saw Henry Fonda in a one-man show as Clarence Darrow, that was touring and came to St. Louis. My friend and I got to meet Mr. Fonda after the show. After leaving the theatre in downtown St. Louis, on the street corner there was a small group of people talking. One of the men was Don Defore. I just blurted out to him “You’re Don Defore!”. He laughed and said something like “ I think so”. He couldn’t have been nicer and signed my high school library card that Henry Fonda had just signed.

  • @SusanCatherine
    @SusanCatherine 4 місяці тому +1

    Hazel is my comfort show. It's classic and timeless.

  • @heatherhodges-kloes3156
    @heatherhodges-kloes3156 Рік тому +4

    Cool he sounds just like his dad🤗❤

  • @maryanderson2171
    @maryanderson2171 Рік тому +3

    Very nice, easy going interview. You asked very interesting questions. Ron is so cute. I see so much of his dad in him, especially when he laughs. Thank you both for sharing this with us.

    • @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980
      @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980  Рік тому +3

      Yes I was immediately struck by how much he looks like his Dad. Thanks so much for watching our show!🙏❤️

  • @wawaipum
    @wawaipum 7 місяців тому +1

    I enjoyed this interview. It only doI hear his father in his voice but also in his chuckle. Thank you for this 💕

    • @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980
      @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980  7 місяців тому +1

      It was our great pleasure bringing this interview, and all our great interviews to our viewers. Thank you for your support!❤️

  • @harveybrownstone7840
    @harveybrownstone7840 Рік тому +4

    If you’re a fan of our show, you’ll know that one of our most popular features is the “Gone But Not Forgotten” series, featuring interviews with iconic stars. This latest episode in that series features the son of popular movie and TV actor Don DeFore. You’ll learn so much about who this terrific actor really was. And the story about the great comedian Foster Brooks is really special!!

  • @tanyafromjefferson5484
    @tanyafromjefferson5484 8 місяців тому

    What a wonderful interview, gentlemen! It’s really is refreshing to see a Hollywood son speak so highly of his father. ❤

  • @RobertSmith-vr9bs
    @RobertSmith-vr9bs 4 місяці тому +1

    I loved him in Ozzie n Harriet. But my favorite of him was on hazel . When they dropped him and Whitney blake. The 5,th season was awefull. We now have the DVD set. He was a great actor.

  • @gerrydooley951
    @gerrydooley951 6 місяців тому +2

    to this day I always thought that Don was one of the most likeable actors I'd ever seen. He was excellent in" Ramrod "and "Too Late for Tears"

  • @karenleemallonee684
    @karenleemallonee684 Рік тому +1

    How exciting, I am in one of his FB groups (but I can't recall the name).
    What a great interview, Harvey, you always do such a superb job!
    I just watched the episode of Don on This Is Your Life, a couple days ago. It gave an insight to how respected he and his family was. Ozzie & Harriet was in on the surprise & they were so adorable about it. Then I watched a Christmas with The Nelson's TV Special where many who had guest started on the show stopped by & yes, He made an appearance, & spoke of drinking "warm Coke"...made me giggle! I watch a lot of Ozzie and Harriet!!! I'll have to check out Hazel again.
    👍👍 🤗

    • @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980
      @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980  Рік тому +1

      Thank you so much Karenlee for your tremendous support of our show. I appreciate you - and all my incredibly kind viewers - so very much. 🙏❤️

    • @karenleemallonee684
      @karenleemallonee684 Рік тому

      Oh boy, I just watched that TV Christmas show again (I can't sleep) I got half way through it and to come over here and tell you, I really messed up! For 1.) The show is called An Ozzie and Harriet Christmas. And 2.) That was Harley Baer who spoke of the warm Coke. Boy, I used to have such a great memory...not so much anymore!
      Gonna go back now & finnish the show & really hear what Don has to say!!!

    • @caraqueno
      @caraqueno Рік тому +1

      @@karenleemallonee684 It was PARLEY Baer.

    • @karenleemallonee684
      @karenleemallonee684 Рік тому +1

      @@caraqueno
      Yes, I realized that I got his name wrong a few days later. I believe I also got mixed up on my story about the warm Coke too!
      Thanks for letting me know, I appreciate it!!! 🙂

  • @ralphromeo7066
    @ralphromeo7066 2 місяці тому

    Ron's resemblance to his father is uncanny. Shirley Booth had an unparalleled screen personality, and Don was her ideal counterpart.

  • @pkguy3
    @pkguy3 3 місяці тому

    Boy Ron sure sounds like his dad and particularly when he laughs the same chuckling motions.

  • @jeffreyerickson6766
    @jeffreyerickson6766 6 місяців тому

    Thank you Ron and Harvey.

  • @toddfowler4017
    @toddfowler4017 Місяць тому +1

    A job well done! But I would have loved to hear what he had to say about why his dad and Whitney Blake left the show. And then they leave their son behind, absolutely bizarre!!

  • @berniecasey7592
    @berniecasey7592 Рік тому

    He was Wonderful, I loved him.

  • @RobertSmith-vr9bs
    @RobertSmith-vr9bs 4 місяці тому

    I wished I had a dad like yours was.

  • @vernwhite568
    @vernwhite568 6 місяців тому

    I’m 42 I have the whole series on dvd of hazel I love the show and I’m watching it now

  • @MsBackstager
    @MsBackstager 9 місяців тому +1

    Harvey, how much prep time do you put into your amazing interviews? Good interview.

  • @hughhaefner3317
    @hughhaefner3317 27 днів тому +1

    Why did the Hazel show dump Don Defore and Whitney Blake? They were the best co-stars for Hazel. Love your show Harvey. Just discovered it a few weeks ago.

    • @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980
      @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980  25 днів тому

      I’m delighted you found our show. I hope you will check out more of our great interviews and consider subscribing to our UA-cam channel. Please spread the word about our show. We believe we deserve a much bigger audience. 🙏❤️

    • @hughhaefner3317
      @hughhaefner3317 24 дні тому

      @@harveybrownstoneinterviews8980 You absolutely deserve a much, much larger audience, and I believe you will achieve it. I'll make sure I'm subscribed and have viewed a couple of dozen of your shows and hit the like button! Thank you for the entertainment!

    • @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980
      @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980  24 дні тому

      @hughhaefner3317 that is so incredibly kind of you. Thank you so much for your support. With viewers like you, I believe our show will make it to the top!!

  • @hilarybromley3064
    @hilarybromley3064 10 місяців тому

    Loved his voice

  • @MsBackstager
    @MsBackstager 9 місяців тому

    His son looks sooo much like dad.

  • @catnelson3657
    @catnelson3657 19 днів тому

    Wow, he resembles his dad and sounds like him too.

  • @Kenwood1990
    @Kenwood1990 Рік тому +2

    I still enjoy Hazel and I enjoy Him on Ozzie and Harriet.Don was a wonderful actor.

  • @hughhaefner3317
    @hughhaefner3317 27 днів тому

    Hazel, a great show!

  • @glennriddle285
    @glennriddle285 Рік тому

    I was a big fan of Don Defore. I enjoyed him on Ozzie & Harriett. I always wished I had a next door neighbor like Thorny.

  • @kristencarlbon4561
    @kristencarlbon4561 2 місяці тому

    He sounds exactly like his father

  • @raymeedc
    @raymeedc 7 місяців тому

    With the ease of self publishing nowadays, why wouldn’t his son publish his father’s autobiography, no matter how much it would or wouldn’t sell? His father worked on that book for decades‼️

    • @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980
      @harveybrownstoneinterviews8980  7 місяців тому +1

      We discussed it after filming this interview. Ron feels his book includes the salient features and passages of his Dad’s book.