Donald Harron
| Don Harron | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Donald Hugh Harron |
| Born | September 19, 1924 Toronto, Ontario |
| Died | January 17, 2015 (aged 90) Toronto, Ontario |
| Medium | Television |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Years active | 1935–2013 |
| Genres | satire, character comedy |
| Subject(s) | current events, rural humour |
| Spouse |
Gloria Fisher (m. 1949; div. 1960) |
| Children | Martha, Mary, Kelley |
| Notable works and roles | Charlie Farquharson, Anne of Green Gables – The Musical, Morningside |
Gloria Fisher (m. 1949; div. 1960)
Virginia Leith (m. 1960; div. 1968)
Catherine McKinnon (m. 1969; div. 2003)
Donald Hugh "Don" Harron, OC OOnt (September 19, 1924 – January 17, 2015) was a Canadian comedian, actor, director, journalist, author, playwright and composer. Harron is perhaps best known for the comedic character Charlie Farquharson from the country music television show, Hee Haw.
Harron's parents owned and operated Harron’s Cleaners and Dyers in Toronto. Beginning at the age of ten, he earned extra money for the family during the Great Depression, doing "chalk talks" telling humorous stories while drawing caricatures in coloured chalk at company or club banquets, making $10 or $15 a talk. As a result of his performances, he was invited to audition for, and won, a part in the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission radio series Lonesome Trail in 1935.
As a teenager, Harron spent time working as a farm hand in rural Ontario; experience he later credited for the development of his Charlie Farquharson character. He graduated from Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute in 1942 and briefly attended the University of Toronto before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1943. After the Second World War, he completed his studies of sociology and philosophy receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree. While at school he performed in amateur and professional productions, won the Victoria College drama award, and composed the music and lyrics for a student musical. He won the gold medal in philosophy and the regent’s silver medal and was offered a position teaching literature at the university which he turned down in order to focus on performing.
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