Troy Donahue, born Merl Johnson Jr. on January 27, 1936, in New York City, was destined for a life intertwined with the arts.

His father, Frederick Merl Johnson, was a production chief for General Motors’ promotional films, and his mother, Edith Dee Johnson, was a retired Swedish stage actress.

Despite his parents’ hopes for a stable career, Troy’s passion for acting was undeniable from a young age.

Immersed in the world of theater through his mother’s influence, he pursued his dreams with determination, eventually becoming one of Hollywood’s most beloved heartthrobs of the late 1950s and early 1960s.

 

Donahue’s journey to stardom was not without obstacles.

After moving to California in 1956, he worked behind the scenes cutting film before being discovered by producer William Asher and director James Sheldon.

A near-fatal car accident delayed his Hollywood breakthrough, but soon after, he was signed by agent Henry Wilson, who rechristened him Troy Donahue.

His early roles included parts in *Man Afraid* and *The Monolith Monsters*, with guest appearances on popular TV shows like *Rawhide* and *Wagon Train*.

 

His big break came with the 1959 film *A Summer Place*, where he starred opposite Sandra Dee.

The film’s success catapulted him to teen idol status, making him a household name.

Following this, Donahue appeared in several successful films including *Parrish* (1961), *Susan Slade* (1961), and *Rome Adventure* (1962).

His television roles in *Surfside 6* and *Hawaiian Eye* further solidified his popularity.

At the peak of his fame, Donahue received thousands of fan letters weekly and was named the most popular male star by *Photoplay* magazine.

 

Despite his early success, Donahue’s life was marked by significant personal challenges.

His career began to decline in the mid-1960s, partly due to changing Hollywood tastes and his struggles with substance abuse.

In 1965, he took on a darker role as a psychopathic killer in *My Blood Runs Cold*, hoping to break free from his romantic lead typecasting.

Unfortunately, the film was poorly received, and his contract with Warner Brothers ended soon after.

 

Donahue later claimed he was blackballed in Hollywood, which severely limited his opportunities.

His battles with alcoholism and substance abuse worsened, leading to financial difficulties and even a period of homelessness, during which he spent time in New York’s Central Park.

Despite these hardships, Donahue continued acting in theater productions like *The Owl and the Pussycat* (1966–67) and toured with *Bye Bye Birdie* in 1998.

He found solace in reconnecting with fans at conventions and retrospectives, embracing a quieter but fulfilling life away from Hollywood’s glare.

 

Troy Donahue’s personal life was tumultuous, marked by four marriages and numerous struggles with addiction and emotional instability.

His first marriage was to actress Suzanne Pleshette, a talented performer known for her distinctive voice and later success in film and television.

They married in January 1964 during the height of Donahue’s early fame, but their union lasted only nine months.

 

The marriage between Donahue and Pleshette was emblematic of the pressures and challenges faced by young Hollywood couples.

Both were rising stars with demanding careers, and their relationship was strained by conflicting ambitions and personalities.

Donahue later described their marriage as two ships colliding in a storm, with professional jealousy and emotional volatility taking a toll.

Pleshette, known for her strong will and grounded nature, reportedly grew frustrated with Donahue’s inconsistent work ethic and struggles with substance abuse.

 

Friends noted that their passionate love quickly turned into bitter arguments and painful silences.

By September 1964, they divorced, leaving Donahue emotionally shattered.

He later called this period one of the darkest chapters in his life, admitting that the failure of the marriage deepened his alcoholism and career decline.

He reflected, “Losing Suzanne felt like losing a part of myself. I wasn’t just heartbroken, I was lost.”

 

The divorce haunted him for years, affecting his self-esteem and ability to form lasting relationships.

Despite the pain, Donahue always spoke of Pleshette with admiration and respect, acknowledging that she deserved better than he could offer at the time.

Pleshette went on to have a successful career and a long marriage to actor Tom Poston, while Donahue struggled to regain stability.

 

Before marrying Pleshette, Donahue was engaged to Lely Cardell, but the engagement ended amid controversy when Cardell sued him for assault.

This legal battle revealed a darker side of Donahue’s early personal life, hinting at struggles with anger and emotional instability that would plague him for years.

 

Donahue’s second marriage was to actress Valerie Allen in 1966, but it ended in divorce two years later, with Allen citing cruelty as the cause.

This painful split highlighted ongoing difficulties in Donahue’s personal relationships, exacerbated by the pressures of fame and his own inner demons.

 

His third marriage to Alma Sharp, an executive secretary, lasted from 1969 to 1972.

Unlike his previous marriages to actresses, this relationship offered a brief respite from the Hollywood spotlight but ultimately ended in divorce, reflecting Donahue’s continued struggles to maintain long-term commitments.

 

His fourth and final marriage was to Vicky Taylor from 1979 to 1981, during a period when his career had significantly waned.

This brief union was seen as another attempt to find stability amid ongoing personal challenges.

 

In his later years, Donahue found a quieter, more private companionship with opera singer Jung Chow.

This relationship represented a mature phase in his life, away from the public eye and the tumult of his earlier years.

Donahue also credited Alcoholics Anonymous with saving his life after he sought help for his addictions in 1982, enabling him to reconnect with his children and rebuild his life.

 

Despite never regaining his former fame, Donahue found contentment in theater work and fan engagements, embracing a life of peace and fulfillment away from Hollywood’s limelight.

On August 30, 2001, Troy Donahue suffered a severe heart attack and was rushed to St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

Despite successful emergency surgery, he experienced a second, fatal heart attack and passed away on September 2, 2001, at the age of 65.

 

Donahue’s life and career remain emblematic of Hollywood’s golden era—marked by dazzling success, personal turmoil, and the harsh realities behind the glamour.

His brief but intense marriage to Suzanne Pleshette stands as a poignant chapter, illustrating the emotional costs of fame and the complexities of love under the spotlight.

 

Though his star dimmed in later years, Troy Donahue’s legacy endures as a symbol of classic Hollywood charm, a reminder of both its magic and fragility.

His story is one of talent, struggle, heartbreak, and ultimately, redemption—a narrative that continues to resonate with fans and historians of American cinema.

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