ACTOR
Don DeFore
- Known for
- Hazel (1961), The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952)
21 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Don DeFore is an actor best known for Hazel and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
21 Interesting Facts About Don DeFore
Interesting Facts (11)
- #001
Don DeFore once generously helped his dear friend Walt Disney out of a bind. During the annual Disneyland Christmas parade, Disney's grandchildren were supposed to ride in a carriage with him. The parade was approaching and the grandchildren had not yet arrived, so Disney called DeFore in a panic and asked whether he could borrow two of his children, since he could not take part in the parade without children in his carriage. DeFore generously offered two of his children, Dawn DeFore and Ronnie DeFore, to ride in the carriage with Disney in the parade, and they dutifully waved to the crowd. It is one of Dawn and Ronnie's fondest childhood memories, and they treasure the photographs of the event.
- #002
Judy Garland served as Honorary Head Nurse at Don DeFore's wedding to Marion Holmes DeFore.
- #003
His last film was Rare Breed (1984), directed by David Nelson, the son of his former TV boss Ozzie Nelson.
- #004
Don DeFore was the first honorary mayor of the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, where he built a house in 1948.
- #005
Don DeFore appeared on the cover of the October 6, 1962 issue of "TV Guide" together with his Hazel (1961) co-star Shirley Booth.
- #006
Don DeFore had contracts with both MGM and Warner Bros. In the end, however, he was dropped by both because he was not star material.
- #007
Don DeFore took part in the Railroad Competition at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
- #008
Don DeFore is better known for his role in Hazel than for any of his film roles.
- #009
Don DeFore's son David Allan DeFore was born on August 22, 1945, in Los Angeles County, California.
- #010
Don DeFore's daughter Dawn Joette DeFore was born on January 30, 1948, in Los Angeles County, California.
- #011
Don DeFore's daughter Amy N. DeFore was born on March 30, 1959, in Los Angeles County, California.
Characters & Cast (1)
- #012
Although he was rejected by the army because of medical problems, Don DeFore starred in many war films. When asked about his war service, he quipped: "I have 550 flying hours in the Hollywood Air Force. I have been on 50 major missions in the Hollywood Army. And I sailed the seven seas in a Navy film."
Career & Awards (4)
- #013
In 1949, Photoplay Magazine sent DeFore, actor Lon McCallister and the then-unknown Marilyn Monroe on a train trip to Warrensburg, New York, to present the keys to a new home to the winner of Photoplay's "Dream Home" contest. Surviving photographs dated June 1, 1949 show Don DeFore playing cards with Marilyn on the train journey and also in front of the house during the event. When Photoplay hired the group for this, Marilyn Monroe was in New York to promote her new film Love Happy (1949). Don DeFore is believed to have been in New York to shoot My Friend Irma (1949), the first film of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
- #014
From 1954 to 1955, Don DeFore served as president of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and was instrumental in arranging the first national television broadcast of the Emmy Awards on March 7, 1955.
- #015
Before leaving, Don DeFore studied law for a year at Iowa State University, where he realized that what he enjoyed most about it was pleading a case before an "audience." He instead joined a local repertory acting company, and his first play was titled "Broadway" for the Cedar Rapids Community Theatre.
- #016
In June 1976, Don DeFore traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, to campaign for his longtime friend Ronald Reagan's candidacy for President of the United States at the Republican State Convention. DeFore had appeared in at least two films with Reagan: Brother Rat (1938) and She's Work Her Way Through College (1952).
Life & Family (5)
- #017
Don DeFore was the only person ever allowed to open a restaurant in Disneyland. From 1957 to 1961 he ran the Silver Banjo in Frontierland. His brother Verne DeFore helped him, and the two used as inspiration for the small restaurant a beautiful silver banjo their father, a railroad engineer, had brought home from Louisiana as a gift.
- #018
On the popular NBC-TV series Hazel (1961), Don DeFore played George Baxter, the boss of maid Shirley Booth, for four years. When the series moved to CBS, DeFore and his lovely TV wife Whitney Blake were replaced by his character's "younger brother" Steve (played by Ray Fulmer) and his lovely wife (Lynn Borden). George Baxter was said to have been "transferred" to Saudi Arabia for business reasons. DeFore's television son (Bobby Buntrock) stayed behind to live with his aunt and uncle and continued in his role. The series lasted only one more season before it was cancelled.
- #019
His father, one of seven children, had left his post as a politician and, alongside his full-time work as a train engineer, was also actively involved in labor union affairs.
- #020
Don DeFore first acted in church plays directed by his mother.
- #021
Don DeFore was the grandfather of Sean Welch.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- IMDb
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