Don Stroud

Actor Troy Donahue was filming Hawaiian Eye (1959) and needed a stunt double for his surfing scenes. At 18, 6' 2" and 175 pounds, Stroud stepped up and was hired on the spot. He decided to go to Hollywood to give it a try. Upon arriving in L. A. , he landed a variety of jobs, including parking cars, bouncer and then manager of the world famous "Whiskey A Go-Go" nightclub on the Sunset Strip, where such greats as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison of the "Doors" appeared. It was at the "Whiskey" that actor Sidney Poitier turned Don on to his acting career. He has appeared in more than 100 movies and 175 television shows to date.

The younger son of vaudeville great Clarence Stroud (of the Stroud Twins) and singer Ann McCormack, who toured the world with Frank Sinatra, Don Stroud grew up on the beach in Honolulu, Hawaii, where his stepfather, Paul Livermore, and his mother, Ann, owned and operated the popular Embers steakhouse/nightclub where his mother performed nightly. He thrived on Waikiki Beach under the watchful eyes of such mentors as Blackout, Mud, Buckshot, Rabbit and Steamboat. In 1960, at the age of 17, he placed fourth in the "Duke Kahanamoku World Surfing Championship" at Makaha, Hawaii. Don was surfing at Waikiki when he was discovered.

He has made guest appearances on both Hawaii Five-O (1968) and Hawaii Five-0 (2010).

Survived a plane crash during the making of Von Richthofen and Brown (1971) and saved the pilot's life by treading water for 45 minutes.

He was paid $10,000 to appear as the nude centerfold in the November, 1973 issue of Playgirl Magazine.

Played his own drums and recorded music live for The Buddy Holly Story (1978).

In the early 1990s Stroud attempted to come to the aid of a man being mugged on the street in Greenwich Village, New York City. He wound up getting stabbed ten times, including his right eye; he can no longer see out of it.

Returned to live in Honolulu. He and wife Teri reside in Hawaii Kai. [May 2005]