Forrest Compton

Forrest Compton (September 15, 1925 – April 4, 2020) was an American actor, primarily known for playing Mike Karr on the daytime soap opera The Edge of Night, as well as Colonel Grey on Gomer Pyle, USMC.

Forrest Compton
Publicity Photo of Forrest Compton
Born(1925-09-15)September 15, 1925
Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 4, 2020(2020-04-04) (aged 94)
Shelter Island, New York, U.S.
EducationSwarthmore College (BA)
Yale University (MFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1957–2002
Spouse
Jeanne Sementini
​
(m. 1975)​

Early life and education

Compton was born in 1925 in Reading, Pennsylvania. His father sold aluminum pots and pans and worked at a local steel mill. After high school, Compton fought in the 103rd Infantry Division during World War II. When the war ended, Compton attended Swarthmore College, where he initially studied pre-law and political science but later switched to English.[1] Compton also began acting school theatre productions. After graduating from Swarthmore, Compton earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama, where he befriended Paul Newman.[2]

Career

Compton was best known for portraying attorney Mike Karr, the central character on the long-running soap opera The Edge of Night, on which he appeared from 1970 to 1984.[3][4] He also played stern but fair battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Edward Gray on the 1960s sitcom Gomer Pyle, USMC.[4][5][6] He had a recurring role in 1959–1960 in the NBC series The Troubleshooters with Keenan Wynn, Bob Mathias, and Chet Allen. His other television credits include The Twilight Zone, 77 Sunset Strip, My Three Sons, Mayberry RFD, Mannix, Hogan's Heroes, That Girl, Another World, Loving, One Life to Live, As the World Turns and Ed. He also portrayed President Flynn in the 1991 Christopher Walken film McBain.[4][5][6]

Personal life

Compton married Jeanne Sementini on September 28, 1975. His last acting role was in 2002. He retired to Shelter Island, New York,[7] where he died on April 4, 2020, at the age of 94, from COVID-19.[5][6][8]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1961The OutsiderJohn Bradley
1991McBainPresident Flynn

See also

References
  1. Galigan, Carol (2010-10-14). Island Voices, Shelter Island 1655-2010. ibooks. ISBN 978-1-883283-85-8.
  2. "Island Profile : Forrest Compton | Soldier, actor, Islander". Shelter Island Reporter. 2019-02-22. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  3. Schemering, Christopher (1987). The Soap Opera Encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Ballantine Books. pp. 90–97. ISBN 0-345-35344-7.
  4. Mistretta, Amy (April 6, 2020). "The Edge of Night Actor Forrest Compton Dead at 94". Soaps She Knows. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  5. Ramos, Dino-Ray (April 6, 2020). "Forrest Compton Dies of COVID-19: The Edge of Night, Gomer Pyle Actor Was 94". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  6. Clifford, Kambra (April 6, 2020). "RIP: The Edge of Night actor Forrest Compton has died". SoapCentral. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  7. "Island Profile : Forrest Compton | Soldier, actor, Islander".
  8. "Update: Town announces the first deaths from coronavirus". Shelter Island Reporter. April 4, 2020.
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