Dwayne Bernard Hickman (May 18, 1934 – January 9, 2022) was an American actor and television executive, producer and director, who worked as an executive at CBS and had also briefly recorded as a vocalist. Hickman portrayed Chuck MacDonald, Bob Collins's girl-crazy teenaged nephew, in the 1950s The Bob Cummings Show and the title character in the 1960s sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. He was the younger brother of actor Darryl Hickman, with whom he appeared on screen. After retirement, he devoted his time to creating personalized paintings.

Early life

Born in Los Angeles, on May 18, 1934, Hickman was the younger brother of child actor Darryl Hickman and the older brother of Deidre Hickman.

Acting career

Hickman's first screen appearances were as an extra in The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and Men of Boys Town (1941), in which his brother Darryl was featured. Other early screen appearances were in the 1942 Our Gang comedy Melodies Old and New, Captain Eddie (1945), The Hoodlum Saint (1946), and Faithful in My Fashion (1946).

In 1946, Hickman played young Chase in the movie The Secret Heart which starred Claudette Colbert, Walter Pidgeon, Lionel Barrymore, and June Allyson.

Hickman played different small roles in some of Columbia Pictures' eight-film "Rusty" series, about a boy and his valiant German Shepherd: The Return of Rusty (1946), For the Love of Rusty (1947), The Son of Rusty (1947), My Dog Rusty (1948), Rusty Leads the Way (1948), Rusty's Birthday (1949), and Rusty Saves a Life (1949).

Heaven Only Knows (1947), in which he appeared, starred Bob Cummings, who would play a major role in Hickman's career. Hickman also appeared in Her Husband's Affairs (1948), The Boy with Green Hair (1948), The Sun Comes Up (1949), Mighty Joe Young (1949), and The Happy Years (1950), which starred Darryl. As teens, Dwayne and Darryl guest-starred in a 1950 episode of The Lone Ranger titled "Two Gold Lockets".

Hickman focused on his studies for a few more years, then returned to acting with appearances in Public Defender, The Loretta Young Show, Lux Video Theatre, and Waterfront. In 1955, Dwayne appeared in another Lone Ranger episode, titled "Sunstroke Mesa".

The Bob Cummings Show

Hickman gained wide notice as Chuck on The Bob Cummings Show from 1955 to 1959. At the time, he was studying at Loyola Marymount. Hickman was one of the early stars to have a breakout character in the series.

Hickman considered Cummings a childhood television hero and had said that Cummings taught him everything he knew about acting. He worked with and was friends with Cummings throughout five seasons.

He had a supporting part in the 1967 comedy Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!. He starred in the 1967 pilot for We'll Take Manhattan and the 1968 pilot for Missy's Men, but neither was picked up for broadcast.

Hickman also appeared as a guest panelist on Match Game in 1975.

He guest-starred on Vacation Playhouse; Ironside; Insight; The Flying Nun; My Friend Tony; Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color ("My Dog, the Thief"); Mod Squad; Love, American Style; Karen; Kolchak: The Night Stalker; Perry Mason; and Ellery Queen. He reprised his most famous role in Whatever Happened to Dobie Gillis?, a one-shot pilot, and appeared in the TV movie Don't Push, I'll Charge When I'm Ready (1977).

Later career

Hickman found his future in entertainment behind the scenes, becoming involved in production roles. From 1977 to 1988, Hickman served as a programming executive at CBS. He took time out for a cameo in the TV movie High School U.S.A. (1983).

Hickman reprised his role of Dobie in the TV movie Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis (1988). His autobiography is titled Forever Dobie. That year, he guest-starred on Win, Lose or Draw.

In the late 1980s, Hickman turned to directing episodic TV, doing episodes of Duet; Charles in Charge; Open House; Designing Women; Get a Life; Head of the Class; Harry and the Hendersons; and Sister, Sister.

He still occasionally acted, appearing in Murder, She Wrote, and A Night at the Roxbury (1998). He had a semi-regular role on the TV series Clueless.

He could be seen in Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History and Angels with Angles (2005).

Personal life and death

Hickman was married three times. His first two marriages, to Carol Christensen and Joanne Papile, ended in divorce. He and his third wife, Joan Roberts, were married for 39 years until his death. He had two sons, one from his first marriage and one from his third.

Hickman died from complications of Parkinson's disease in Los Angeles on January 9, 2022, at the age of 87.

References

  • Official website
  • Interview with Dwayne Hickman
  • Find a Grave