A Look Back at the Life and Tragic Death of TV's 'My Three Sons' Actor Don Grady

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He was charismatic, affable, talented, down to earth, and a TV star from his pre-teens into adulthood. He was best known for his roles as one of Walt Disney's famed Mousketeers and as Robbie Douglas on TV's classic sitcom, My Three Sons. His name was Don Grady, and he died much too young, from cancer, at only 68 years old in 2012.

A Closer Look

Born in San Diego as Don Louis Agrati, of Italian-American descent, Don Grady performed for a short while on TV's The Mickey Mouse Club, starting at age 13. But it was his role as Robbie Douglas, TV off-spring to Fred MacMurray on My Three Sons, that made Grady a star.

Sons, which originally aired from 1960 to 1972, first on ABC and then CBS, featured MacMurray as a widowed aeronautical engineer who headed the mother-less household. In the show's initial seasons, Grady's Robbie was the middle brother, while Tim Considine played the eldest sibling, Mike, and Stanley Livingston portrayed the youngest, Chip. When Considine exited the series, Barry Livingston's Ernie Douglas became the show's adopted "third" son, and Grady became the calm, cool, and confident eldest brother.

Composing and writing music since he was 14 years old, Grady performed in the series within the band called, the Greefs. In real life, he played drums for The Yellow Balloon, who had a minor hit with a self-titled song in 1967. [He also played the trumpet and guitar.]

Beyond his regular role on My Three Sons, Grady made a few TV guest appearances in the 1970s and '80s. However, he worked primarily as a musician and composer.

In 1973, he recorded an album with his collection of songs, "Homegrown." In 2008, he released a collection of songs about the baby boomer generation, titled "Boomer."

Grady also wrote the theme music for The Phil Donahue Show, director Blake Edwards' 1991 feature film Switch, and the successful Las Vegas show EFX (which proved to be a platform for Phantom of the Opera performer Michael Crawford).

Behind the Scenes

Don Grady married twice: Virginia Lewsader (1985-2012), and Julie Boonisar (1976-1979), and had two children: Joey Grady and Tessa Grady. His mother, Mary Grady, was a talent agent; his sister, Lani O'Grady, was an actress (best known for her role on TV's Eight is Enough), and later became an agent like their mother.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, the passing of former child star Don Grady added to the long list of other former child stars who either lived or died tragically and/or long before their time, including his sister Mary O'Grady.