‘My Three Sons’ Star Tim Considine Dies At 81

Tim Considine, the original oldest Douglas son on classic sitcom My Three Sons, died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 81.

Born December 31, 1940, Considine had immediate roots in show business. His father, John W. Considine, was an Oscar-nominated movie producer. His mother, Carmen, was the daughter of theater magnate Alexander Pantages. And his grandfather, John Considine, was active in vaudeville. So, it was no surprise that Tim followed in their footsteps when he made his onscreen debut at age 12 as the faithful son of a comedian (Red Skelton) in film The Clown (1953).

Prior to joining kids-themed The Mickey Mouse Club, Considine made the rounds as a child star guest-starring on series like I’m the Law, The Ford Television Theatre, Your Jeweler’s Showcase, and Chevron Theatre in 1953; and The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin and The Great Gildersleeve in 1954. From 1955 to 1958, he appeared in four ongoing segments on The Mickey Mouse Club: Spin and Marty (as Spin); as older brother Frank on The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure and The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Ghost Farm; and opposite Annette Funicello in Annette.

In 1959, Considine appeared with his soon-to-be TV father Fred MacMurray in the family film The Shaggy Dog. One year later came My Three Sons, which began on ABC in 1960 and featured Considine as the older brother Mike to Don Grady as Robbie and Stanley Livingston as Chip. Also present was William Frawley as grandfather William “Bub” O’Casey.

Following Frawley’s departure midway through season five, Considine left the series once it moved to CBS in the fall of 1965 after a disagreement with executive producer Don Fedderson over Considine’s wish to direct but not co-star in the series. His final appearance on My Three Sons was in the sixth season premiere on CBS when he marries girlfriend Sally (Meredith MacRae) and moves East to accept a teaching position. After a few brief mentions, his character of Mike is completely forgotten and Barry Livingston as Ernie inherits the now third son position.

Considine did, however, participate in the Thanksgiving Reunion with The Partridge Family & My Three Sons in 1977.

Following guest appearances on dramas Bonanza, The Fugitive and Medical Center, Considine had a memorable role as a shell-shocked soldier slapped by George C. Scott in Oscar-winning film Patton in 1970.

More TV show guest appearances followed in entries like Ironside, Gunsmoke and The Smith Family (with Henry Fonda) until Considine segued into a career as an automobile historian, photographer, and writer who specialized in motor sports. He was the author of The Photographic Dictionary of Soccer, The Language of Sport, American Grand Prix Racing: A Century of Drivers and Cars, and Twice Around the Clock: The Yanks at Le Mans. He also filled in for William Safire as writer of the “On Language” column in The New York Times magazine.

Considine’s survivors include his wife, Willett, whom he married in 1979; his son; his siblings John and Erin; and his grandchildren, Ethan and Tyler. He was married to actress Charlotte Stewart (Eraserhead, Miss Beadle on Little House on the Prairie) from 1965 until their 1969 divorce.