Johnny Stearns

John Stearns (October 13, 1916 – December 1, 2001) was an American actor, producer and director during the 1940s until the 2000s.[1] He also performed in several Broadway plays.

Johnny Stearns
Born(1916-10-13)October 13, 1916
Billerica, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedDecember 1, 2001(2001-12-01) (aged 85)
Newport Beach, California, U.S.
OccupationActor, director, producer
Years active1947–2001
Known forMary Kay and Johnny
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1946; his death 2001)​
Children3

Stearns was best known for co-starring with his wife Mary Kay Stearns on television's first sitcom Mary Kay and Johnny. He was also known as one of the original producers of The Tonight Show Starring Steve Allen and Arthur Murray's Dance Party. For nearly 30 years, he was the host and producer of the public affairs television program Agriculture USA.[2]

Biography

Early life

Stearns was on October 13, 1916 in Billerica, Massachusetts to father Frederick Stearns and mother Edith Louise Bond (February 14, 1884–November 16, 1961). His mother was the founder of the Peterborough Players, a summer theater troupe in Peterborough, New Hampshire in which he was a member.[3] Stearns had two older sisters; Isabell and Sally.

Stage

Stearns' career began as a stage performer at the age of 14 at the Mariarden Theater in Peterborough, NH.[3]

Soon after his engagement at Mariarden ended, he went to Broadway. His first Broadway performance was in the production of the play Night Music. He also was in the musicals One Touch of Venus with Mary Martin in 1943, On the Town in 1944 and Are You With It? in 1945.[4][5]

Television

In 1947, Stearns and his wife Mary Kay whom he married the previous year, began doing a television show entitled Mary Kay and Johnny. The two played fictional versions of themselves; a newlywed couple living in an apartment in New York City trying to make it in life. The series was the first sitcom broadcast on television, the first to show a couple sharing a bed and the first to feature a pregnancy; the Stearns' real life son Christopher (born 1948). The Stearns' created the show and wrote all the scripts. The series originally aired on DuMont premiering on November 18, 1947 but moved to NBC then moved to CBS then back to NBC where it finished its run on March 11, 1950.[6]

After Mary Kay, Stearns went on to produce the Steve Allen version of The Tonight Show which ran on NBC from 1954–1957 and Arthur Murray's Dance Party in the 1950s. Starting in 1961, he began hosting and producing Agriculture USA, a public affairs program. It aired on NBC until 1990 when it began airing in syndication. He made his last appearance on the program's last episode in 2001 just days before he died.[4]

Personal life and death

Stearns married actress Mary Kay Jones in 1946. They had three children together and were married for 55 years until Stearns died. Stearns died on December 1, 2001 in Newport Beach, California at the Hoag Memorial Hospital from complications of a fall at the age of 85.[7]

Filmography

Actor

Producer

Director

Stage work

References
  1. Johnny Stearns at IMDb
  2. "Johnny Stearns Biography". TV.com. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  3. "Obituary in Variety". Variety. December 11, 2001. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  4. "Johnny Stearns, 85 TV pioneer starred in early sitcom". Los Angeles Times. Chicago Tribune. December 10, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  5. "Johnny Stearns Theatre Credits". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  6. "Early to Bed". www.snopes.com. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  7. "Johnny Stearns, 85, Half of Star Sitcom Duo". The New York Times. December 9, 2001. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
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