BORN: Dwayne Bernard Hickman on May 18th, 1934 in Los Angeles, CA, USA

DECEASED: Sunday, Jan 9th,  2022 at 8:48am in LA, CA USA of complications from Parkinsons at the age of 87

Actor, Producer, Director and Artist, Dwayne Hickman was born in Los Angeles, California on May 18th. Hickman died peacefully, surrounded by family, at home in Los Angeles.

One of television's most enduring stars, Dwayne Hickman began earliest screen appearances included “The Boy with the Green Hair.” His diversified career would truly begin at the age of six, making his film debut, as an extra, in “The Grapes of Wrath.” As a teen he starred in his first television series opposite Bob Cummings, where he honed his comedic skills under the watchful eyes of comedy greats George Burns and Jack Benny.  Five years later he would land the starring role in his own series, “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.” As “Dobie,” Dwayne Hickman became the hero and spokesman for the generation of Baby Boomers and nearly 60 years later “Dobie” is still being watched by a whole new generation.

During the years following “Dobie Gillis,” Hickman attended Loyola University where he earned a B.S. in Economics, resuming his film career, starring in several teen movies for A.I.P., which have become cult classics, including “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini” with Annette Funicello and “Ski Party” with Frankie Avalon.  He also starred in the Academy Award winning comedy western classic, “Cat Ballou” with Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin. Along with guest appearances on episodic television Hickman also performed on stage, touring the country in productions of “Barefoot in the Park,” “Star Spangled Girl” and “6 Rms Riv Vu.”

In the 1970's, after a brief stint as Entertainment Director at Howard Hughes' Landmark Hotel in Las Vegas, Hickman decided to return to television, but this time he joined the corporate ranks as a network executive with CBS Television. For 10 years he supervised such hits as “Maude,” “M*A*S*H” and “Designing Women.” Hickman left the network to star and produce the CBS Movie of the Week,  “Bring Me The Head Of Dobie Gillis,” he went behind the camera to direct half-hour comedies.  It was during this time that he met his future wife, actress/writer Joan Roberts, when she was co-starring in the CBS T.V. series, “Pvt. Benjamin.” They were married April 16, 1983.

In addition to acting and directing, he and his wife Joan, co-authored his autobiography, “Forever Dobie: The Many Lives of Dwayne Hickman (Birch Lane Press) as well as developing film and T.V. scripts. Dwayne Hickman stepped in front of the cameras again, co-starring in Paramount's feature film, “The Night at the Roxbury” and for two seasons he had a recurring role on UPN. T.V's series, “Clueless.” He also co-starred in the CBS, M.O.W. “Surviving Gilligan's Island,” playing a CBS network executive!  This multifaceted performer is also a critically acclaimed artist (DwayneHickman.com), painting in oils. Hickman's use of vibrant colors and exquisite detail in his popular house and landscape series has become his trademark. His original oil paintings and limited edition prints have been represented in galleries nationwide and can be found in private and corporate collections.

Hickman was married three times; to actress, Carol Christensen, briefly, to singer, Joanne Papile and to his current wife of 38 years, Joan Roberts. He is survived by his wife, Joan Roberts, their son, Albert Hickman and son, John Hickman, with the late, Carol Christensen Sneed. Services will be private and memorial plans have not yet been set, and in lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to The Actors Fund (actorsfund.org) or DreamClub United (dreamclubunited.org), founded by Dwayne's son, Albert Hickman, a 501C3 that supports local humanitarian programs, including Parkinsons organizations.

For press, high res photos and updated biography please send an email to harlan@bhbpr.com or call 626.296.3757