Hawaii: Today in History 3/27
3-27-1914 Richard Denning [Louis Denninger Jr.], American actor (An Affair to Remember, The Black Scorpion), born in Poughkeepsie, New York (d. 1998)
Richard Denning (March 27, 1914 – October 11, 1998)[1] was an American actor best known for starring in science fiction films of the 1950s, including Unknown Island (1948), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Target Earth (1954), Day the World Ended (1955), Creature with the Atom Brain (1955), and The Black Scorpion (1957). Denning also appeared in the film An Affair to Remember (1957) with Cary Grant and on radio with Lucille Ball, as George and Liz Cooper, in My Favorite Husband[2]:244 (1948–1951), the forerunner of television’s I Love Lucy. His character’s name on CBS Radio’s “My Favorite Husband” was changed from George Cugat to George Cooper later in 1948.[citation needed] A television version of My Favorite Husband (1953-1955) was broadcast on CBS for two seasons during the tenure of I Love Lucy.
In 1964-1965, Denning played Steve Scott in the comedy series Karen.[3]:555 In later life, he had a recurring role as the fictitious governor of Hawaii, Paul Jameson, in the CBS television crime drama series, Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980), starring Jack Lord.
In 1968, Denning completed his last film, a comedy titled I Sailed to Tahiti with an All-Girl Crew. Semi-retired and living on the island of Maui with his wife, Denning was contacted by producer Leonard Freeman, who offered him the supporting role as the governor of Hawaii in the TV detective series, Hawaii Five-O. In order to persuade Denning to sign on in the recurring role, Freeman guaranteed Denning five-hour days and a four-day work week.[
