Biographie

[Mike Danko]

American actor Sam Melville is best known for his television work on such series as The Rookies (he played Officer Mike Danko), The Scarecrow and Mrs. King (as Mr. King), and Gunsmoke as a regular guest star. Melville also appeared in a couple of films from the late '60s through the late '80s. Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Birth name
Samuel Gardner Melville
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Nickname
Neville Coward
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Spouse
Anne Melville (20 September 1966 - 9 March 1989) (his death)

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Trivia
Durable TV actor who played rugged, no-nonsense types -- best known as married cop Mike Danko on Aaron Spelling's "The Rookies" (1972-1976) opposite Kate Jackson who played wife Jill.

Played Kate Jackson's husband in "The Rookies" and her ex-husband in "The Scarecrow and Mrs. King."

[Dan Tanna Spenser]

Samuel Gardner Melville was born in August 20, 1936 and sadly died in March 9, 1989. A native of Fillmore, Utah, Mikes first love was art. For two years he studied art at the University of Utah, then the acting bug bit him and he switched to a drama major. Summer of 1962 found Sam hitchhiking to Los Angeles, determined to find immediate success as an actor. Instead he landed in a variety of non theatrical jobs, working in a little theatre at night.  For two years he worked hard and studied and struggled to make it as an actor. "Those were hard times" he recalled. "I couldn't even afford any kind of acting lessons, but I was lucky enough to work with a little theatre group in the evenings. I didn't make any money there, but I did learn a lot about acting." Later on he went to live in san Diego and was accepted at the Old Globe Theatre where he worked there for three seasons playing all sorts of roles. Then he landed a part in the road company of "Pajama Tops" with no success. The cast ended being stranded in Shreveport, Louisiana.  He hitched again to Los Angeles and was soon fortunate enough to get a part in a stage production of "A man for all seasons" with Charlton Heaston and in "Medea" starring Judith Anderson. After that Sam got a role in a road company of Camelot. When the show opened in Houston, Texas, he met Ann Ott, the daughter of a theater owner and later they got married. By this time Sam Melville was getting to be known by directors and producers, and more jobs came his way. He appeared in "Hour of the Gun" with James Garner and in "The Thomas crown affair" with Steve McQueen and also in television in Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Mannix and Hawaii Five-0. It was executive producer of "The Rookies" Aaron Spelling who got Sam Melville his first leading role in an episode of "That girl" starring Marlo Thomas. After more than 40 guest appearances and 10 years of hard work, success came with "The Rookies" where Sam Melville played officer Mike Danko for four years until the end of the series in 1976.
After the Rookies he continued to work in television appearing in shows such The Dukes of Hazzard, T.J. Hooker and The A-Team. He also appeared in Kate Jackson's third popular TV series "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" playing her ex-husband Joe King. Sam Melville also starred in various films and TV movies, such as The Assassin, The Roughnecks and the horror film Twice Dead, but sadly didn't get to do more.

Sam Melville died in 1989 at the age of 53 as a result of heart failure.