Saturday, May 13, 2023

RIP Paul Playdon

 

Paul Playdon Spyfi writer dies


The Spy Command

May 13, 2023

 

Paul Playdon (1943-2023), when he was a child actor, in a memorable episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents in 1957, The Glass Eye with Jessica Tandy.

Paul Playdon, who began his show business career as a child actor, then transitioned to being a television writer-producer, has died at 80.

His death was reported on Facebook by a friend, Danny Biderman in a detailed post. Biederman has an extensive collection of props from various examples of spy entertainment.

Playdon, born in the U.K., had been a child actor appearing in Alfred Hitchcock Presents, in the 1957 episode The Glass Eye. Other performers in the episode included Jessica Tandy and William Shatner.

Playdon moved to being a writer-producer. His work covered a number of television series, including Hawaii Five-O, Cannon, The Wild Wild West and The Magician.

Perhaps his biggest television impact was on the original Mission: Impossible series. He was brought on as story editor after ace M:I writer-producers William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter exited the show after a dispute with creator-executive producer Bruce Geller.

Playdon, with his story editor hat, had to revise scripts. His M:I input as writer also included a two-part story as well as the show’s only three-part story. Bits of both adventures showed up in the 2011 Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol movie.

PLAYDON, Paul (Paul Christopher Playdon)

Born: 1/14/1943, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, U.K.

Died: 5/12/2023, Silicon Beach, California, U.S.A.

 

Paul Playdon’s westerns – actor: writer:

Sergeant Preston of the Yukom (TV) – 1958 (Tommy Smith)

Daniel Boone (TV) 1967, 1958 [writer]

Lancer (TV) 1968 [writer]

2 comments:

  1. Do you have any info re burial? I know his father is buried at Forest Lawn, Glendale

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  2. I can find no information on line. You may want to contact his friend Danny Biederman who first posted his passing on Facebook. He may have further information.

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