That Boy - The Life and Sad Ending® of Ted Bessell 

You're a nice man and all that but I don't understand why you change from just hearing your nice soothing voice in the background,to having to look at you on a microphone with your headphones staring at us in a video. It's kind of unriveting. I'm curious why all of a sudden did you change from years of just here and a nice wonderful voice to now seeing you plant your face on the screen is kinda distracting. I'm just being honest so thumbs down for that

I think I will always remember him from that girl He had a very strong presence in that sitcom

In the days leading up to Ted Bessell's passing in October 1996, he came to the ER at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles complaining of chest pain. After tests, it was felt he was just having anxiety attacks, and sent home. He ultimately collapsed at home and the post-mortem revealed the aortic aneurysm. Interestingly in 2003 Jack Ritter presented with "chest pain" and at first was thought to have a heart attack but he died in the OR from an aortic dissection. Both aneurysms and dissections are very hard to diagnose unless you are actually looking specifically for them

I grew up watching this, The Odd Couple, MASH, Dark Shadows, The Avengers, Star Trek TOS, Mission Impossible, Bewitched, Green Acres, Happy Days, etc. Amazing time to be a kid, TV wise.

Ted Bessell was one of my 1st crushes as a kid! He was so nice, handsome and responsible on That Girl. I told myself 'If I ever get married I want my husband to be just like Don Hollinger!'

“That Girl” - Marlo Thomas at that age was one of the most beautiful girls in television history! Absolutely gorgeous!

That Girl was a weekly favorite!

I survived a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Doctors all said I had only a 20% chance of living through it. I was extremely lucky.

My favorite show with Ted was “That Girl” with Marlo Thomas! Both Ted & Marlo added so much to the show making it one of my favorites for the entire time it was on. So sorry to hear of his passing at such a young age - I say young age since I’m 78!

That girl. My favorite TV show of all time. They don't know how to make TV like that anymore. I watch That Girl all the time.❤❤

Absolutely That Girl. I think it was the first episode where they rent a car and go to see her parents. To this day, that episode is hysterical. It transcends time and both actors were just phenomenal in it. He really helped to make that series great. He was a great actor.

That Girl! And great show. He had a presence about him. I remember his role very well. Sorry to hear of his passing in that way. ❤

Can you imagine being an actor and being offered a tv show called me and the chimp, and thinking yeah, that sounds good!

I loved him in the show That Girl. He was so funny & all the antics him & Marlo got into were just hilarious.

I hadn't realized he was on Gomer Pyle! He definitely stood out a Donald Hollinger on "That Girl."

I remember him most from That Girl. Cute show. Thank you for profiling him, Steve. I never hear that much about him. Passed so young 😢

That Girl definitely. I always find it interesting to hear of actors like him that were in supporting roles and just stalwarts of our youth and then really gone from view working behind the camera or just out of show biz.

I ENJOY SEEING ALL OF TED'S SHOW, HE WAS TALENTED, AND ALL AMERICA BOY, PLAYED HIS PARTS WELL. REST IN PEACE WITH THE LORD, THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR TALENTS AND PICTURES, HEALING HUGS AND PRAYERS FOR HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS. ❤

Will always remember him from "That Girl".

Thanks Steve. I actually remember Me and the Chimp (I was 8) and I also remember him in Gomer Pyle. I always kind of felt sorry for him in That Girl, he was always so frustrated.

I loved him in That Girl and Gomer Pile.

Yes i remember him alot so thanks for telling his story. Gomer Pyle and That Girl.

Definitely That Girl was the one I'll always remember him for but he was terrific in everything. I thought his comedic timing was fantastic. We miss you, Ted!!!

yes I remember ted Bessel in gomer Pyle but I loved him in the show that girl with Marlo Thomas they were really wonderful in the show it truly is so sad that he died so young he was a wonderful actor

"That Girl" was always fabulous viewing. Ted was the perfect beau for Marlo.

I remember him in various sitcoms...always played the likeable fellow, slightly boyish looks. Who knew he was a child prodigy...we do now, thanks to your video. Thanks, Steve! (The sitcoms I saw him in when I lived in Germany were dubbed in German, so I've only heard his true voice on youtube.)

I remember that made for TV psychological drama about him playing the whacko sculptor "Scream, Pretty Peggy"!

She should have married him. The perfect guy for an independent woman. How could "That girl" done any better?

One of my favourite sitcom actors. "That Girl" was also one of my favourite sitcoms, and still is. I've never seen "Me And The Chimp" but I'd like to.

That Girl and Me and the Chimp, loved those show back in the day!

I really wish "That Girl" hadn't ended the way it did. That was incredibly disappointing. Thanks for posting these videos - very informative.

For me it was THAT GIRL. I watched every episode. I loved it. My only disappointment was that Anne never had a TV wedding.

Thank you for sharing Ted Bissell’s acting career. My favorite part he played was that of Marlo Thomas boyfriend. They were a cute modern day couple of the 60s.

Ted Bessell was very good as Donald Hollinger, the nice guy & perfect boyfriend.

Hands down......That Girl!!!

That girl ❤

I first remember him on That Girl, and on Gomer Pyle. I just grew up with him I guess. So sorry he died so young and as he did 😿❤

Steve, I for one am happy to have a face to go with the fabulous voice. And you look good. Keep it up.

He was the perfect hire for That Girl.

I liked him on That Girl .

Ted seemed like a great guy…I remember him so well.

Funny, i have been watching Tracey Ulman episodes lately and saw his name under the director credits. I wondered if it was the same the That Girl Ted Bessel. Thank you for clearing this up- he had many talents!

To this day I still watch, "That Girl" always enjoy the clever ways in which they introduced that girl. Marlo Thomas was cutie. What I liked about Bessell is at least for me, always looked like he was acting, and yet I enjoyed his work. That aortic aneurysm is something, my neighbor's wife died from it no warning.

That girl. My mom looked exactly like Marlow Thomas. My grandfather was a taxi driver in New York when marlboyou are and ask my grandfather why he had her picture in his visor and he saidad that's my daughter Anne-Marie. And she was taken back cause she looks just like me she said. I'll never forget that story.😊

I will always remember him on That Girl. May he rest in peace.

I liked him in "Scream, Pretty Peggy"-one of my faves from my childhood.

He was very likable and funny.

I as a teen loved his character on that girl

Loved Ted on Gomer Pyle and That Girl! He had a great sense of fashion taste in That Girl!

Thank you

I remember him on THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW. "I love you, Joe!" "Thanks."

That girl is the only show I saw him in as I came to America in 1973 and watched all the That girl re-runs..

I loved That Girl. Such a cute show. Marlo was always gorgeous.

That Girl.

I am familiar with aortic aneurysm I was diagnosed with the exact same thing only I was lucky and was able to shrink mine away before it got out of hand. I always enjoy research into these it's really amazing. Thanks again for an excellent show.

Ted was such a wonderful comic actor in That Girl. He always made me laugh.

I remember him. Thanks for the update.

I loved Ted Bessel I've always had such a crush on him. I loved him in That Girl. He was too good for that scattered brain Ann Marie.

I liked him when I was a kid that smile he had. ❤

Good video! Thanks for reminding me of Ted Bessell. I saw him on a lot of tv shows growing up.

“No Donald. You can’t stay the night”.

I loved him on That Girl!

He was great (albeit a little neurotic) as Marlo Thomas’s boyfriend - loved that show ! So refreshing to watch good old fashioned dating values at play 👍🏻. I haven’t yet figured out if they got married before they ended the series though ! I’ll have to get on that 😂

I’m in love with Donald Hollinger.

That Girl was my favorite…it’s a shame he died so young, but he sure did a lot in his life.

Ted was perfect in "That Girl." Very good in "Gomer" along with Ronnie Schell.

Gomer Pyle. he was very excellent in that series.

Was a good actor! Enjoyed the Commentary!

Loved him in that show!

He was the perfect boyfriend. I just love “that girl.”👧🏻👱🏻‍♂️

He was so handsome…

I LOVED "That Girl" and wanted to marry someone like Donald Hollinger when I grew up!

That Girl! Watched it as a kid.

Her dad was really funny too, “What are you doing here Hollinger?”

Ted Hollinger is how I knew him. Great show as a kid. Thanks for the info I did not know about him. Nice background on your set. 👍

Just lost a close friend at 64, You never now when your number is up!

Gomer Pyle...That Girl was also a fun, light-hearted series. A talented man...would have loved to hear his pianistic side.

Thanks for finishing Ted's story. Always wondered about it. As a kid, I remember thinking that this guy in That Girl was the same guy in Dobie Gillis: Dwayne Hickman. I still think they look so much alike, and should've done something together. If they weren't related, they should've been! In the 70's he did a TV movie, which I think he directed, playing a Babbitt kind of character heading into middle age and suddenly deciding to live more by getting drunk, throwing a football for the first time, and falling in love, among other things. It was a neat "slice of life" movie. In That Girl I used to get a bit excited when Marlo called him by name. (My name is Don.). I had the same feeling watching Lost in Space when Judy Robinson called Major West, since I've always had a huge crush on Marta Kristen. (I was a very precocious little bast-er boy!).

Growing up really enjoyed the character of Donald on That Girl

He had a great career very sad he died at such a young age.

THAT GIRL...of course!!

That Girl was my favorite one he star in.

I loved him on That Girl. There was to be a reunion at the time of his death.

You have an excellent voice over voice! I liked him on That Girl.

Trivia: Marlowe Thomas was never permitted to have scenes kissing Ted Bessel in her apartment on "That Girl." She had to kiss him outside her door in the hallway or elsewhere (sidewalks, restaurants, jobs, etc.). But never in her apartment. Producers wanted to keep her image pure and innocent as a young, single lady living in her own apartment. No hint of sex was allowed.

Of course, That Girl. But I remember seeing him in other shows, like Gomer Plye and others. Sad that he passed at a young age.

That Girl! I loved him!

I remember him from That Girl.

He was the perfect boyfriend♥️

Don't Drink The Water is a great movie...funny as hell. Ted Bessell had a strong role in that movie.

Based on this girls age my favorite Ted Bessell show was That Girl. He began his role as the geekiest, anxiety ridden uncool for the times boyfriend who really grew on me for his on stage kindness which eventually became sexy as the show progressed for his much needed strength to his dizzy girlfriend. And he played off the fathers character perfectly like a.seasoned Vaudville team. He would have made a perfect cast member for Mash. It's such a shame his acting career stalled.

He's way before my time but I know him from That Girl reruns. Me and he Chimp I never heard of. Reminds me of Alf, Harry and the Hendersons or the show in the movie Nope

I loved him in Gomer Pyle but also he was perfect in That Girl ❤️!!

Hard to say I suppose, but those were the days when people were more likely to not treat hypertension as seriously as we do today. Just one of the causes of aortic aneurysm. I also notice yet again, that this era of actors didn't have the perfect veneers (teeth) that you see today. We so quickly become dated in this world that is ever moving faster toward our own ends :)

That Girl.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

That Girl❤

In the pilot for That Girl, Ted was named Don Blue Sky, a part-American Indian agent. What a stupid idea THAT was.

I never saw "Me and the Chimp" but now know Cami Cotler was cast in a tv show prior to "The Waltons".

I only really remember him from the show " That girl". It's a shame he died young and suddenly.

That girl great show