Forever associated with a heroic TV collie whom he frequently had his arms lovingly wrapped around, blond tyke Jon Provost actually was a veteran performer by the time he won the role of "Timmy Martin" at age seven in the series Lassie (1954). L.A. born and bred, Jon was just three years old when he was cast as Jane Wyman and Sterling Hayden's son...
[on his work continued work with children and dogs] Visiting kids in the hospital with Lassie influenced what I've done over the years. They didn't let dogs in hospitals then, but they let Timmy and Lassie in. The kids were transported.
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I left "Lassie" when I wanted to, and basically left the industry when I wanted to. I didn't want to be Timmy until I was 17 or 18, and that's what they wanted.
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Fact
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Credits June Lockhart as his favorite acting mentor/best friend.
Jon's father was an aeronautical engineer; his mother accompanied Jon on the set and was paid a salary plus expenses for being with him. Brother Bill occasionally appeared in small roles on Lassie (1954).
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The youngest actor to ever star in a TV show, seven-year-old Jon was hand-picked by Lassie (1954) producer Bonita Granville solely on the strength of his work in the film So Big (1953) at the age of 3. Jon never tested for the role.
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Jon serves on the Board of Directors for "Canine Companions for Independence", a non-paid position he's held for more than 20 years. Among his many awards, he was presented one by the Motion Picture Council for his dedication in helping the physically challenged.
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Daughter, Katie (11 January 1986).
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Son, Ryan (26 January 1984).
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Jon's father urged him to go away to college. Jon attended Sonoma State University north of San Francisco. He initially sold real estate in the area.