Macdonald Carey American actor Date of Birth: 15.03.1913 Country: USA

1. Biography of MacDonald Carey
2. Early Life and Education
3. Early Career
4. Film and Television Career
5. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of MacDonald Carey

MacDonald Carey was an American actor best known for his role as Dr. Tom Horton, the patriarch of the Horton family, on the NBC soap opera "Days of our Lives." He was one of the main characters on the show for three decades.

Early Life and Education

MacDonald Carey was born on March 15, 1913, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Irish-Catholic parents. His father, Charles Carey, was an investment advisor, and his mother was Elizabeth MacDonald Carey. He developed a passion for singing during his school years and often performed lead roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1935 with a Bachelor's degree in Dramatic Arts. He later attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he became a member of the "Alpha Delta Phi" fraternity.

Early Career

After completing his education, Carey pursued a career in acting, initially appearing in B-movies from the early 1940s to the early 1960s. He gained recognition in Hollywood as the "King of the Bs" alongside his "queen," actress Lucille Ball. Additionally, he had successful stints in theater and radio. Carey made his Broadway debut in the musical comedy "Lady in the Dark" in 1941 and appeared in the immensely popular play "Anniversary Waltz," which ran from April 1954 to September 1955.

Film and Television Career

Carey's film career began in 1942 when he landed a supporting role in the comedy film "Take a Letter, Darling." He went on to star in various films, including the crime comedy "Dr. Broadway" and the war drama "Wake Island." In 1943, he appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller "Shadow of a Doubt" before enlisting in the Marine Corps. After serving in World War II, Carey returned home as a decorated hero and resumed his film career, primarily working with Paramount Pictures throughout the 1950s. He started getting more prominent roles and occasionally appeared in western films such as "The Great Missouri Raid" in 1951, "Outlaw Territory" in 1953, and "Man or Gun" in 1958. In 1959, he portrayed patriot Patrick Henry in the biographical drama "John Paul Jones." Carey also appeared in notable films such as the teenage love melodrama "Blue Denim" in 1959, the science fiction thriller "The Damned," the romantic comedy "Tammy and the Doctor" in 1963, and the thriller "End of the World" in 1977.

Carey made his television debut in 1950 but became more active in the medium from the late 1950s. He appeared in approximately 120 roles in films and television series. However, he is best remembered by audiences for his portrayal of Dr. Tom Horton on "Days of our Lives." Carey played the character from the pilot episode in 1965 until his death from lung cancer in 1994. He struggled with alcohol addiction for many years and joined Alcoholics Anonymous in 1982. He was often seen smoking a pipe and incorporated it into many of his film and television appearances, including the early episodes of "Days of our Lives." In September 1991, his character was temporarily written out of the show as Carey underwent surgery to remove a lung tumor. However, he returned to the series in November of the same year.

Later Years and Legacy

In addition to his acting career, MacDonald Carey wrote several poetry collections, and his autobiography, "Days of My Life," was published in 1991. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to television. Carey was married to Elizabeth Hecksher from 1943 to 1969, and they had six children together. He had a long-term relationship with Lois Kraines from 1973 until his death, although they never married. MacDonald Carey passed away on March 21, 1994, at the age of 81.