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Don Diamond
Diamond in Raiders of Old California
Born	Donald Alan Diamond (1921-06-04)June 4, 1921 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	June 19, 2011(2011-06-19) (aged 90) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Michigan
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1949–1987
Spouse	Louisa Diamond ​(m. 1966)​
Children	3

Donald Alan Diamond (June 4, 1921 – June 19, 2011) was an American radio, film, and television actor who portrayed "Crazy Cat", the sidekick and heir apparent to Chief Wild Eagle on the popular 1960s television sitcom, F Troop (1965–1967). He also co-starred as "El Toro", the sidekick of Bill Williams' main character of Kit Carson in 105 episodes of the popular early television series, The Adventures of Kit Carson, from 1951 to 1955 .

Early years

Don Diamond was born in New York City on June 4, 1921. His father, Benjamin, emigrated to the United States from Russia in 1906 with his parents. Benjamin Diamond served in the United States Army in World War I and then became a prosperous clothing merchant. Benjamin and Ruth Diamond had another son, Neal, three years younger than Don, and a daughter, Muriel, nine years younger than Don.

Diamond graduated from the University of Michigan, with a degree in drama supplemented by studies in Spanish. He then enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. He studied Spanish further while he was stationed in the Southwest.

Career

Discharged in 1946 as a first lieutenant, he began acting on radio and became known for his dialect portrayals of Spaniards and Mexicans. He played El Toro in The Adventures of Kit Carson syndicated television series (1951–1955). Diamond also played Corporal Reyes on the Walt Disney television series Zorro and Crazy Cat on F Troop. In 1968, Diamond appeared as Diego on The Big Valley in the episode titled "Miranda."

He appeared on more than 100 television shows and in many feature films. He performed extensive voice-over work in commercials and cartoons, most notably as the voice of Toro in the DePatie-Freleng Enterprises cartoon series Tijuana Toads.

On radio, Diamond was heard on the NBC crime drama Confession.

Death

Diamond died due to heart failure in Los Angeles, California, on June 19, 2011, at age 90.

Personal

His wife, Louisa, was a teacher.

Filmography

References

1. ^ Slotnik, Daniel E. (June 25, 2011). "Don Diamond, Character Actor, Is Dead at 90". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
2. II, Clint C. Wilson; Gutierrez, Felix; Chao, Lena (August 28, 2003). Racism, Sexism, and the Media: The Rise of Class Communication in Multicultural America. SAGE. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7619-2516-3. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
3. Reinhold, Toni (March 13, 1987). "Gish and Marsh starred in Griffith's 'Birth of a Nation'". Mason Valley News. Nevada, Yerington. p. 37. Retrieved February 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Dunning, John (May 7, 1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. p. 180. ISBN 978-0-19-977078-6. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
5. Nick at Nite's Classic TV Companion, edited by Tom Hill, © 1996 by Viacom International, p. 174

External links

• Don Diamond at IMDb
• Obituary in Los Angeles Times
• Don Diamond at Find a Grave

• 1921 births
• 2011 deaths
• American male film actors
• United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II
• American people of Russian descent
• American male radio actors
• American male television actors
• United States Army Air Forces officers
• University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni
• Yiddish-speaking people
• 20th-century American male actors
• American male voice actors
• Male actors from Brooklyn
• Western (genre) television actors