Who Is Still Alive From ‘My Three Sons’?
There is just something that sticks with you about the wholesome sitcoms of the 1960s, especially My Three Sons. One of the top classics from the decade, My Three Sons followed widowed aeronautical engineer Steven Douglas (Fred MacMurray) as he raised his titular three sons, experiencing all the love and challenges of single fatherhood. The show certainly resonated with audiences — it began on Sept. 29, 1960, airing in black and white on ABC for five seasons, before moving to CBS for its remaining seven seasons, which were filmed in color.
If you logged any time with the Douglas family, you may have wondered: What happened to the cast? While most of them have since passed away, several are still alive! Read on to find out what they’re up to now:
Stanley Livingston, 74 (Richard ‘Chip’ Douglas)
Stanley Livingston played the eldest son, Chip, for all 12 seasons. After the show ended, he continued to act in films such as Private Parts and Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfolds, as well as appearing in stage shows such as See How They Run. When he wasn’t acting, he was still active in Hollywood as a producer, writer, director, editor, cinematographer and even special effects creator. He founded First Team Productions, a company that helps create movies, shows, educational videos, music videos and much more. He is now retired, but still occasionally does interviews to talk about his career and his time on My Three Sons.
Barry Livingston, 70 (Ernie Thompson-Douglas)
Stanley’s real-life brother Barry joined the show in the fourth season as an adopted Douglas son. While he is still best known as Ernie, he has appeared in many popular shows as a guest star including Mad Men, Ally McBeal, The Nanny and Two and a Half Men.
Unlike his brother, he is not retired and continues to act. He was recently seen in General Hospital and has two upcoming projects in the works, including the film Blood Knot with Michael Douglas. He wrote a memoir in 2021 called The Importance of Being Ernie about his time on the show and his life as a child star.
Tina Cole, 81 (Katie Miller-Douglas)
Since the show lasted for so many seasons, viewers got to see the three Douglas sons grow up and even get married. Tina Cole joined the show in its eighth season, playing Robbie’s girlfriend and eventual wife. While she had a few other acting roles in the ’70s, since My Three Sons, she has mostly dedicated her life to her one true passion: music. She has worked teaching music and acting to children and worked in children’s theater. She was the director of the Sacramento Children’s Theater for over 20 years until the pandemic shut them down.
In 2017, she produced and starred in a film called Take It From the Top, and, in 2020, she starred in a horror movie called Reawakened. In 2022, she released a memoir called My Three Lives, with a foreword by fashion designer Bob Mackie. Cole has also been involved with charities including March of Dimes, the Children’s Miracle Network, the Sacramento Child Abuse Council and more.
Dawn Lyn, 61 (Dodie Harper Douglas)
A very young Dawn Lyn appeared in the final few seasons of the show, as the daughter of Steve’s second wife. She went on to appear in several other series, including Emergency! and Wonder Woman and performed with the Avalon Community Theater Radio Troupe from 1997 to 2006.
Sadly, Lyn fell into a monthlong coma in 2022 after having brain surgery to reduce a nonmalignant tumor. Her TV family members Stanley Livingston and Tina Cole have given updates on her recovery, and as of this year, she still remains hospitalized but is reportedly recovering. She is also the sister to fellow child star Leif Garrett.
Fred MacMurray, d. 1991 (Steven Douglas)
MacMurray starred as father Steven Douglas. He died on Nov. 5, 1991, at the age of 83. He had throat cancer in the late ’70s and suffered from leukemia for over a decade before his death.
William Frawley, d. 1966 (William Michael Francis Aloysius “Bub” O’Casey)
Frawley, who played grandfather Bub, suffered from a fatal heart attack while walking on Hollywood Boulevard on March 3, 1966, at the age of 79.
William Demarest, d. 1983 (Charles Leslie “Uncle Charley” O’Casey)
Demarest died on Dec. 28, 1983, at the age of 91.
Tim Considine, d. 2022 (Mike Douglas)
Considine, who played eldest son Mike, died on March 3, 2022, at 81 years old.
Don Grady, d. 2012 (Robbie Douglas)
Grady, who played son Robbie on 11 seasons of the show, died of myeloma at age 68 on June 27, 2012.
Meredith MacRae, d. 2000 (Sally Ann Morrison-Douglas)
MacRae, who played Mike’s wife on the show, died on July 14, 2000, at the age of 56, from complications of brain cancer.
Beverly Garland, d. 2008 (Barbara Harper-Douglas)
Garland, who played Steve’s second wife, died on Dec. 5, 2008, from natural causes at the age of 82.
Who was your favorite character from My Three Sons? You can still watch it on MeTV, Catchy Comedy or Pluto TV. Now, find out who is still alive from Make Room for Daddy:
Classic TV Shows of the ’50s & ’60s
September 2020
Test your knowledge, from Bonanza and Gunsmoke to I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeannie, Star Trek and more fun TV of the 1950s and 1960s.
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