Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Sunday

Movie Actor Troy Donahue Dies

Aired September 02, 2001 - 16:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, he was a teen heartthrob and movie idol who shot to fame in the 1950s. And today, family, friends and fans are mourning the death of Troy Donahue. You may remember this movie, it's 1959, "A Summer Place," and it gave Donahue his big break. He suffered a massive heart attack on Thursday and died this morning in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 65.

On the phone with us now from Pacific Palisades, California is Bob Palmer, and he is a family friend. Bob, are you there?

BOB PALMER, FAMILY FRIEND: Yes, I am.

KELLEY: Glad to have you talk with us. Thanks very much.

You knew him for about 40 years, tell us about him.

PALMER: Well, I knew Troy when he was a young actor and a young star at Warner Brothers, and then we lost track of each other. And then, about 20 years ago we reunited and have been very close friends ever since. He was just a joy to be around, Troy just loved his life and he loved women, sports, loved his Harley, and especially he loved his fiancee. He was engaged to Zhang Chao (ph), who is a mezzo soprano, and he was very proud of Zhang (ph), and so this is devastating for her.

KELLEY: You also talked about his sense of humor. Tell us about -- he would even make jokes about himself?

PALMER: Yeah, he did not take himself seriously at all. He could -- or past tense -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) past tense career, as he called it that. No, he enjoyed it all, but he just didn't take it seriously. He enjoyed fans and he laughed with them, but -- no, he just kept, you know, wore life like a loose garment, and that's the way he was.

KELLEY: What was he doing in these later years?

PALMER: Pardon me?

KELLEY: What was he doing in these later years?

PALMER: Well, he was pretty busy. He would sometimes work, and he did some cruises, you know, as a celebrity aboard some luxury cruises. He loved doing that because he liked to be around people. He just had no trouble at all socializing, and he was very interested in Zhang's (ph) career. She travels around the world as a opera singer, and he accompanied her, and he was very supportive with that. He always kept busy. And of course, he had his hobbies, you know, as I said, his Harley and his jeep.

KELLEY: And he had two children, and I think some of us were interested to read that you -- and you, of course, mentioned his fiancee, but he was also married to Suzanne Pleshette.

PALMER: Yes, I think that he was married to Suzie, Suzanne Pleshette, a long time ago, yeah.

KELLEY: Well, we are sorry to have to talk with you under these circumstances, but we appreciate you telling us a little bit more about your friend of 40 years. Thank you, Bob Palmer.

PALMER: You're very welcome. Bye.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com