Wagon Train cast, 1962. Back row: John McIntire and Terry Wilson. Front row: Miller and Frank McGrath.

Denny Scott Miller (born Dennis Linn Miller;[1] April 25, 1934 – September 9, 2014) was an American actor, perhaps best known for his regular role as Duke Shannon on Wagon Train, his guest-starring appearances on Gilligan's Island and Charlie's Angels, and his 1959 film role as Tarzan.

Background

Miller was born in Bloomington, Indiana,[2] to Bernard "Ben" Miller (1909–1999) and Martha Alice Miller (née Linn, 1911–2010).[3][4] The 6'4' Miller was a basketball player for the UCLA Bruins at UCLA, where his father was a physical education instructor.[5]

In his senior year, while he was working as a furniture mover to pay for school, Miller was discovered on Sunset Boulevard by a Hollywood agent who signed him with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. His screen test was directed by George Cukor.[6]

Acting career

Miller became the first blond Tarzan in Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959), a cheapie/quickie which lifted most of its footage from earlier Johnny Weissmuller movies. Miller had been recommended by someone else considered for the role, William Smith, later a star of the NBC Laredo western series.[6] MGM had Miller under contract for twenty months; in that time, he worked only eight weeks as Tarzan.

Miller had guest spots on a number of television series, such as Northwest Passage and Overland Trail. In 1960, the 26-year-old Miller appeared as Wilkie, the son of a powerful rancher, in the "License to Kill" episode of Laramie. He also appeared on Have Gun – Will Travel and an episode of The Rifleman as a dimwitted gunfighter named Reuben Miles. From 1961 to 1964, Miller was a regular on Wagon Train in the role of the scout, Duke Shannon. After the cancellation of Wagon Train in 1965, Miller starred as Mike McCluskey on the NBC sitcom Mona McCluskey (1965–1966).

He guest starred on such series as Gunsmoke; The Fugitive; The High Chaparral; Gilligan's Island; I Dream of Jeannie; The Brady Bunch; Alice; Death Valley Days; Hawaii Five-O; Emergency!; The Six Million Dollar Man; Quincy, M.E.; The New Adventures of Wonder Woman; Battlestar Galactica; Quark; Charlie's Angels; Buck Rogers in the 25th Century; The Incredible Hulk; M*A*S*H; Magnum, P.I.; Rockford Files and V, He appeared in over 200 television series and, for 14 years, he played the Gorton's Fisherman in TV commercials.[2] He also portrayed Superman in an Air Force recruiting PSA.[7]

His film career included roles in Love in a Goldfish Bowl (1961), and the part of "Wyoming" Bill Kelso in The Party (1968), which he remembered as the part he most enjoyed. His other film credits included Making It (1971), Doomsday Machine (1972), Buck and the Preacher (1972), The Gravy Train (1974), The Island at the Top of the World (1974), The Norseman (1978), Caboblanco (1980) and Circle of Power (1981).

Books

Miller published an autobiography, Didn't You Used to Be...What's His Name?,[2] as well as a book about obesity in the United States, Toxic Waist? ... Get to Know Sweat![8]

Death

Miller was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in January 2014. He died in Las Vegas on September 9, 2014, at the age of 80.[9]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1958Some Came RunningDewey ColeUncredited
1959Tarzan, the Ape ManTarzan
1961Love in a Goldfish BowlOscar Flegler
1965Gilligan's Island: “Big Man on a Small Stick”Duke Williams
1967Gilligan's Island: “Our Vines Have Tender Apes”Tongo The Ape Man
1968The PartyWilliam 'Wyoming Bill' Kelso
1969Hawaii Five-O “Pray Love Remember, Pray Love Remember”John Hayes
1971Making ItSkeeter
1971The Virginian (TV series)Joe Terryseason 9 episode 15 (The politician)
1972Buck and the PreacherFloyd
1972Doomsday MachineCol. Don Price
1973The Brady Bunch: “Quarterback Sneak”Tank Gates
1974The Gravy TrainRex
1974The Island at the Top of the WorldTown Guard
1976Alice (TV series)Jack Newhouseseason 1 episode 2 (Alice Gets a Pass)
1978The NorsemanRauric
1978Rockford FilesNormanseason 5 episode 9 (Black Mirror)
1979, 1981The Incredible HulkJohn Tobey; Paul Cortonseason 2 episode 8 (Killer Instinct); season 4 episode 14 (The Harder They Fall)
1980CaboblancoHorst
1981Circle of PowerUwe
1984Dallas: “Blow Up”Max
2005Hell to PayHorace the miner(final film role)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Certificate of Birth for Dennis Linn Miller, April 25, 1934, Bloomington, Monroe, Indiana. Registered No. 14748, Indiana State Board of Health, Division of Vital Statistics. Roll Number 40474_357178, Volume Range 26–30. Retrieved May 31, 2026 – via Ancestry.com.
  2. 1 2 3 Leonard, Mike (July 4, 2004). "From jungle to ocean: the life and times of 'what's his name'". The Reporter-Times. Indiana, Martinsville. p. 12. Retrieved May 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Rites Today". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, IN. June 25, 1933. p. 32. Retrieved March 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ↑ "And This One Went West". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, IN. February 1, 1952. p. 32. Retrieved March 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ↑ Ben W. Miller , Ph.D., Professor of Physical Education (Chairman of the Department). Bulletin, University of California, General Catalog, Departments at Los Angeles, Fall and Spring Semesters, 1957–58 (August 10, 1957), p. 309. Miller is listed in the catalog with the designation "Sabbatical Leave in Residence, 1957–58."
  6. 1 2 Damen, Marcel (February 21, 2007). "Denny Miller interview". GALACTICA.TV. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  7. ↑ Bobby Cole (December 28, 2016). Air Force PSA Commercial w/Dick WIlliams – 1974. Retrieved January 13, 2026 – via YouTube.
  8. ↑ Toxic Waist? ... Get to Know Sweat!. To Health With You Publishers. 2006. ISBN 978-0-9753-9171-6.
  9. ↑ Barnes, Mike (September 12, 2014). "Denny Miller, Star of 'Tarzan' and 'Wagon Train,' Dies at 80". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denny_Miller