Jack Bannon

John James Bannon (June 14, 1940 – October 25, 2017) was an American television and stage actor, known as Jack Bannon.[1][2] He was best known for his role as Art Donovan on Lou Grant, a role he played for the duration of the series, from 1977 to 1982.

Not to be confused with Jack Bannon (English actor).
Jack Bannon
Bannon in 1977
Born
John James Bannon

(1940-06-14)June 14, 1940
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedOctober 25, 2017(2017-10-25) (aged 77)
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of California, Santa Barbara
OccupationActor
Years active1963–2006
Spouse(s)
Kathleen Larkin
(m. 1969; div. 1973)

Ellen Travolta
(m. 1983; his death 2017)
Parent(s)

Early years

Bannon's parents were actors Jim Bannon and Bea Benaderet. He graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1963.[3]

Career

At age 24, Bannon began working as a dialog coach on Petticoat Junction, the sitcom on which his mother starred.[3] In 1963, he appeared in the Season 1 episode "Kate's Recipe For Hot Rhubarb" of the series as Bobbie Joe's date, Roger. In 1969, Bannon was seen again on Petticoat Junction (after his mother died in 1968) appearing as "Buck" in the episode "One of Our Chickens Is Missing".[4]

Bannon portrayed Buck Williams in the ABC drama Trauma Center (1983).[5] He also appeared in other television series of the 1960s and 1970s, including The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Daniel Boone, Kojak, The Rockford Files, and Charlie's Angels.[3]

Bannon's signature role was that of Art Donovan on Lou Grant. Bannon's obituary in The Hollywood Reporter described the character as an "amiable assistant editor" of the fictional Los Angeles Tribune newspaper.[6] The actor appeared in all 114 episodes of the series.[6]

The actor's film career included What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? (1969), Little Big Man (1970), and Death Warrant (1990). On stage, he acted for 20 years in the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre company.[6]

Death

Bannon died on October 25, 2017, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, from cancer at the age of 77.[7] He was survived by his wife, Ellen Travolta, an actress and elder sister of John Travolta, a sister, and two stepchildren.[6]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1969What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice?Olin
1970The PhynxBlair ThompsonUncredited
1970Little Big ManCaptain
1986 Miracle of the Heart: A Boys Town Story Father
1990Death WarrantBen Keane
1993Da Vinci's WarArthur Jamieson
1993Distant CousinsBill Curtis
1994Hard ViceMedical Examiner
1995To the LimitArthur Jameson
1996Navajo BluesCaptain Hansen
1999The BasketMarcus
2006Waitin' to LivePreacher
2018MistrustNathan Dobier(final film role)

References
  1. Lamberson, Carolyn (August 13, 2016). "Ignite theater will stage new play by KZZU's Molly Allen". The Spokesman-Review.
  2. Thoreson, Kerri (September 21, 2016). "Main Street: Mentors can change a child's world". Coeur d'Alene Press.
  3. Daniel, Douglass K. (1996). Lou Grant: The Making of TV's Top Newspaper Drama. Syracuse University Press. p. 46. ISBN 9780815603634. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  4. Jack Bannon on IMDb
  5. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 1105. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  6. Barnes, Mike (October 26, 2017). "Jack Bannon, Actor on 'Lou Grant,' Dies at 77". The Hollywood Reporter. ISSN 0018-3660.
  7. "Jack Bannon, Cool-Headed Co-Star of 'Lou Grant,' Dies at 77". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 27, 2017.
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