Question:
Actor Don Adams Dies at 82
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
LOS ANGELES — Don Adams (search), the wry-voiced comedian who starred as the fumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart in the 1960s television spoof of James Bond movies, "Get Smart," has died. He was 82.
Adams died of a lung infection late Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (search), his friend and former agent Bruce Tufeld said Monday, adding the actor broke his hip a year ago and had been in ill health since.
As the inept Agent 86 of the super-secret federal agency C.O.N.T.R.O.L., Adams captured TV viewers with his antics in combatting the evil agents of C.H.A.O.S. When his explanations failed to convince the villains or his boss, he tried another tack: "Would you believe ... ?" It became a national catchphrase.
Smart was also prone to spilling things on the desk or person of his boss — the chief (actor Edward Platt). Smart's apologetic "Sorry about that, chief" also entered the American lexicon. The spy gadgets, which aped those of the Bond movies, were a popular feature, especially the pre-cell-phone telephone in a shoe.
Smart's beautiful partner, Agent 99, played by Barbara Felden (search), was as brainy as he was dense, and a plot romance led to marriage and the birth of twins later in the series.
Adams, who had been under contract to NBC, was lukewarm about doing a spy spoof. When he learned that Mel Brooks (search) and Buck Henry had written the pilot script, he accepted immediately. "Get Smart" debuted on NBC in September 1965 and scored No. 12 among the season's most-watched series and No. 22 in its second season.
"Get Smart" twice won the Emmy (search) for best comedy series with three Emmys for Adams as comedy actor.
CBS picked up the show but the ratings fell off as the jokes seemed repetitive, and it was canceled after four seasons. The show lived on in syndication and a cartoon series. In 1995 Fox network revived the series with Smart as chief and 99 as a congresswoman. It lasted seven episodes.
Adams never had another showcase to display his comic talent.
"It was a special show that became a cult classic of sorts, and I made a lot of money for it," he remarked of "Get Smart" in a 1995 interview. "But it also hindered me career-wise because I was typed. The character was so strong, particularly because of that distinctive voice, that nobody could picture me in any other type of role."
He was born Donald James Yarmy in New York City on April 13, 1926, Tufeld said, although some sources say 1923 or 1927. The actor's father was a Hungarian Jew who ran a few small restaurants in the Bronx.
In a 1959 interview Adams said he never cared about being funny as a kid: "Sometimes I wonder how I got into comedy at all. I did movie star impressions as a kid in high school. Somehow they just got out of hand."
In 1941, he dropped out of school to join the Marines, lying about his age. In Guadalcanal (search) he survived the deadly blackwater fever and was returned to the States to become a drill instructor, acquiring the clipped delivery that served him well as a comedian.
After the war he worked in New York as a commercial artist by day, doing standup comedy in clubs at night, taking the surname of his first wife, Adelaide Adams. His following grew, and soon he was appearing on the Ed Sullivan (search) and late night TV shows. Bill Dana, who had helped him develop comedy routines, cast him as his sidekick on Dana's Jose Jiminez show. That led to the NBC contract and "Get Smart."
Adams, who married and divorced three times and had seven children, served as the voice for the popular cartoon series, "Inspector Gadget." In 1980, he appeared as Maxwell Smart in a feature movie, "The Nude Bomb," about a madman whose bomb destroyed people's clothing.
Tufeld said funeral arrangements were incomplete.
I'm such a Nick at Night baby. I loved that show.
Karen
Adams was a comic genius in his role as Maxwell Smart. "Get Smart" was one of the funniest shows of the 60's. But with Mel Brooks writing, how could you miss?
Another of my favorites of the 60's was Tennessee Tuxedo. I remember watching that as a child, and I can still hear his distinct voice.
Thanks for posting, Steve. I read of his death yesterday, the day after dh and I had been talking about having learned that they're making a movie of "Get Smart." Steve Carell is slated to play the title role. Weird coincidence that the day before we were reminiscing about Adams.
Jody
He was also the voice of Tennessee Tuxedo. Here's a link: Here's a link: http://www.toontracker.com/totaltv/tennesse.htm. I loved both shows.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Mike
Weird coincidence that the day before we were reminiscing about Adams.
Jody
Same here - I was just joking with someone about the shoe phone.
Strange!!!
Another of the old school comic has died. Don Adams was a classic especially with the sight gag. My favorite line of was, "Would You Believe...."
He will be missed but thank God for Nick At Night
Mitch
I just adorded his acting. One of my fav actors from the past.
Patty :(
Would you believe, I missed it by -><- that much! ;)
Annnnnd Loving it!
Let's all sit for a moment or two in the cone of silence
1 Attachment(s) It's just not the same without Max. :(
I can't believe it. We had also just been talking about Don Adams last week at work, driving ourselves totally crazy trying to think of his "catch phrase"! Actually we were talking about the "cone of silence" which is what kicked off our discussion in the first place. Very eery coincidence! I loved that show, too. Now, I must ask you all:
WHAT IN THE HECK WAS THE OTHER CATCH PHRASE HE USED (besides "Would you believe"....). It was something that had the "chief" in it, but for the life of me I cannot remember it!! HELP!!!!
Nancy
Oops! Never mind! I just saw my answer! I didn't realize the article you posted had the other phrase in there! "Sorry about that, Chief" :o
Nancy
Donald James Yarmy....
May he rest in peace.... :(
My favorite line was also...And loving it!!! Bye Max.
Annie
Whoever wrote the article, got one thing wrong. The enemy organization wasn't CHAOS, it was KAOS. Oh well, I wonder if the reporter ever actually saw the show. :confused:
I loved that show!!!!
I'll miss you Don!
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
LOS ANGELES — Don Adams (search), the wry-voiced comedian who starred as the fumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart in the 1960s television spoof of James Bond movies, "Get Smart," has died. He was 82.
Adams died of a lung infection late Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (search), his friend and former agent Bruce Tufeld said Monday, adding the actor broke his hip a year ago and had been in ill health since.
As the inept Agent 86 of the super-secret federal agency C.O.N.T.R.O.L., Adams captured TV viewers with his antics in combatting the evil agents of C.H.A.O.S. When his explanations failed to convince the villains or his boss, he tried another tack: "Would you believe ... ?" It became a national catchphrase.
Smart was also prone to spilling things on the desk or person of his boss — the chief (actor Edward Platt). Smart's apologetic "Sorry about that, chief" also entered the American lexicon. The spy gadgets, which aped those of the Bond movies, were a popular feature, especially the pre-cell-phone telephone in a shoe.
Smart's beautiful partner, Agent 99, played by Barbara Felden (search), was as brainy as he was dense, and a plot romance led to marriage and the birth of twins later in the series.
Adams, who had been under contract to NBC, was lukewarm about doing a spy spoof. When he learned that Mel Brooks (search) and Buck Henry had written the pilot script, he accepted immediately. "Get Smart" debuted on NBC in September 1965 and scored No. 12 among the season's most-watched series and No. 22 in its second season.
"Get Smart" twice won the Emmy (search) for best comedy series with three Emmys for Adams as comedy actor.
CBS picked up the show but the ratings fell off as the jokes seemed repetitive, and it was canceled after four seasons. The show lived on in syndication and a cartoon series. In 1995 Fox network revived the series with Smart as chief and 99 as a congresswoman. It lasted seven episodes.
Adams never had another showcase to display his comic talent.
"It was a special show that became a cult classic of sorts, and I made a lot of money for it," he remarked of "Get Smart" in a 1995 interview. "But it also hindered me career-wise because I was typed. The character was so strong, particularly because of that distinctive voice, that nobody could picture me in any other type of role."
He was born Donald James Yarmy in New York City on April 13, 1926, Tufeld said, although some sources say 1923 or 1927. The actor's father was a Hungarian Jew who ran a few small restaurants in the Bronx.
In a 1959 interview Adams said he never cared about being funny as a kid: "Sometimes I wonder how I got into comedy at all. I did movie star impressions as a kid in high school. Somehow they just got out of hand."
In 1941, he dropped out of school to join the Marines, lying about his age. In Guadalcanal (search) he survived the deadly blackwater fever and was returned to the States to become a drill instructor, acquiring the clipped delivery that served him well as a comedian.
After the war he worked in New York as a commercial artist by day, doing standup comedy in clubs at night, taking the surname of his first wife, Adelaide Adams. His following grew, and soon he was appearing on the Ed Sullivan (search) and late night TV shows. Bill Dana, who had helped him develop comedy routines, cast him as his sidekick on Dana's Jose Jiminez show. That led to the NBC contract and "Get Smart."
Adams, who married and divorced three times and had seven children, served as the voice for the popular cartoon series, "Inspector Gadget." In 1980, he appeared as Maxwell Smart in a feature movie, "The Nude Bomb," about a madman whose bomb destroyed people's clothing.
Tufeld said funeral arrangements were incomplete.
Answers:
I'm such a Nick at Night baby. I loved that show.
Karen
Answers:
Adams was a comic genius in his role as Maxwell Smart. "Get Smart" was one of the funniest shows of the 60's. But with Mel Brooks writing, how could you miss?
Another of my favorites of the 60's was Tennessee Tuxedo. I remember watching that as a child, and I can still hear his distinct voice.
Thanks for posting, Steve. I read of his death yesterday, the day after dh and I had been talking about having learned that they're making a movie of "Get Smart." Steve Carell is slated to play the title role. Weird coincidence that the day before we were reminiscing about Adams.
Jody
Answers:
He was also the voice of Tennessee Tuxedo. Here's a link: Here's a link: http://www.toontracker.com/totaltv/tennesse.htm. I loved both shows.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Mike
Answers:
Weird coincidence that the day before we were reminiscing about Adams.
Jody
Same here - I was just joking with someone about the shoe phone.
Strange!!!
Answers:
Another of the old school comic has died. Don Adams was a classic especially with the sight gag. My favorite line of was, "Would You Believe...."
He will be missed but thank God for Nick At Night
Mitch
Answers:
I just adorded his acting. One of my fav actors from the past.
Patty :(
Answers:
Would you believe, I missed it by -><- that much! ;)
Answers:
Annnnnd Loving it!
Answers:
Let's all sit for a moment or two in the cone of silence
Answers:
1 Attachment(s) It's just not the same without Max. :(
Answers:
I can't believe it. We had also just been talking about Don Adams last week at work, driving ourselves totally crazy trying to think of his "catch phrase"! Actually we were talking about the "cone of silence" which is what kicked off our discussion in the first place. Very eery coincidence! I loved that show, too. Now, I must ask you all:
WHAT IN THE HECK WAS THE OTHER CATCH PHRASE HE USED (besides "Would you believe"....). It was something that had the "chief" in it, but for the life of me I cannot remember it!! HELP!!!!
Nancy
Answers:
Oops! Never mind! I just saw my answer! I didn't realize the article you posted had the other phrase in there! "Sorry about that, Chief" :o
Nancy
Answers:
Donald James Yarmy....
May he rest in peace.... :(
Answers:
My favorite line was also...And loving it!!! Bye Max.
Annie
Answers:
Whoever wrote the article, got one thing wrong. The enemy organization wasn't CHAOS, it was KAOS. Oh well, I wonder if the reporter ever actually saw the show. :confused:
Answers:
I loved that show!!!!
I'll miss you Don!
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