Mark Miller

Mark Miller, actor, writer, and producer of stage, film and television, died on September 9 at 7:30am PST. He was 97.

Mark Miller found early success playing leading roles in New York and Hollywood. Best known for portraying Professor Jim Nash on "Please Don't Eat the Daisies," he starred in back-to-back television shows throughout the 1960's and 70's, then turned to writing, garnering success with films, such as "Savannah Smiles" and "A Walk in the Clouds." He is the father of Golden Globe-nominated actress, Penelope Ann Miller.

Miller was born Claude Herbert Miller Jr. on November 20, 1924 in Houston, Texas, the son of Martha Ozella Jinks and Claude Herbert Miller Sr. Miller and his younger sister, Dorothy, spent their childhood in numerous small towns along the Gulf Coast, where their father, an engineer for Texaco, drilled for oil.

When Miller was 3, he suffered a badly broken leg. The bone was improperly set causing nerve damage that required him to undergo 18 surgeries and wear leg braces throughout his childhood. Despite this, he was outgoing and a daredevil. He became a champion swimmer in high school, and even took on the dangerous manual labor of roughnecking for his dad in the summers.

Miller attended Texas A&M and The University of Texas, where he majored in architecture. After writing and acting in a one-act play for an English class, he realized his true passion and moved to New York, where he trained at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, studying alongside Jason Robards, Anne Bancroft, and Grace Kelly, whom he dated for two years (the two remained life-long friends).

His first professional job was starring opposite Kelly in Noel Coward's "Private Lives." Miller's performance got the attention of playwright, Philip Barry, who then cast him as 'Sandy Lord' in "The Philadelphia Story," opposite Sarah Churchill, daughter of Winston Churchill.

Miller starred in over thirty plays during the 1950's, when the great playwrights of the era were highly involved, not only in the Broadway productions, but their ensuing touring companies, and, unlike today, it was essential to playwrights and producers that the original stars performed in every major city in America. Miller's blend of unaffected Texan charisma, handsome sophistication and comedic timing captured the the notice and admiration of William Inge, who cast him in three of his plays. So intent was Inge that Miller play the character, 'Bo,' in "Bus Stop," he famously waited until Miller was available to launch the first Broadway touring company opposite Elaine Stritch. In reviews, Miller was likened to a young Jimmy Stewart.

In December of 1959, just before the North American tour of Inge's "Dark at the Top of the Stairs," with Joan Blondell, Miller married fashion and lifestyle journalist, Beatrice Ammidown. The two honeymooned while traveling with the cast throughout Canada and the US. During their run at The Biltmore Theater in Los Angeles, Miller was spotted by Desi Arnaz, who cast him as the lead in the ABC/Desilu sitcom, "Guestward Ho!"

Miller then moved to Hollywood, where he launched his television career. In 1965, he was cast as Professor 'Jim Nash' in the hit NBC sitcom "Please Don't Eat the Daisies," opposite Patricia Crowley, who played journalist, 'Joan Nash.' The show was based on Jean Kerr's 1957 book of the same name about her life with husband, drama critic, Walter Kerr and their rambunctious boys. Notably, Miller was nominated for an Emmy Award for his first television script for the show, an episode entitled, "The Magnificent Muldoon," starring Burgess Meredith. The series was one of the first sitcoms to be broadcast entirely in color and to depict a working mom.

Miller was a steady guest star on the seminal TV shows of the 1960's and 70's: "The Twilight Zone," "The Andy Griffith Show," "Gunsmoke," "I Dream of Jeannie," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Waltons," "Marcus Welby MD," to name a few.

Miller had a sly Texas wit, and while briefly doing a stint on soap opera "Bright Promise,' (1970), he and fellow Texan, co-star, Dabney Coleman, broke each other up so often that the writers stopped putting them in scenes together.

In 1974, he wrote, produced, and starred in his first feature film, "Ginger in the Morning," casting newcomer, Sissy Spacek in the title role. He also featured several of her original songs on the soundtrack.

Miller and Ammidown lived in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles and raised three daughters: Marisa, Penelope Ann, and Savannah. They divorced in 1975. He then married actress Barbara Stanger in 1976. The couple collaborated on several screenplays. Among them was "Christmas Mountain, The Story of a Cowboy Angel," in which Miller starred alongside Stanger and Slim Pickens.

In 1982, Miller wrote, produced, and starred in the family classic film, "Savannah Smiles," inspired by and named for his youngest daughter. The story follows a runaway girl (Bridgette Andersen), found by two escaped convicts (Miller and Donovan Scott), who form an improvised family. The film garnered nine awards.

In the 1990s, Miller and Stanger relocated to Taos, New Mexico, where they welcomed a son, Gabriel (Gabe). Miller then turned to writing and producing full time.

In 1995, he penned the box office hit, "A Walk in the Clouds," starring Keanu Reeves and Anthony Quinn, a romantic epic, based on the 1942 Italian film, "Four Steps in the Clouds."

Miller and Stanger divorced in 1998, and he later returned to California to be near his four children. Miller was an avid sailor and spent his last 8 years living in Marina Del Rey. He was a student of history and literature. He maintained his love of architecture throughout his life, designing homes in New Mexico for himself and his friends.

In his final years, Miller formed Gypsy Moon Productions. He worked closely with daughter, Marisa Miller, to develop and produce the character-driven, emotionally rewarding films, for which he was known. He wrote every day and mentored aspiring talents, never losing his keen instinct for a great story. Seasoned by his days in the oil fields, surrounded by the tall tales and wicked quips of the roustabouts, then polished by all the plays he performed with the luminaries of his day, he was the ultimate raconteur.

In the span of Miller's long and active career, he wrote 32 screenplays. He was passionate about his work and devoted to his family. There never was a sunset he didn't stop to notice, nor a friend he failed to make. He lived by these words from his final journal entry, "Rejoice and play and create magic in just living."

Miller was pre-deceased by his son with Stanger, music producer, Gabe Miller who died in 2016. He was followed in death by his sister, Dorothy MacDonald, who passed three weeks after him on September 28.

He is survived by his three daughters, Marisa (Jonathan Berzer and daughter, Celeste), Penelope Ann (James Huggins and daughters, Eloisa and Maria), Savannah (John Bonica, and daughters, Amelia, Gretta, and Sophie Eberline).

On September 9, 2022 Miller passed away at Providence St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California of natural causes.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Motion Picture and Television Fund. A memorial announcement will be forthcoming.