King Moody Explained

King Moody
Birth Date:6 December 1929
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Death Place:Tarzana, California, U.S.
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1959–1992
Spouse:

    Robert "King" Moody (December 6, 1929 – February 7, 2001) was an American actor, best known for playing Shtarker in the television series Get Smart and for his portrayal as Ronald McDonald in the McDonald's commercials from 1969 to 1985.[1] [2]

    Early life

    He was born on December 6, 1929, in New York City.[3]

    Career

    He played the spaceship captain in Teenagers From Outer Space and various other roles in forty movies and television episodes, including Bonanza, The Bob Newhart Show, CHiPs, Combat!, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Dragnet, and Sea Hunt. He became the fifth portrayer of Ronald McDonald in 1969, playing the character for sixteen years in McDonald's commercials, until 1985.[4]

    Personal life

    Moody married Rachel Rosenthal in 1960; the marriage lasted for nineteen years before they divorced in 1979.[5] He married his second wife, Jacqueline L. Larson, in 1981, but they divorced in 1984 after three years of marriage.

    Death

    Moody died on February 7, 2001, in Tarzana, California at the age of 71.

    Filmography

    Film

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    1959Teenagers from Outer Space Spacecraft Captain
    1962The Nun and the Sergeant Pollard
    Terror at Black Falls Billy, barroom tough-guy
    1963Five Minutes to Love Blowhard
    1964The Glass Cage Tox Milner
    1966Any Wednesday Milkman
    1968The Destructors Patch
    P.J. Thorson Friend Uncredited
    Sweet November Digby
    The Shakiest Gun in the West Ernie Uncredited
    1970The Strawberry Statement TV Newscaster
    Which Way to the Front? Checkpoint Guard #2 Uncredited
    1972Get to Know Your Rabbit TV Reporter
    1989Wedding Band Detective
    1991The Dark Backward Twinkee Doodle
    1992The Nutt House Victor Kaplan (final film role)

    Television

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    1960–1961Sea Hunt Consul Baumer, Dr. Herschel, Heinrich Maus 3 episodes
    1966–1969Get Smart Markovich, Kirsch, Starker, KAOS Scientist 10 episodes
    1967Combat! Toulon Episode: "Entombed"
    1989Starker TV movie

    Notes and References

    1. Book: Terrace. Vincent. Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. 2011. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Jefferson, N.C.. 978-0-7864-6477-7. 386. 2nd.
    2. Web site: THE UNCLASSIFIED GET SMART SITE. 2021-10-12. www.ilovegetsmart.com.
    3. Web site: King Moody. 2021-10-12. www.aveleyman.com.
    4. Web site: Origins Of Ronald McDonald & McDonaldland . Beneath The Golden Arches (Archived) . SimonsWebsite.co.uk . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120225011322/http://www.simonswebsite.co.uk/goldenarches/articles/articles/art_originsofronald.php . 2012-02-25 . 2008.
    5. Rachel Rosenthal. Omni. August 1992. 14. 11. 57–58.