Hawaii: Today in History 9/1
9-01-1943 Don Stroud, American actor (Coogan’s Bluff, Buddy Holly Story), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
Stroud was born and grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, the son of comedian and vaudevillian Clarence Stroud (of the Stroud Twins), and singer Ann Livermore (née McCormack), who toured the world with Frank Sinatra.
Stroud’s mother and stepfather owned and operated the popular Embers Steak House and nightclub where Ann performed nightly. In 1960, at the age of 17, he placed fourth in the Duke Kahanamoku World Surfing Championship at Makaha, Hawaii. He also earned a black belt in the Hawaiian martial art of Kajukenbo Self Defense.
Stroud was surfing at Waikiki when he was discovered by actor Troy Donahue who was filming ABC’s Hawaiian Eye and needed a stunt double for his surfing scenes. He then decided to go to Hollywood for a career in acting.
He starred in four television series, notably The New Gidget (1986) where he was a natural to play the “Kahuna“, Nash Bridges (1996–2001), and Pensacola: Wings of Gold (1996–2000).
His elder brother Duke, is also an actor, notably as the furious air-traffic controller in 1986’s Top Gun. He made a brief appearance in the new Hawaii Five-0 on October 10, 2011. In the second season’s fourth episode, entitled “Mea Makamae”, which means ‘Treasure’ in Hawaiian, Stroud played a bartender.
