Ask Stacy for 10/20/18

Stacy Jenel Smith
Fri, 19 Oct 2018 21:00:00 -0700
Lifestyle

DEAR STACY: I'd like to know whatever became of Timmy Hovey who was in movies in the 50s such as "Toy Tiger." — Pam G., Kingman, Arizona

DEAR PAM: After his hugely successful career as a child actor — with credits including Maureen O'Hara's "Everything But the Truth (1956) and Charlton Heston's "The Private War of Major Benson (1955) — Hovey hooked up with The Grateful Dead. He worked as an engineer and road manager for the band, beginning in the '60s. Hovey died at age 44 in 1989, of a drug overdose. Some reports called it a suicide.
Updated: Sat Oct 20, 2018

DEAR STACY: I'd like to know whatever became of Timmy Hovey who was in movies in the 50s such as "Toy Tiger." — Pam G., Kingman, Arizona

DEAR PAM: After his hugely successful career as a child actor — with credits including Maureen O'Hara's "Everything But the Truth (1956) and Charlton Heston's "The Private War of Major Benson (1955) — Hovey hooked up with The Grateful Dead. He worked as an engineer and road manager for the band, beginning in the '60s. Hovey died at age 44 in 1989, of a drug overdose. Some reports called it a suicide.

DEAR STACY: Who was the celebrity that fell off of the motorcycle while posing on the red carpet at the Oscars back about four or five years ago? I say it was Paris Hilton, my friend thinks Nicole Richie. — Jana E., Spokane, Washington

DEAR JANA: Neither of you are correct. Paris and buddy Kimberly Stewart were on the red carpet together in 2005, posing on their respective choppers, when Stewart's bike took off and she lost control and fell. Luckily, she wasn't hurt in the incident — except, perhaps, for her pride.

DEAR STACY: When "American Idol" first premiered, there were two hosts, Ryan Seacrest and another young man. What is that other host's name and what is he doing now? — Tim D., Long Beach, California

DEAR TIM: You're thinking of Season 1 cohost Brian Dunkleman. He was featured on "Celebrity Fit Club" and has done guestings on various other shows. He does standup dates around the country. He told Howard Stern during a radio chat that although he'd been depressed over his situation for months after his departure (he left, but reportedly would have been fired if he hadn't) — and still felt resentment toward Ryan Seacrest — he'd come to terms with his near-miss with "Idol" success and was happy with his life.

DEAR STACY: Did Joanna Moore, Tatum O'Neal's mother, play one of Andy Griffith's courting interests on the classic "Andy Griffith Show?" This topic came up amongst a group of friends and we'd like to know if it's true or not. Also, did she die of a drug overdose? — H.E., Warren, Ohio

DEAR H.E.: Yes, Joanna Moore played Peggy McMillan, a love interest of Sheriff Andy Taylor, in a few episodes of the vintage "Andy Griffith Show." No, she did not die of an overdose, although her tumultuous life included a drug and alcohol-fueled spiral that led to her loss of custody of her children and time in a mental hospital. She died of lung cancer in 1997, at age 63.