David Fitzgerald Doyle (December 1, 1929 – February 26, 1997)[1] was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of John Bosley on the 1970s TV series Charlie's Angels. Doyle and Jaclyn Smith were the only actors to appear in every episode of the show. Doyle also became known later as the first voice of Grandpa Lou on the Nickelodeon series Rugrats.
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska,[1] Doyle graduated from Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin in 1947.[2]
His maternal grandfather, John Fitzgerald, was a prominent railroad builder and banker in Nebraska.[3] His younger sister, Mary (1931–1995), was a stage actress, who died from lung cancer aged 63.[4]
Doyle is best remembered for his role as detective John Bosley on the television series Charlie's Angels, one of only two actors (the other being original angel Jaclyn Smith) to appear in all 110 episodes of the series (1976–1981).[5]
Doyle made a number of appearances as a guest on the game show Match Game from 1977 to 1982. He appeared on one week of Password Plus in 1980, three weeks of Super Password, and on Tattletales with his wife Anne in 1982.[citation needed]
He voiced Grandpa Lou Pickles on the Nickelodeon animated series Rugrats from 1991 until his death, after which he was replaced by Joe Alaskey.[6][7]
Doyle was also a stage actor. He played Orgon in the 1964 premiere of Richard Wilbur's translation of Tartuffe at the Fred Miller Theater in Milwaukee. His sister Mary played the maid, Dorine, in the same production.[citation needed] His New York stage credits include Beg, Borrow or Steal, Something About a Soldier, Here's Love, I Was Dancing, and a revival of South Pacific.[8]
Doyle was married twice. In 1956 he married his first wife, Rachael, with whom he had a daughter, Leah (born 1961). Rachael died in 1968 after falling from a staircase.[9] The next year, while in a revival of the play South Pacific, Doyle met Anne Nathan, a singer dancer, and they married a short time later.[5]
Doyle died in Los Angeles, California, of a heart attack on February 26, 1997, at age 67.[3][10]