Don Adams (April 13, 1923 – September 25, 2005) was an American actor, comedian, game show panelist and occasional director, who in his five decades of television was best known for his role as Maxwell Smart (Agent 86) in the TV situation comedy Get Smart (1965–1970, 1995), for which he also directed and wrote. Adams won three consecutive Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Smart (1967–1969). He also provided the voices for the animated series Tenne...
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Don Adams (April 13, 1923 – September 25, 2005) was an American actor, comedian, game show panelist and occasional director, who in his five decades of television was best known for his role as Maxwell Smart (Agent 86) in the TV situation comedy Get Smart (1965–1970, 1995), for which he also directed and wrote. Adams won three consecutive Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Smart (1967–1969). He also provided the voices for the animated series Tennessee Tuxedo (1963-1966) and Inspector Gadget (1983-1986) as their respective title characters.
Adams was born Donald James Yarmy in Manhattan, a son of William Yarmy and his wife Consuelo (nee Deiter). His father was of Hungarian descent.
Dropping out of New York City's DeWitt Clinton High School, he worked as a theater usher. When he was 16 Adams joined the United States Marine Corps after lying about his age. He was wounded during the Guadalcanal Campaign and contracted blackwater fever, surviving in spite of its 90% fatality rate but spent...
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