In the late '90s, Troy Donahue and Sandra Dee came together in New York City for a special screening of their iconic 1959 romance film, A Summer Place. Reflecting on their younger selves, Troy admitted, "I was mesmerized by our images up there. It was like, 'Wow, that's what they were talking about.' You forget how it felt to be so young and beautiful. That's some powerful stuff."
A Star is Born, But Fame is Fleeting
Troy Donahue's breakout role in A Summer Place catapulted him into the Hollywood limelight, making him an overnight sensation. Yet, his time at the top was short-lived. A combination of shifting movie trends, Troy's refusal to play shallow roles, and a hidden battle with alcoholism derailed his career before it could truly take off. But this wasn't the end of Troy's journey. In his later years, he transformed his life, finding inner peace and looking back on his early days with pride.
The Early Years: A Life of Privilege
Merle Johnson Jr., who would later become known as Troy Donahue thanks to the same agent who coined the name Rock Hudson, grew up in New York City with all the trappings of privilege. "Central Park was practically his backyard," explains Michael Gregg Michaud, author of Inventing Troy Donahue: The Making of a Movie Star. Troy's childhood was the stuff of dreams, but it wasn't to last.
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Tragedy struck when Troy's father, who had ALS, passed away in 1947. "He adored his father. Losing him was something Troy never fully recovered from," says Michaud. Around this time, Troy began sneaking drinks. "I started drinking when I was studying for midterms in seventh grade. It was just something I did," Troy admitted.
High School Dropout and Military Academy
In his sophomore year, Troy made a decision that would change the course of his life—he dropped out of high school. His distraught mother sent him to the New York Military Academy, where he crossed paths with a young Francis Ford Coppola. "I might have thrown a few stones at his tuba," Troy joked, "but that's what high schoolers do."
Hollywood Dreams and Early Struggles
At the age of 19, Troy made his way to Los Angeles, chasing his dreams of becoming an actor. But his drinking habit continued to cause trouble. "One night, he was so drunk that he drove off Malibu Canyon Road and almost lost his life," recalls Michaud. Despite a slow recovery, Troy's good looks remained intact, setting the stage for his big break.
The Rise and Fall: A Career in Hollywood
After a year of minor roles at Universal Studios, Troy's career took off when he played a racist thug in the 1959 film Imitation of Life. "That role really made people sit up and take notice," says Michaud. And then came the movie that changed everything—A Summer Place, one of the first films marketed directly to teenage girls, turning Troy into a heartthrob overnight.
The next few years were packed with activity. Troy starred in TV's Hawaiian Eye from 1959 to 1963 and joined the cast of Surfside 6 in 1960. He also graced the big screen in films like Parrish, Susan Slade, and Rome Adventure, where he met Suzanne Pleshette, who became his first wife in 1964.
Struggles with Addiction and Image
Troy's secret drinking problem persisted throughout his career. "I never had a reputation as an alcoholic or drug addict," he confessed. "But it was rare for me to step in front of a camera without having taken the edge off." His stage fright wasn't the only reason he drank. "He felt trapped by his image," explains Michaud. "That only intensified his drinking and drug use. Eventually, he walked out on his seven-year contract with two years remaining, and the studio blacklisted him."
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Personal Turmoil and Financial Hardships
Troy's personal life was just as tumultuous. His marriage to Suzanne lasted less than a year, and his second marriage to Valerie Allen ended after just two. His inability to work led to financial ruin. "I went from living in a beautiful home with a garden and pool to shabby apartments," he admitted. Eventually, Troy couldn't even afford rent. In 1969, he left LA for New York, spending time living in Central Park with just a backpack. "He'd join fans who recognized him for a meal or a bath," says Michaud.
A New Beginning: Redemption and Love
In 1982, shortly after his fourth divorce, Troy sought help for his addiction. "I realized I was either going to die—or worse, live the way I was living for the rest of my life," he said. Alcoholics Anonymous "saved my life," he added. It also led him to discover family members he never knew he had. "A woman approached him at a meeting and said, 'Hi, I don't know if you remember me,'" recalls Jane Nunez, a close friend of Troy's. "Across the room, there was a 13-year-old boy. She said, 'That's your son.'" Troy also connected with a daughter from a previous relationship who had been adopted but came looking for her birth parents. "It was a happy time for him," says Michaud. "They accepted him, and he spent time with them whenever he could."
Love in Later Years
Troy found love again with opera singer Zheng Cao, whom he met on a cruise ship where she was performing and he was giving acting seminars. "They fell deeply in love," says Michaud. "She was incredibly good for him." In his final years, Troy continued to act and even toured with the musical Bye Bye Birdie. Although he never regained his former stardom, it didn't matter to him. "I don't long for the old days," he said in 1998. "I'm not chasing comebacks or trying to improve my life. It's never been better than it is right now."
