TIM CONSIDINE (1940-2022)

It's hard to say goodbye to old friends and childhood heroes, even if you've never actually met them. Friends we know through books, films, and TV shows can have as much meaning in our lives as the kid who grew up next door.

A former actor named Tim Considine passed away a few days ago at the age of 81. Young people will probably have no idea who he was, which is understandable. But for my generation, the baby boom types who grew up during the early days of television, the 1950's, Tim was a familiar face, an important part of our collective memory. 

He was born into a show business family. His father was a film producer, and his maternal grandfather was theater magnate Alexander Pantages. Tim began his acting career in the 1953 Red Skelton film THE CLOWN. He only made a handful of films in his career and was best known for his work in television. In 1955, Tim was one of the stars of the serial THE ADVENTURES OF SPIN AND MARTY, which was featured on the hit kid's show THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB. The serial was about a group of adolescent boys from different backgrounds who spend the summer on a ranch called the Triple R. It was sort of like the ultimate summer camp experience, with the boys getting to ride horses, sing around a campfire every night, and take part in a rodeo. Tim played Spin Evans. He was from a working-class family and was the most popular guy at the ranch, the super-cool kid that we all wished we could be. The other star of the show was David Stollery, who played Martin "Marty" Markham. He was a rich boy from the city who grew up without a mother and father, and instead was raised by his old, very conservative grandmother. Marty has spent little time with boys his own age and is used to a life of privilege, which makes it difficult to fit in with the other boys. He and Spin lock horns in the early episodes. But as the story unfolds, and Marty learns how to get along with the others, he and Spin end up being best friends. 

David Stollery and Tim Considine

The serial was so popular that it was continued for the second and third seasons of THE MICKEY MOUSE CUB. As the boys were growing and developing along with all of the kids who were watching, their life experiences began including girls, specifically Annette Funicello and Darlene Gillespie, two prominent Mouseketeers. It was all very innocent, as you would expect from Walt Disney. These shows were certainly reflective of another time and place. Maybe even another planet! And yet, I think even the kids of today would be able to respond to the situations these characters were going through. The show has much to say about fair play and learning how to get along with others. It also wasn't afraid to show the boys crying because they were homesick or worried about not fitting in. But the most important thing we all learned from spending our afternoons with Spin and Marty was about friendship. And in their real lives, Tim Considine and David Stollery would be lifelong friends.

Tim continued working for Walt Disney for a number of years. He was featured in two other popular serials that played on THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB. First, there was THE HARDY BOYS, also starring Tommy Kirk, another popular Disney star who sadly passed away last year. Then Tim was featured in the serial ANNETTE, made to capitalize on the growing popularity of Annette Funicello. Tim also was cast in a Disney series called THE SWAMP FOX in 1959. This is one I don't remember seeing. He was also in the hit movie THE SHAGGY DOG (1959). After leaving Disney, he was in the hit television show MY THREE SONS from 1960-1965. After that, his life as an actor began slowing down, by his own choice. He continued to act occasionally, but also worked as a writer and director for television. He turned up in a small but memorable bit part in   PATTON (1970). He played a shell-shocked soldier who is slapped and branded as a coward by General Patton. Tim's fans were quite surprised and impressed to see him in this very emotional performance.

Tim's career path eventually went in the direction of writing and photography. He authored several books about sports, primarily motor sports. (One of his projects involved David Stollery, who had left acting behind in his teens and went on to be a successful automobile designer. He was responsible for the design of the Toyota Celica A40 Series in 1978.) One of Tim's well-known photographs is the cover of the Joni Mitchell album BLUE in 1971.

Tim Considine and David Stollery reunited for a reboot of SPIN AND MARTY in 2000. And they were together again in a documentary about the show when the original 1955-56 serial was released on DVD in 2005. Both men were respectful about the enduring interest in the show and what it meant to the fans who grew up watching it.

The last time I saw the two old friends together was a few years ago when a sound stage on the Disney lot was renamed in honor of Annette Funicello. It was great to see them again. David Stollery, God bless him, is still with us. But we no longer have Tim in this world. As I said at the beginning of this article, it's tough to lose these iconic figures who have served as cultural touchstones over the years. There's a quote from Uncle Walt Disney himself, included on the flyer from the Disney Treasures release of SPIN AND MARTY, that nails it perfectly:

"I love the nostalgic, myself. I hope we never lose some of the things of the past."

Thanks, Uncle Walt.

So long, Spin.