Don DeFore
The amiable neighbor next door, he became a familiar and beloved television face in two classic American sitcoms across the 1950s and 60s.
1913–1993 (age 80)·American actor·Birthday: August 25·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Don DeFore specialized in a very specific American archetype: the dependable, good-humored friend. With his solid build and earnest grin, he brought a grounded warmth to every role. His career took off after World War II service, with solid supporting parts in films like 'The Stork Club' and 'A Guy Named Joe.' But it was television that made him a household name. First, as the Nelsons' friendly neighbor Thorny on 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,' a role that earned him an Emmy nomination. A few years later, he found perhaps his most enduring part as Mr. B, the kindly, perpetually flustered employer of the live-in maid Hazel. For over a decade, his face was a welcome fixture in living rooms, embodying a post-war ideal of neighborly decency.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Don was born in 1913, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Don Was Born
The biggest hits of 1913
Don's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1913Born
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Started school
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1926Became a teenager
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1929Could drive
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1931Could vote
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Turned 21
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1943Turned 30
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 40
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 50
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 60
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 70
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 80
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
Key Achievements
- He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his role as Thorny on 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.'
- He starred as George Baxter, 'Mr. B,' in the hit sitcom 'Hazel' for four seasons.
- He appeared in over 40 films, including notable roles in 'The Woman in White' and 'Ramrod.'
- He served as president of the Hollywood Boys Club for underprivileged youth.
Did You Know?
He served as a captain in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
He and his wife, Marion, were married for 54 years until his death.
He owned and operated the Silvermine Tavern, a historic restaurant in Norwalk, Connecticut.
He was a talented artist and studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich.
“A good neighbor is the best character you can play.”
