DON GARNER

October 24, 1923

Don Garner was born Gordon Garner in Greeley, Colorado. He attended Gardena High School in Gardena, California, and Los Angeles City College. Garner appeared in a total of 37 motion pictures plus network television. During the Korean War, he traveled with actor Raymond Burr in a USO tour in the Far East.  He played delivery boys in two episodes of “I Love Lucy” in 1954. 

His screen debut came in 1945′s Captain Eddie starring Fred MacMurray. The cast also include “I Love Lucy” performers Chick Chandler, Olin Howland, Harry Shannon, and Virginia Brissac. 

He made his television debut in a November 1952 episode of “Biff Baker, U.S.A.” starring Alan Hale Jr. and Randy Stuart as husband and wife spies behind the Iron Curtain.  

“Gee, I hope one of these is a bonus buck!”

His first episode as the Ricardo delivery boy was in “Bonus Bucks” (ILL S3;E21) first aired on March 8, 1954. Perhaps it wasn’t customary, but Lucy fails to tip the delivery boy, counting out exactly $3.85 for her groceries. 

The boxes are stuffed with cartons of Philip Morris cigarettes, the program’s main sponsor!  Smoking was clearly as important as eating in the Ricardo household. 

“Where do you want these?”

Garner also played a delivery boy in “The Diner” (ILL S3;E27) just six weeks later. He delivers the cream pies that will be integral to the pie-throwing finale. He is instructed to put the tray of pies on the line so they can be divided between Little Bit of Cuba and Big Hunk of America. 

His final screen appearance was in a 1957 episode of “Hawkeye and the Last of the Monicans” starring Johnny Hart and Lon Chaney, Jr.  The series was filmed in Canada. 

From 1965 to 1985 Garner was Artist in Residence at Fontbonne College (now Fontbonne University) in St Louis, MO. He was the Director of the Theatre Department when he retired in 1985. 

Garner died in 2012 from natural causes.

He was survived by his partner of forty-four years, Russell McMahan.

“Once in a young person’s lifetime, if they are lucky, they happen upon another human being who alters their artistic perception of the world forever and who enriches them beyond measure in shades too brilliant for words to pursue.” ~ Student about Professor Garner