The Times from San Mateo, California • Page 62

SAN MATEO TLM.ES, TV WEEK, MAY 8, He Found a Home in Peyton Place Ryan O'Neal is 24 years old, has been an actor for six years and has more film time logged than Clark Gable could claim as one of the most popular screen idols of all time. By JACK HAWN Like Sammy, Kimble and Paul Bryan, Danny Villanueva is a man on the run. And, unless the Rams return the talented kicking specialist to Los Angeles, Danny will be running more than ever this coming National Football league sea son. The 28 year old, six year pro veteran joined the Rams in 1960. Four years later, he assumed the dual role of sports commentator at KMRX, the Spanish language TV station, which, according to Villanueva, Ltis responsible for probably Ihe i most extensive sports programing in Los Angeles." It's the little black box that made it all possible.

It makes theatrical veterans out of lads like Ryan, who is seen thrice weekly as Rodney Harrington, an important part of the warp and woof of Peyton Place. If you are dubious about the amount of time ihe O'Neal face has been seen on screen, read on. He made his TV debut as a stuntman, then an actor in The Vikings, which was based upon the Kirk Douglas film. After 39 segments, the series was dropped. O'Neal free lanced for a year, then was put under contract by Universal Studios.

There hp 1 i rl A cknu.r As they say in the huddle, the pattern was perfect a well executed maneuver that had Danny cheerfully winging toward pay dirt, the fields of green upon which banks are built. ill such bygone stalwarts as Wagon Train, Alfred Hitchcock, and at the press agents say, a host of others. Screen Gems then nabbed the blond youngster and marked him1 for Icleviston stardom with a co star role in Empire. But in spite of his billing, Ryan was relegated to holding the horses of his co stars and guest stars. Empire faded out with a whimper, not a hang, and was followed by a half hour version called Redigo.

Offered the latter Ryan Turned it down. "I must have been one of the top paid invisible men of alt time ju juijjuv, tuiu i wdMi i aooui lO let it happen again. As it was, I walked away with a great deal of affection for all the people I worked with and much thankfulness that it was all over." O'Neal may have regretted his decision as the months wore on and the acting assignments were conspicuously absent. It was to he expected. In Hollywood, an actor who has been connected with a flop how is unemployable until the stigma is burned away.

Finally, jobs started trickling in and then, producer Paul Monash called with an offer to do Peyton Place. Ryan felt reborn, he was get tine another chance. It was all so beautiful until the fumble. But, it wasn't Villanueva who dropped the ball, ft was the Rams, who traded Danny to the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he played last year, and, now, it's a more tricky climb up the payroll ladder. "1 came to Los Angeles as part of a youth movement, and left as part of another one," Danny sighed regretfully, "It just how fast you can age in pro football.

1 may play one more year after This one in Dallas, but that's all. 1 don't want to become a Ben Agajanian," he said with a mild chuckle. Danny was appointed sports director at KM EX last year and presently is responsible for his own half hour show, which he writes and produces, as well as a sports segment during the nightly news program Additionally, as the" station's sports director, Danny is the quarterback, calling the shots for current KMEX shows motor cycle racing, bullfights, wrestling, boxing and football soccer. Danny's problem: How to kick otT in Dallas and score a touchdown at KMBXI It calls for some razzle dazzle, a few end runs and a unique, slightly daring, play. "Right now," Danny revealed his game plan, hope to come into Los Angeles on Mondays and Tuesdays when the season starts." "Commute every week?" we gulped, "Well," Danny explained, "last year I recorded in Dallas, but all the shows are' in Spanish, and my crew couldn't speak a word of it, Jt was pretty confusing.

Then, wc recorded from 11:30 at night to 12:30 in the morning, and, when you play football, that Incomes very difficult." 'ive commentary shows were done on one tape, Danny told us and it then was sent to Los Angeles by air freight. True, there was method in this madness, but it war madness. Villanucva, who lives in the San Fernando Valley with his wife and two boys Danny, 7, and Jimmy, 3 moved his family to Dallas last season, but the switch was less than satisfactory. "Danny will be in the second grade, and changing schools again I just don't know if this is good for him," the gridder debated with himself. "When you're traded, you wonder if football1 worth moving your family around the country like that.

Tn L.A., I never gave retirement a thought. I'd love to get traded back, even though I dont remember enjoying a season as much as last year It was the first time I've been 'up there I couldn't stand the altitude." One year, we (Rams) lost our head and finished next to lasi," he grinned. Danny, who also is director of the Ford Dealers of Southern California Youth Program, conducts kicking clinics, is booked solid for speaking engagements, makes presentations, and simply, is a man on the run. "Football is part time for me, and TV full time" Villanueva openly admitted. I lose money when I play." Although his football salary this year will represent less than one third of Danny's total income, he stated, "it's still directly respomsble for 100 percent of everything 1 have" Danny, it might even be said, is one athlete who's profited by pulling his foot into his mouth.

Ryan Q'Ncat and Mia Farrow, before scissors It turned out to be better than a chance. For Ryan who had been headed for. the Legion of Ihe Unknown via his first two series the third lime turned out to be the charm. Cast first only as a regular in the 13 member cast his initial joust with the script found him a feisty teenager, who mixed rebellion with the passion in his veins. As Rodney Harrington, he defied his parents with one hand, and made advances to toothsome Barbara Parkins wLih the other but even as the first episodes screened, there were changes takine pace behind the scenes.

Leitcrs began pouring into O'Neal's fan mail box letters proving that teenagers spotted sympathy in Rodney, and were writinc for help wlih their problems. Instead of representing the kids, O'Neal turned out to be a sort ot father pal. The producers, with deft hand on the pulse of the fans quickly upped O'Neal to star billing, and changed his image to that of trie paternal young man he is now. Oh, if you're still struggling with the amount of Ryan's onscreen time, Peyton Place's airings bring it to slightly over 200 hours or roughly 133 full length features. As we said, more films tnan Clark Gable graced in his illustrious career.

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