Actor and Playwright. A ruggedly handsome individual and accomplished sailor, he is best remembered for his lead role as 'Adam Troy' on the ABC television series "Adventures in Paradise" that aired from October 1959 until April 1962. The son of an advertising executive, he grew up in New York City, New York and Paris, France. He enrolled at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he majored in art, but dropped out after two years when his father died, and he worked as a sculptor. He found his way to California and made his Hollywood debut for MGM Studios in one episode of the television series "The Thin Man" (1957), followed by a recurring role as 'Lt. Dan Kelly' in the western television series "Boots and Saddles" that aired from 1957 until 1958. In 1959 he was cast in the leading role for "Adventure in Paradise" and after it was terminated, he spent two years in the Amazon jungle and then moved to France. His other television credits include "Death Valley Days", "The Silent Service", and "Jefferson Drum", and his film credits include "The Pleasure Seekers" (1964) and "I Sailed to Tahiti with an All Girl Crew" (1968). Afterwards, he gave up his acting career to pursue his interests in photography, sculpture, and writing. From 1977 until 1982 he was a literary critic for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner newspaper. He later taught writing classes at several major universities, including the University of Southern California at Los Angeles, California, and University of Hawaii at Honolulu, Hawaii. In the 1990's he wrote several more plays and four novels. He also wrote and recorded stories for his weekly radio show, "Stories on the Wind" which aired in Hawaii. He won several awards for his plays, including three National Endowment for the Arts Awards. His memoir, "Journey Without a Map," was published in 2013.
Actor and Playwright. A ruggedly handsome individual and accomplished sailor, he is best remembered for his lead role as 'Adam Troy' on the ABC television series "Adventures in Paradise" that aired from October 1959 until April 1962. The son of an advertising executive, he grew up in New York City, New York and Paris, France. He enrolled at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he majored in art, but dropped out after two years when his father died, and he worked as a sculptor. He found his way to California and made his Hollywood debut for MGM Studios in one episode of the television series "The Thin Man" (1957), followed by a recurring role as 'Lt. Dan Kelly' in the western television series "Boots and Saddles" that aired from 1957 until 1958. In 1959 he was cast in the leading role for "Adventure in Paradise" and after it was terminated, he spent two years in the Amazon jungle and then moved to France. His other television credits include "Death Valley Days", "The Silent Service", and "Jefferson Drum", and his film credits include "The Pleasure Seekers" (1964) and "I Sailed to Tahiti with an All Girl Crew" (1968). Afterwards, he gave up his acting career to pursue his interests in photography, sculpture, and writing. From 1977 until 1982 he was a literary critic for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner newspaper. He later taught writing classes at several major universities, including the University of Southern California at Los Angeles, California, and University of Hawaii at Honolulu, Hawaii. In the 1990's he wrote several more plays and four novels. He also wrote and recorded stories for his weekly radio show, "Stories on the Wind" which aired in Hawaii. He won several awards for his plays, including three National Endowment for the Arts Awards. His memoir, "Journey Without a Map," was published in 2013.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
Inscription
GEORGE CADOGAN McKAY
"GARDNER"
NOW COMES THE END OF THE DAY
NOW COMES THE RUSH OF THE NIGHT
THE LUMINOUS SEA TURNS GREY
THE FACES OF FRIENDS LOSE THEIR LIGHT.
I HAVE SAILED TOWARD A HIGH STEEP ISLAND
WHERE MY DREAMS WOULD ALL COME TO BE
NEVER WANTING TO BE DONE WITH THE OCEAN
TILL EACH WAVE WAS DONE WITH ME.
GARDNER McKAY
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