# Dwayne Hickman - Dead at 87 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [January 10, 2022, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498 "2022-01-10T02:44:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/1 "2022-01-10T02:44:40Z")
Complications from Parkinson’s. I’m old enough to remember Dobie. > **[Dwayne Hickman, TV’s Lovelorn Dobie Gillis, Is Dead at 87 (Published 2022)](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/09/obituaries/dwayne-hickman-dead.html)** > > He went on to appear in movies and other TV shows and to work as a television executive, but the role of Dobie would dog him for decades. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/2 "2022-01-10T03:03:00Z")
I loved that show. I found it recently on some streaming service, and it has aged well. A lot of clever running gags. Good ensemble. RIP, Dobie. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/3 "2022-01-10T03:15:11Z")
Maynard G. Krebs: the “G” stands for Walter. I mainly remember Tuesday Weld in that show. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/4 "2022-01-10T03:57:03Z")
_Dobie_ _wants a gal that’s dreamy,_ _Dobie_ _wants a gal that’s creamy,_ _Dobie_ _wants a gal to call his own!_ _Is she blonde, is she tall?_ _Is she dark, is she small?_ _Is she any kind of dreamboat at all?_ _No matter!_ _He’s hers and hers alone,_ _'cause Dobie has to have a girl to call his own!_ … Followed on Tuesday nights by “Next, on _ **Combat!** _…” (I can’t listen to the first without hearing the second.) RIP, good buddy Dobe! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/5 "2022-01-10T04:16:13Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I loved that show. I also loved that show. Max Shulman was a brilliant writer of comic novels, all of which are forgotten today. He first wrote Dobie as a college student and had to relent when the network insisted on a high school show. No matter, he wrote most of the first season by himself, bringing the characters’ language up to college level with the wittiest, brightest dialog of any show on television. Hickman played Dobie as a deliberate homage to Jack Benny, the beleaguered center surrounded by a wonderfully cast group of eccentrics somehow grounded in the real world. What other show of the 50s had the father regularly sighing, “I gotta kill that boy.” (First season only: the network nixed that too.) Everybody on the show was so perfect in their characters that they typecast themselves out of show business. Warren Beatty and Tuesday Weld presciently left before the first season ended. Steve Franken couldn’t overcome playing Chatsworth Osborne, Jr., Sheila James would always be Zelda, Florida Friebus would be the scatterbrained mother, and poor Bob Denver parleyed Maynard into Gilligan in a way that haunted him for the rest of his life. And Dwayne Hickman always played Dobie even in …shudder… _Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine._ The network found fifty ways to undercut the show, so only about a season and a half total are really top quality. Those hold their own against any series of the time, even the more famous ones. I really, really, really loved that show. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/6 "2022-01-10T05:46:35Z")
And, per [Wikipedia](https://The_Many_Loves_of_Dobie_Gillis): > _The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis_ was a major influence on the characters for another successful CBS program, the [Hanna-Barbera](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanna-Barbera) [Saturday morning cartoon](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_morning_cartoon) _[Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooby-Doo,_Where_Are_You!)_ , which ran on the network from 1969 to 1970 followed by several spin-offs. As confirmed by series creators [Joe Ruby](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Ruby) and [Ken Spears](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Spears)[[28]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Many_Loves_of_Dobie_Gillis#cite_note-STUEP1-28) and writer [Mark Evanier](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Evanier),[[29]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Many_Loves_of_Dobie_Gillis#cite_note-MEvanierSD-29) the four teenaged lead characters of _Scooby-Doo_ were based on four of the lead characters from _Dobie Gillis_ : [Fred Jones](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Jones_(Scooby-Doo)) on Dobie, [Daphne Blake](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphne_Blake) on Thalia, [Velma Dinkley](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velma_Dinkley) on Zelda, and [Shaggy Rogers](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaggy_Rogers) on Maynard. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/7 "2022-01-10T12:55:30Z")
I only ever knew him as the guy from Cat Ballou. “Hallelujah, brothers…” ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/8 "2022-01-10T15:02:30Z")
Bob Denver went from Hip Beatnik on Dobie Gillis to doofus on Gilligans Island. Dwayne Hickman was a part of my childhood. It was rerun regularly in the 1970’s. RIP ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/9 "2022-01-10T15:24:59Z")
Well said! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/10 "2022-01-10T17:35:42Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Bob Denver went from Hip Beatnik on Dobie Gillis to doofus on Gilligans Island. Poor Bob went from hip beatnik in the first season to doofus for the rest of the show. One of the network’s fifty ways… ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/11 "2022-01-10T19:35:10Z")
“Lady, I’m drunk as a skunk.” ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/12 "2022-01-10T19:50:42Z")
I loved Dobie Gillis, too. The one with the Martians was one of my favorite. I remember some critic saying it was too talky, but that’s what I loved about – all the word play. So much fun. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/13 "2022-01-10T20:35:19Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > … Followed on Tuesday nights by “Next, on _ **Combat!** _ …” > (I can’t listen to the first without hearing the second.) Yes! I loved both shows, and still covet Zelda Gilroy. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/14 "2022-01-10T20:38:23Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > What other show of the 50s had the father regularly sighing, “I gotta kill that boy.” Winnie: “Now Herbert, he’s half mine.” Herbert: “Then I gotta kill _my_ half.” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/15 "2022-01-10T20:43:21Z")
I had a crush on Zelda too. She (Sheila James) was glammed up once with a blonde wig in an episode of _ **The Beverly Hillbillies** _. She was incredibly hot! ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/16 "2022-01-10T20:51:59Z")
Looks like I’ll be the one to say it: Rest in peace, Poopsie. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/17 "2022-01-10T21:18:05Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > … Followed on Tuesday nights by “Next, on _ **Combat!** _ …” > (I can’t listen to the first without hearing the second.) We used to be able to hear gunfire from the filming of _Combat_ in the old backlot across the La Ballona creek when I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/18 "2022-01-10T21:21:54Z")
Thalia Menninger and Milton Armitrage are awesome names to use when a fake name is needed. Herbert T. Gillis fought in the big one: WWII. Dubya dubya two. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/19 "2022-01-10T22:02:06Z")
On occasion, you could see automobiles in the background, driving along the road next to the lot. I never caught these watching the show, but I have seen clips in which they were fairly obvious once you knew where to look. ---
**Author:** ![Yogeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yogeekgirl/32/4129_2.png) [@Yogeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yogeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498/20 "2022-01-10T22:10:40Z")
Just saw my first Dobie Gillis episode on Sunday. I said, “Hey, that guy played Molly Shannon’s Dad in Night At the Roxbury. He’s great!” Went to look up the IMDB for Dwayne Hickman, and…huh? This says he died today. : ( And on Bob Denver’s birthday too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwayne-hickman-dead-at-87/957498.md?page=2)