Bobby Diamond

Robert Leroy Diamond, known as Bobby Diamond (born August 23, 1943), is an American attorney in his native Los Angeles, California, who was a child star and young-adult actor in the 1950s through the early 1970s. He is best remembered after more than a half-century for his role as Joey Clark Newton in the television series Fury, a western which ran on NBC from October 15, 1955 through March 19, 1960.^[1] He was listed as Robert Diamond in the cast credits during the first season in 1955.

Early life

Diamond was spotted in Los Angeles in 1955 by a talent scout and was subsequently cast on Fury.

Fury

Diamond's character, Joey, had run afoul of the law, befriended a handsome wild black stallion, and lived on the Broken Wheel Ranch in California with his widowed and adopted father, Jim Newton, portrayed by Peter Graves, later known for his role on Mission: Impossible. Newton's wife and son had been killed by a drunk driver.^[2]

Joey called Jim by his first name but in time looked upon him as a father. Character actor William Fawcett played the housekeeper and top ranch hand, Pete Wilkey.^[3] Fawcett was the veteran of many westerns on both television and in motion picutures.

Cast as friends of Joey are Roger Mobley as Homer "Packy" Lambert, who appeared in forty-one episodes from 1958 to 1960, and Jimmy Baird (born 1945) as Rodney "Pee Wee" Jenkins from 1957 to 1958. The popular program originally ran after school hours during the week, but moved to Saturday mornings, was subtitled: "The Story of a Horse and the Boy Who Loves Him." Fury reruns continued on NBC until September 3, 1966, and later in syndication under the title the Black Stallion and as Brave Stallion.^[4]

Diamond played the recurring role of "Buddy" in the NBC sitcom, The Nanette Fabray Show. He was strongly considered for the role of Robbie on My Three Sons ^[5] but was cast in 1962–1963 as Dobie Gillis's cousin, Duncan "Dunky" Gillis, for seven episodes of the final season of CBS's The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (by then titled Max Shulman's Dobie Gillis), starring Dwayne Hickman^[6] and Bob Denver of Gilligan’s Island, who played Maynard G. Krebs. Also in 1963, Diamond appeared briefly as "Pvt. Pip" in an episode of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone, titled "In Praise of Pip". He was credited as "Robert Diamond". Billy Mumy and Jack Klugman also appeared in that episode, which aired on September 27, 1963.^[7] In 1965 he played the son of the butter & egg man in an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. He also appeared as Jody Webster in the 1961 episode "Paperback Hero" of the ABC western series, The Rebel, starring Nick Adams. He claimed to have been considered for the role of Robin on Batman but was told that at 21 he was too old for the role.^[8]

Attempted entry into films

In an attempt to graduate to more mature and serious roles, as well as break onto the silver screen, Diamond starred in the film Airborne as Eddie Slocom a naive, country boy who wants to join the US 82nd Airborne Division. Airborne was his only lead role in a film, his only other film appearances were in supporting roles in the Patty Duke vehicle Billie and the 1981 slasher film Scream.

Later television career

Over the years, Diamond appeared in dozens of television series, including ABC's The Fugitive with David Janssen, NBC's The Loretta Young Show, CBS's Angel, and Father Knows Best starring Robert Young. He also appeared in episodes of NBC's Wagon Train (TV western series) starring Ward Bond and CBS's The Twilight Zone (television science fiction series), The Andy Griffith Show, and Mister Ed. He was cast as Gus in the 1964 episode, "Visions of Sugar Plums", of the NBC education drama series, Mr. Novak, starring James Franciscus as an idealistic high school teacher in Los Angeles.

Between 1965 and 1967, Diamond guest starred with Robert Bray, in the lead role of Forest Ranger Corey Stuart, in three episodes of CBS's Lassie. Diamond's last role was in 1990 in Gary Cole's NBC series, Midnight Caller.^[9]

On October 21, 2000, Diamond was among the honorees at Iverson's Movie Ranch near Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley,^[10] where he left his signature, handprints, and bootprints in the courtyard. Iverson's is dedicated to preserving the history of film and television westerns.^[11]

Personal life

In 1964, Diamond graduated from Ulysses S. Grant High School in the San Fernando Valley, then located in Van Nuys but now in Valley Glen. He has two sons from a previous marriage to Tara Parker.^[12] His interest in the law was spurred by his efforts to procure a student draft deferment during the Vietnam War. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Northridge, then known as San Fernando Valley State College. In 1970, he received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of West Los Angeles, then known as the San Fernando Valley College of Law in Woodland Hills. On January 5, 1972, Diamond was admitted to the California bar^[13] and soon commenced the practice of law in Los Angeles. He resides in Woodland Hills.^[14]

References