| Tim Hovey | |
| Birth Date: | 19 June 1945 |
| Birth Place: | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Watsonville, California, U.S. |
| Death Cause: | Suicide by overdose |
| Other Names: | Timothy Hovey |
| Occupation: | Actor, musician, audio engineer and road manager |
| Years Active: | 1955 - 1989 |
Tim Hovey (June 19, 1945 - September 9, 1989) was a former American child actor during the 1950s. He later became a musician, road manager and an audio engineer for rock bands.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Hovey was discovered by a talent agent who saw his photo in the window of a photography shop.[1] In 1955, he made his acting debut in an episode of Lassie. Later that year, he made his film debut as Tiger Flaherty opposite Charlton Heston in The Private War of Major Benson.[2]
From 1955 to 1959, Hovey worked steadily in films and television, often playing characters younger than his real age due to his small stature.[1] In 1957, he was signed to a film contract with Universal-International. While working at U-I, Hovey appeared in the Westerns Slim Carter and Money, Women and Guns, both opposite Jock Mahoney.[3]
Hovey's final onscreen appearance was in an episode of the anthology series Schlitz Playhouse of the Stars, in 1959. Despite receiving an offer to appear in a Broadway play produced and directed by Otto Preminger, Hovey chose to retire from acting.[1]
In the 1970s and 1980s, Hovey lived in Northern California and worked with computers. He was also the road manager for the rock band Grateful Dead.[1] Hovey later learned how to play the slide guitar and would play with the band on occasion.[4] From 1971 to 1977, Hovey served as the chief audio engineer for the Grateful Dead and Kingfish, the side project of Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir.[5] He is credited as co-writer of "Important Exportin' Man" (with Dave Torbert), on the album The Adventures of Panama Red, by the New Riders of the Purple Sage.[4]
On September 9, 1989, Hovey died of an intentional drug overdose at his home in Watsonville, California.[1] [6] Hovey's suicide, along with the suicides of fellow former child actors Trent Lehman and Rusty Hamer, prompted Paul Petersen to form the child actor advocacy group A Minor Consideration.[7]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Lassie | Malcolm | 2 episodes Credited as Timothy Hovey | |
| 1955 | The Private War of Major Benson | Cadet Thomas "Tiger" Flaherty | ||
| 1955 | The Colgate Comedy Hour | Cadet Flaherty | Episode #5.38 | |
| 1955 | Queen Bee | Ted Phillips | ||
| 1956 | The Toy Tiger | Timmie Harkinson | ||
| 1956 | Lux Video Theatre | Austin | Episode: "The Gay Sisters" | |
| 1956 | Everything but the Truth | Willie Taylor | ||
| 1956 | The Family Nobody Wanted | Donny | Playhouse 90 episode | |
| 1957 | Man Afraid | Michael Collins | ||
| 1957 | Slim Carter | Leo Gallaher | ||
| 1957 | The Lux Show with Rosemary Clooney | Himself | Episode #1.11 | |
| 1958 | General Electric Theatre | Frank Morgan | Episode: "Kid at the Stick" | |
| 1958 | Kraft Television Theatre | Jeff Hillyer | Episode: "Material Witness" | |
| 1958 | Money, Women and Guns | Davy Kingman | ||
| 1958 | Cimarron City | Avery Wickham | Episode: "Cimarron Holiday" | |
| 1959 | Schlitz Playhouse of the Stars | Timmy Parker | Episode: "Ivy League" |