“Lou Grant”’s Jack Bannon Dies

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One of my all-time favorite TV series is Lou Grant. I recently ordered the first four seasons on DVD. To me, it was a splendid blend of drama, comedy, and topical storylines that did something unheard of today: presented all sides of the story. Jack Bannon, who played the quick-witted, nattily-dressed assistant city editor Art Donovan, passed away yesterday (10/24). Bannon was the son of actors Jim Bannon and Bea Benaderet. He even had a guest star role on his mom’s TV series, Petticoat Junction. He did guest starring roles in TV and appeared in a few movies until 1977, when The Mary Tyler Moore Show ended and the character of Lou Grant was spun off into an hour-long drama series. As he grew older and roles became fewer he and his wife Ellen moved to the Spokane area, where they were both very active in regional theater. (In case you didn’t know, Bannon’s wife “Ellen” is Ellen Travolta, John’s sister.) No cause of death as given in the Spokane paper, just a statement that Bannon was “surrounded by family” when he died. Jack Bannon was 77. Here’s a brief interview with Mr. and Mrs. Bannon (both looking much different than they did on TV in the 70s), discussing their work in regional theater: