Gavin MacLeod is a prolific American actor. Born Allan George See on February 28, 1931, Gavin is best known for his role as Murray Slaughter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, as well as his Christianity promoting activities, as he converted to Evangelical Christianity in the mid 80s. His stepson Drew Steele was playing in the group Surf Punks, and appeared in films related with the band.
He was born in a family of George See in Mount Kisco, New York, but grew up in Pleasantville, New York. His mother Margareth was of Swedish-Irish descent, but George was a Chippewa Indian. Both of the parents didn't finish High School, and the young Gavin MacLeod often saw that the parents could've done a lot of better things, albeit weren't educated. Thus, Gavin studied hard and graduated Ithaca College, where he studied acting, in 1952. Gavin changed his name to a that of a TV drama actor, and drew his surname from his drama teacher's surname. Gavin served in Air Force, and, after returning home, he started working as an elevator operator at Radio City Music Hall. Shortly after graduating, Gavin married to Joan Devore, with whom they had four children. Their marriage lasted for eighteen years.
His debut on the big screen came in 1958 in the prison drama I Want To Live!, where he portrayed a minor role. He mostly performed these minor roles until 1972, when his 'sneaky' persona was flushed away in an instant; he acted Murray Slaughter on Mary Tyler Moore (1970), a character who was loved for his outrageous performance, which was utterly funny, yet presented with accessible dignity. Gavin later complained that the prominent role dragged along him, but arguably, it was that image that won him the role in the twenty-year-spanning TV series, "The Love Boat", in 1977. His role as Captain Stubing was marvelous and he is best remembered for his remarkable performance at this TV series.
Despite Gavin's frequent difficulties with alcohol (there were drinkers in his family stretching to his elder ancestors), he has overcome the difficulties. After MacLeod divorced from his second wife Patti, he stopped drinking and they eventually remarried after three years in 1985. Gavin and Patti co-wrote a memoir about their personal difficulties. The memoir was called Back On Course: The Remarkable Story of a Divorce That Ended in Remarriage; the couple then went to co-host the inspirational show Back on Courage:A Ministry for Marriages.
After Love Boat finished airing in 1987, his numerous ship captain portrayals finally paid off. Gavin became the spokesman for Princess Cruises, and still holds the post, as he has decided to dedicate his remaining life for faith and Christianity. He starred in the 2009 movie The Secrets of Jonathan Perry, which was dedicated to faith and forgiveness; Gavin MacLeod can now only be seen on TV in his guest specials, and his religious activities are what he's been known in the last few years. He is reportedly working on an autobiography; a work that will supposedly remove the aura that his alcoholic years had.
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