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IMDbPro

David Hartman(II)

  • Actor
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David Hartman
In 1907, four explorers discover a lost colony of Vikings in the Arctic.
Play trailer1:35
The Island at the Top of the World (1974)
1 Video
6 Photos
Tall (6'5"), genial, toothsome actor and multimedia host David Downs Hartman was born in Rhode Island on May 19, 1935, the son of Fannie Rodman (Downs) and Cyril Baldwin Hartman. His father was at one time a Methodist minister who left the ministry to become a salesman. His parents later divorced, which deeply affected him. David grew up learning to play a number of musical instruments and studied choral singing as well. He was actually geared towards a professional baseball career in high school, but turned down an athletic scholarship to attend Duke University, majoring instead in economics. While at Duke he found himself dallying in radio, commercials and TV spots, which drew his interest.

Military service (Air Force, Strategic Air Command) interrupted his fledgling career, but he eventually got back on track following his discharge with roles on the musical summer stock stage, including Oklahoma! (starring as Curly), South Pacific and Kismet, plus a few television parts. David made his Broadway debut as "Rudolph" in the original 1964 production of "Hello, Dolly!" starring the legendary Carol Channing. He went on to appear in the Broadway production of "The Yearling" a year later but the show folded after only three performances.

Debuting on-camera as a waiter on a 1967 episode of the TV series "Coronet Blue", David was subsequently signed by Universal and quickly moved with ease into lightweight, "nice guy" co-star roles. Unfortunately it didn't pan out with such bland, forgettable vehicles as The Ballad of Josie (1967) opposite Doris Day, the naval comedy Nobody's Perfect (1968), and the wacky farce Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? (1968) starring an equally wacky Phyllis Diller. Instead he turned to television, making a strong impression when added to the successful western The Virginian (1962) as David Sutton. This led to major stardom as dedicated Dr. Paul Hunter on the acclaimed medical series The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969), where he shared episodes with revolving stars E.G. Marshall and John Saxon. David earned a Golden Globe nomination during the five season run.

TV remained his strong suit during this time, finding potent guest appearances on such established series as "Marcus Welby, M.D.," "The Name of the Game," "Ironside" and "Owen Marshall, Counsellor at Law." He continued to show a flair for more light-hearted material as a TV-movie star. Such roles included a male chauvinist cop at odds with lovely Barbara Eden in The Feminist and the Fuzz (1971); a detective who, with fellow investigator Don Knotts, check out mysteries at a creepy old mansion; and the John Payne role in the remake of the Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street (1973) co-starring Jane Alexander and Sebastian Cabot.

Following a starring professor role in the Disney family fantasy adventure The Island at the Top of the World (1974), David returned to series TV as the title high school teacher Lucas Tanner (1974). David received high marks for his role as a retired baseball player who becomes a high school teacher. The series did not catch on, however, and its cancellation was swift after only one season. Little did he realize, but a new career direction was about to take over.

Despite the fact he lacked a journalism degree and no experience for that matter (except once co-hosting "The Mike Douglas Show"), the personable, articulate and highly intelligent David, on November 3, 1975, was hired as the original male co-anchor of ABC's retitled morning news how Good Morning America (1975). He managed to stay on board for 11 years, giving over 12,000 interviews and earning high ratings and a daytime Emmy during his lengthy tenure. He was fondly remembered for closing each morning show with the warm catchphrase, "Make it a good day today!"

After he left, David took on a low profile but was seen on occasion as an emcee of late-night infomercials. In the 1990's Hartman became an anchor and host of a series of documentaries on the Discovery Channel and WNET in New York City. The PBS documentaries are a series of Walking Tour (1999) documentaries about various communities around New York City. Hartman would win several Emmy and journalist awards for this series. In North Carolina, Hartman is also heard on Public Radio and WCPE-FM as host of the North Carolina Symphony radio broadcasts. A widower in 1997 and father of four, David remarried in 2001 and became a father once again.
BornMay 19, 1935
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BornMay 19, 1935
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Photos6

David Hartman in Good Morning America (1975)
David Hartman
David Hartman
"The Bold Ones" (The Lawyers / The New Doctors / The Protectors) Leslie Nielsen, Burle Ives, E.G. Marshall, Joseph Campanella, John Saxon, James Farentino, Hari Rhodes, David Hartman
Agneta Eckemyr, David Gwillim, and David Hartman in The Island at the Top of the World (1974)

Known for

Agneta Eckemyr, David Gwillim, David Hartman, Mako, Jacques Marin, and Donald Sinden in The Island at the Top of the World (1974)
The Island at the Top of the World
6.2
  • Prof. Ivarsson
  • 1974
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969)
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
7.1
TV Series
  • Dr. Paul Hunter
Bob Denver, Phyllis Diller, and Joe Flynn in Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? (1968)
Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady?
6.3
  • Constable
  • 1968
The Mighty Hercules (1963)
The Mighty Hercules
6.6
TV Series
  • Hercules

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

  • David Hartman in Lucas Tanner (1974)
    Lucas Tanner
  • Agneta Eckemyr, David Gwillim, David Hartman, Mako, Jacques Marin, and Donald Sinden in The Island at the Top of the World (1974)
    The Island at the Top of the World
  • Arthur Hill in Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1971)
    Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law
  • Miracle on 34th Street (1973)
    Miracle on 34th Street
  • The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969)
    The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
  • You'll Never See Me Again (1973)
    You'll Never See Me Again
  • I Love a Mystery (1973)
    I Love a Mystery
  • Raymond Burr in Ironside (1967)
    Ironside
  • The Name of the Game (1968)
    The Name of the Game
  • The Feminist and the Fuzz (1971)
    The Feminist and the Fuzz
  • James Brolin, Robert Young, and Elena Verdugo in Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)
    Marcus Welby, M.D.
  • San Francisco International Airport (1970)
    San Francisco International Airport
  • James Drury, Doug McClure, and John McIntire in The Virginian (1962)
    The Virginian
  • Bob Denver, Phyllis Diller, and Joe Flynn in Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? (1968)
    Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady?
  • Nancy Kwan and Doug McClure in Nobody's Perfect (1968)
    Nobody's Perfect

Soundtrack

  • Miracle on 34th Street (1973)
    Miracle on 34th Street
    • (uncredited)

Videos1

Trailer
Trailer 1:35
Trailer

Personal details

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    • May 19, 1935
    • Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA
    • September 22, 2001 - present (1 child)
  • television commercial for Ban Spray Deodorant
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    Attended Duke University.
  • Quotes
    If you're leaving us, go out and make it a good day.
    • Deep, low pitched, resonant voice

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