Don Grady: ‘My Three Sons’ actor dies at 68

Don Grady, who played Robbie Douglas on the 1960s hit "My Three Sons" and started his career as a Mouseketeer, died of cancer on June 27. He was 68.

Grady's "My Three Sons" co-star Barry Livingston, who played youngest brother Ernie, confirmed the death to the Associated Press. Livingston said that Grady had been receiving hospice care at his home in Thousand Oaks, Calif., while he was battling cancer.

Born Don Louis Agrati on June 8, 1944, in San Diego, Grady started his acting career by singing and dancing on "The Mickey Mouse Club" at age 13, according to the Los Angeles Times.

But he was best known for playing big brother Robbie on "My Three Sons," which ran from 1960 to 1972, reported Slate. He appeared in more than 300 episodes, which turned him into a heartthrob, and was the cover boy for numerous teen magazines. Grady also appeared in other shows, including "The Rifleman" and "Wagon Train," and formed a pop singing group called the Yellow Balloon.

The Yellow Balloon recorded a song by the same name in 1967 and it was their only hit, reaching No. 25 on the Billboard pop charts, according to The New York Times. He went on to compose music for television, theater and film, including the theme song to Phil Donahue's talk show and songs for the 1985 movie "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." He also co-wrote "Keep the Dream Alive," which was recorded for the Jazz to End Hunger project by artists like Herbie Hancock and Della Reese.

Grady is survived by his wife and two children.

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