Donald Poe Galloway (July 27, 1937 – January 8, 2009)[1] was an American stage, film and television actor, best known for his role as Detective Sergeant Ed Brown in the series Ironside (1967–1975). He reprised the role for a TV film in 1993. He was also a politically active libertarian and columnist.
Don was born in Augusta, Kentucky. His parents moved to Bracken County after the Great Flood of 1937 along the Ohio River the same year he was born. Galloway was a 1955 graduate of Bracken County High School,[2] where he played varsity basketball,[3] and a 1959 graduate of the University of Kentucky,[2] where he studied drama.[4] He attended Concord Methodist Church located in Brooksville, Kentucky (7 miles from Augusta, Kentucky with his family from infancy till he left for college. The elders of the church said at the age of 3, he could recite long Bible verses and short stories.[citation needed]
On April 16, 1962, Galloway appeared in an off-Broadway production of the play Bring Me a Warm Body. Despite the production running for only 16 performances, he received a Theater World Award.[5]
Galloway began his television career in 1962 in the New York-based soap opera The Secret Storm as the first actor to play Kip Rysdale. He then appeared as law clerk Mitchell Harris in 26 episodes of the short-lived TV drama Arrest and Trial (1963–64),[6] and he was seen on Tom, Dick, and Mary, one-third of the 90-minute weekly sitcom 90 Bristol Court, broadcast from 1964 to 1965.[6]: 1092
In 1963, Galloway signed up with Universal Studios and guest-starred on numerous TV series, including The Virginian, Wagon Train, Convoy and Run for Your Life.
On March 28, 1967, Galloway starred with Raymond Burr in the TV movie Ironside. The film detailed the shooting of San Francisco Chief of Detectives Robert Ironside (played by Burr), who was left paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. The film spawned a successful series of the same name, beginning in September of that year. As Det. Sgt Ed Brown, Galloway remained on Ironside with Burr and Don Mitchell for its eight-season run, appearing in 198 of the 199 episodes.
Following the cancellation of Ironside in 1975, Galloway was reunited with Barbara Anderson, his former co-star from the show, in the TV movie You Lie So Deep, My Love. He then continued to guest-star on numerous TV series, with appearances in Police Woman, Medical Center and Charlie's Angels.
In 1979, Galloway played Timmons in the short-lived NBC comedy Hizzonner.[6]: 465 The same year, he hosted a syndicated game show titled The Guinness Game. Galloway also made a few appearances on the popular game show Match Game.
In one of his few big-screen appearances, Galloway played the husband of the character played by Jobeth Williams in the film The Big Chill in 1983. He joined the cast of the soap opera General Hospital in 1985, playing Buzz Stryker until 1987.[citation needed]
In 1988, Galloway appeared in the Perry Mason TV movie The Case of the Avenging Ace, reuniting with Raymond Burr for the first time in 13 years. Galloway and Burr had a long association with one another; aside from Ironside and a subsequent Perry Mason movie in 1990, the two actors starred in the 1973 TV movie Portrait: A Man Whose Name Was John. In 1993, Galloway and Burr appeared together on screen for the final time, reprising their Ironside roles with fellow co-stars Don Mitchell, Barbara Anderson and Elizabeth Baur in the TV reunion movie The Return of Ironside.
After retiring from acting, Galloway briefly worked for the San Bernardino County (California) Sheriff's Department as a deputy sheriff.[7]
For a time after his acting career, Galloway resided in Hooksett, New Hampshire and wrote a column for the Manchester Union Leader.[citation needed]
Galloway died at age 71 at the Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada after suffering a stroke two weeks earlier.[8] He was buried at Concord Methodist Church, Brooksville, Kentucky near his parents.[citation needed]